Muhammad lands a big left early and it sets the tone for a better round. Record: 38-5-1, 32 KO. Success with Spinks’ right comes more often to the ribs. Spinks loads up with left hooks around the raised gloves of Muhammad. He also saw him give it back before that year was out. BoxRec.com uses cookies to make the site simpler. He is one of the greatest light-heavys of all-time and had 3 really good wins…. Two of Spinks previous three fights before his challenge in July 1981 of Eddie Mustafa Muhammad featured emphatic knockouts of some of the biggest names of his time at light heavyweight, Yaqui Lopez and Marvin Johnson. If they are widely available on YouTube, and this scribe has never seen them or simply wants to see them again, the suggestion will be credited while the fight is reviewed in a future chapter of Boxing Without Boxing. In 1977 he began his professional career, and four years later he won his first title fight—a 15-round decision over Eddie Mustafa Muhammad for the World Boxing Association light heavyweight crown. The fact that Michael Spinks is so disrespected by people who want to disregard his loss to Mike Tyson is criminal. Spinks announced his retirement from boxing on July 27, 1988. Bellew: I Hope Chisora Lands His Big Right on Usyk, Gets The Job Done! In a bout slowed at times by long stretches of grappling, there were still some genuinely thrilling rounds and a clinic on landing in tight spaces by Spinks as the fight progressed. Digging to the head and body, Spinks does his best work since round five, swelling the right eye of Muhammad. Michael Spinks (born July 13, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1988. Michael totally dominated the last 10 rounds of the title bout, dealing Muhammad a constant barrage of uppercuts, overhand lefts, and shots to the body that had the champion reeling and writhing, and destined to lose his title. Leon Spinks represented the United States as a light heavyweight boxer in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and won the Gold medal. In terms of activity, Spinks appears busier but the most telling moments belong to Muhammad. At the midway point, Muhammad lands a thudding right and Spinks gets his turn against the ropes. The story of the fabled United States class of 1976 at the Montreal Olympics usually begins with Ray Leonard. On June 27, 1988, Mike Tyson took on Michael Spinks in a highly-anticipated showdown for the world heavyweight championship. On September 21, 1985, a 35-year-old Larry Holmes and the undisputed light-heavyweight champion Michael Spinks both put their unbeaten records … They take turns banging the body with their free hands. All Rights Reserved. Before that, it was anyone's fight. Feel free to email, comment in the forum, or tweet @roldboxing with classic title fight suggestions. Since then, some of American boxing's biggest names have held the strap including Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and George Foreman. The American knockout specialist left fans stunned as he retained the undisputed heavyweight title. He successfully defended his title five times before earning the vacant world title by winning a 15-round decision over Dwight Qawi in 1983. His title fight record in the division would stand at 11-0 (8 KO). Nicknamed Jinx, which spawned the nickname of his right hand: The Spinks Jinx, he is the brother of former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, and uncle of Cory Spinks, a former welterweight and light middleweight champion. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Two left hooks disguise a blistering right hand and Muhammad is down. While the sport is largely postponed, boxing has a rich library of classic fights, films, and books to pass the time. Propped almost leisurely on his right elbow, Muhammad beats the count and covers up when action resumes. In spots, both men lean into each other with little punching or clinching, simply pushing against each other in a seeming test of strength. Boxing Without Boxing: Michael Spinks vs. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, 07/18/81, Xander Zayas: I Believe Everybody They Put in Front of Me is a Test, BoxingScene.com's Television Pick of The Week - October 16, Demsey McKean Sets Marker With Rice Victory, Eyes Ajagba & Winner of Parker-Fa, Frank Warren on Tyson Fury's Return, Andrade-Williams, Gorman, Hutchinson. He and Michael Spinks became the first brothers to win Gold medals in the same sport at the same Olympics.His gap-toothed grin became world famous. Prior to his defense against Spinks, Muhammad had fought just once in 1981. Spinks has power, but not the power of a heavyweight, and speed, but not the speed of a middleweight. Three months after his final successful defense against Jim MacDonald, Spinks would add almost 25 pounds