Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
DateFebruary 15, 1978
VenueHilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Title(s) on the lineWBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Muhammad Ali United States Leon Spinks
Nickname The Greatest Neon
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri
Purse $3,500,000 $320,000
Pre-fight record 55–2 (37 KO) 6–0–1 (5 KO)
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 224 lb (102 kg) 197 lb (89 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion
Result
Spinks won by 15th round split decision.

Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks was a professional boxing match contested on February 15, 1978, in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight championship.

Background

After his unanimous decision victory against Earnie Shavers, Muhammad Ali decided to face 1976 Olympic Gold medalist Leon Spinks, knowing that he would have to face Ken Norton for the fourth time or lose his WBC belt, after the No. 1 ranked Norton beat No. 2 ranked Jimmy Young in a title eliminator in November 1977.[1]

The fight

Before a sellout crowd of 5,298 that produced a gate of $756,300, The 10–1 underdog Spinks ended up winning two of the scorecards 145–140 and 144–141, while the third was 142–143 giving him a split decision win. Spinks became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after only eight professional bouts, and the only man ever to take a world title away from Ali in the ring, as Ali's other losses were either non-title bouts or world title fights where Ali was the challenger.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Aftermath

The bout was named The Ring magazine upset of the year.

The final round (15) was named The Ring magazine round of the year.

Sports Illustrated covered the bout, and with the historic upset put Leon Spinks on the magazine cover. Spinks was later stripped of his WBC heavyweight title on March 18, 1978, for refusing to fight No. 1 contender Norton. Instead, Spinks signed for a rematch with Ali at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The rematch took place on September 15, 1978, for the World Boxing Association and Lineal Heavyweight Champion titles. Ali regained the title with a unanimous decision over Spinks.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:[10]

References

  1. ^ "Ali-Spinks Winner Must Face Norton". Observer–Reporter. 2 December 1977. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks (1st meeting)". BoxRec.com.
  3. ^ "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Muhammad Ali meets his match as young Leon Spinks stuns the champ to take heavyweight title". New York Daily News. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  5. ^ Felix Dennis; Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. pp. 254–258.
  6. ^ Hugh McIlvanney (1982). McIlvanney on Boxing. Beaufort books. pp. 163–71.
  7. ^ Ferdie Pacheco (1992). Muhammad Ali: A View from the Corner. Birch Lane Press. pp. 153–58.
  8. ^ Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali:His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 350–60.
  9. ^ "One more time to the top". Sports Illustrated. 25 September 1978. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  10. ^ "BoxRec - event". BoxRec.com.
Preceded byvs. Earnie Shavers Muhammad Ali' bouts February 15, 1978 Succeeded byRematch Preceded byvs. Alfio Righetti Leon Spinks's bouts February 15, 1978 Awards Previous:Jorge Luján KO10Alfonso Zamora The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year 1978 Next:Vito Antuofermo D15Marvin Hagler


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