and chase a glory no reigning light heavyweight champion had achieved before. In July 1983, they were slated for a return. He and Leon Spinks became the first brothers to win gold medals in the same sport at the same … Muhammad retired with a mark of 50-8-1 (39 KO) and continues on in the sport today as a trainer. Michael Spinks (born July 13, 1956 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a retired American boxer who was an Olympic gold medalist and world champion in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He is one of the greatest light-heavys of all-time and had 3 really good wins at…. The challenger gets the better of an early, exciting exchange that ends with Muhammad taking shots along the ropes. Between just those two teammates, glory was found and history made from welterweight to heavyweight. At close quarters in the middle of the ring, Spinks opens up in a big way. Spinks attacks as Muhammad leans into the ropes. The loss to Snipes snapped a nine fight winning streak dating to a 1978 trip to Rahway Prison to face memorable contender James Scott. Excellent article and one of the best so far. 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The fight wasn't exciting, with Mustafa Muhammad playing hide-the-face to protect his right eye, and Spinks often missing awkwardly with his favorite punch, an overhand right, which he calls "The Spinks Jinx.”. The fact that Michael Spinks is so disrespected by people who want to disregard his loss to Mike Tyson is criminal. Of the five Americans to win gold in 1976 (John Tate didn’t win gold but did briefly hold the WBA belt at heavyweight), Michael Spinks was the last to receive a title shot, the fourth and final to win a professional crown, and he would be the last to taste defeat for the first time. When Muhammad missed weight for the title contest, and Spinks refused to go forward with even a ten-round non-title bout, the fight was called off. Norman credited the battlers as giving, “...the fans an action-packed battle, full of surprises and unorthodox action.”. Spinks continues to struggle in landing the right, sometimes missing wildly, but makes up for it with some authoritative jabs and good hooks to the body. After being stripped of that title for not making a mandatory defense against the IBF’s number one contender, Spinks fought Mike Tyson in June 1988, losing in just 91 seconds; it was the fourth shortest heavyweight title match in history. On September 21, 1985, Michael Spinks would win a unanimous decision over the great Larry Holmes to capture the IBF and lineal claims to the top of the boxing mountain. Muhammad doesn’t have much to offer in return, taking only sparing chances to land. Spinks (6 feet 2.5 inches [1.89 metres] tall), a middleweight, won the championship of the Golden Gloves Association of America in 1976 and in the same year defeated Rufat Riskiev of the Soviet Union in the middleweight final of the Montreal Olympic Games. Spinks was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. Packing on some 26 pounds over his fighting weight for Koopmans, Muhammad lost a decision in the heavyweight division to a then-undefeated Renaldo Snipes. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... What popular bare-knuckle fighter was known as “the Boston Strong Boy”? Its significance as the beginning of one of the most notable reigns at light heavyweight can’t be undersold. He dropped Spinks with a right hand to body then sealed the deal with a … He wasn’t done yet with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad though. Muhammad is less active throughout what is Spinks best round so far. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988. Lopez: Lomachenko Is Better Off At 130 Or 126 Pounds; 135 Is My Weight Class! It’s not always pretty; little about the fight has been. The champion bites down and lands some nasty hooks to the body in the last thirty seconds. In 1999, Lennox Lewis became the first non-American to hold it when he beat Holyfield in Las Vegas, ... 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Professional Record. That old weathered everlast bag that’s…, Good shxt, Cliff. It’s a winning approach though as Spinks continues to outwork and outland a champion looking for a saving bomb or at least a chance to hear the final bell. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. Corrections? In terms of fights, readers are welcome to get involved. Ring Magazine Ranking: #1 (Cover Date: August 1981) Record in Title Fights: 3-0, 3 KO. The steady Muhammad gets his own big right hand home in the second half of a round again marked by lots of tying up in close. Spinks got to the world title dance a little later than Ray; he got there later in his own family as well.

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