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{{Infobox boxing match
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
| Fight Name = Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
| image =
| image = [[File:Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks.jpg|250px]]
| caption =
| caption =
| fight date = February 15, 1978
| fight date = February 15, 1978
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| weight1 = 224 lb
| weight1 = 224 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'']] [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]] heavyweight champion
| recognition1 = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|''The Ring'']] <br>[[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]]<br>Heavyweight Champion
| fighter2 = {{Flagicon|USA}} Leon Spinks
| fighter2 = {{Flagicon|USA}} Leon Spinks
| nickname2 = "Neon"
| nickname2 = "Neon"
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| style2 = Orthodox
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = [[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Light heavyweight|1976 Olympic]] Light heavyweight Gold Medallist
| recognition2 = [[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Light heavyweight|1976 Olympic]] Light heavyweight Gold Medallist
| result = Spinks won by 15th round split decision.
| result = Spinks wins via 15-round '''[[split decision]]''' (142-143, 144-141, 145-140)
}}
}}
'''[[Muhammad Ali]] vs. [[Leon Spinks]]''' was a [[professional boxing]] match contested on February 15, 1978, in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], and [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] heavyweight championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:365|title=Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks (1st meeting)|publisher=BoxRec.com}}</ref>
'''[[Muhammad Ali]] vs. [[Leon Spinks]]''' was a [[professional boxing]] match contested on February 15, 1978, in [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], and [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] heavyweight championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:365|title=Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks (1st meeting)|publisher=BoxRec.com}}</ref>
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==The fight==
==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|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.<ref name="ESPN record">{{cite news|url=https://espn.go.com/classic/s/Ali_record.html |title=Muhammad Ali's ring record |work=ESPN |date=19 November 2003|accessdate=6 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="NY Daily News">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/ali-meets-match-spinks-champion-split-decision-article-1.2014706|title=Muhammad Ali meets his match as young Leon Spinks stuns the champ to take heavyweight title |work=New York Daily News |date=15 February 2015|accessdate=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref name = "Glory Years">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years|author1=Felix Dennis |author2=Don Atyeo |publisher=miramax books|pages = 254–258|year=2003}}</ref><ref name = "McIlvanney">{{cite book|title=McIlvanney on Boxing|author= Hugh McIlvanney|publisher=Beaufort books|pages = 163–71|year=1982}}</ref><ref name = "Pacheco">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali: A View from the Corner|author= Ferdie Pacheco|publisher=Birch Lane Press|pages = 153–58|year=1992}}</ref><ref name = "Hauser">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali:His Life and Times|author= Thomas Hauser|publisher=Simon & Schuster|pages = 350–60|year=1991}}</ref><ref name="SI">{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/boxing/2015/09/23/muhammad-ali-leon-spinks-heavyweight-championship-vault |title=One more time to the top |work=Sports Illustrated |date=25 September 1978|accessdate=7 October 2016}}</ref>
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|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.<ref name="ESPN record">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/Ali_record.html |title=Muhammad Ali's ring record |work=ESPN |date=19 November 2003|access-date=6 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="NY Daily News">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/ali-meets-match-spinks-champion-split-decision-article-1.2014706|title=Muhammad Ali meets his match as young Leon Spinks stuns the champ to take heavyweight title |work=New York Daily News |date=15 February 2015|accessdate=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref name = "Glory Years">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years|author1=Felix Dennis |author2=Don Atyeo |publisher=miramax books|pages = 254–258|year=2003}}</ref><ref name = "McIlvanney">{{cite book|title=McIlvanney on Boxing|author= Hugh McIlvanney|publisher=Beaufort books|pages = 163–71|year=1982}}</ref><ref name = "Pacheco">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali: A View from the Corner|author= Ferdie Pacheco|publisher=Birch Lane Press|pages = 153–58|year=1992}}</ref><ref name = "Hauser">{{cite book|title=Muhammad Ali:His Life and Times|author= Thomas Hauser|publisher=Simon & Schuster|pages = 350–60|year=1991}}</ref><ref name="SI">{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/boxing/2015/09/23/muhammad-ali-leon-spinks-heavyweight-championship-vault |title=One more time to the top |work=Sports Illustrated |date=25 September 1978|accessdate=7 October 2016}}</ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
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! align=center | Country
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster
! align=center | Broadcaster
|-
| {{flag|Australia}} || [[Seven Network]]
|-
| {{flag|Brazil}} || [[Rede Bandeirantes|Band]]
|-
| {{flag|Canada}} || [[CTV Television Network|CTV]]
|-
| {{flag|France}} || [[TF1]]
|-
| {{flag|Germany}} || [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]]
|-
| {{flag|Mexico}} || [[Televisa]]
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}} || [[Radio Philippines Network|RPN 9]]
|-
| {{flag|Spain}} || [[Televisión Española|TVE]]
|-
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || [[BBC]]
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || [[BBC]]
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==Undercard==
==Undercard==
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/329|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=BoxRec.com}}</ref>
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/329|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=BoxRec.com}}</ref>
{|class=wikitable
!Winner !! Loser!! Weight division/title belt(s) disputed !! Result
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Danny Lopez (boxer)|Danny Lopez]]
|{{flagicon|GHA}} [[David Kotey]]
|[[World Boxing Council|WBC]] World Featherweight Title
|6th round TKO.
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Eddie Mustafa Muhammad]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Jesse Burnett]]
|Light Heavyweight (10 rounds)
|10th round TKO.
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} Tony Chiaverini
|{{flagicon|Peru}} [[Marcelo Quiñones]]
|Middleweight (10 rounds)
|3rd round KO.
|-
|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Alan Minter]]
|{{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Sandy Torres
|Super Middleweight (10 rounds)
|5th round KO.
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Spinks]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} Tom Bethea
|Light Heavyweight (8 rounds)
|Unanimous decision.
|}


==References==
==References==
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{{s-ttl|title=[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] [[The Ring magazine Upset of the Year#1970s|Upset of the Year]]|years=1978}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] [[The Ring magazine Upset of the Year#1970s|Upset of the Year]]|years=1978}}
{{s-after|after={{small|[[Vito Antuofermo]] vs. [[Marvin Hagler]]}}
{{s-after|after={{small|[[Vito Antuofermo]] vs. [[Marvin Hagler]]}}
}}
{{s-before|before={{small|[[George Foreman]] vs. [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]<br>Round 12}}
}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] [[The Ring magazine Round of the Year#1970s|Round of the Year]]<br>{{small|Round 15}}|years=1978}}
{{s-after|after={{small|[[Marvin Johnson (boxer)|Marvin Johnson]] vs. [[Matthew Franklin]]<br>Round 8}}
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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[[Category:Boxing matches at the Las Vegas Hilton]]
[[Category:Boxing matches at the Las Vegas Hilton]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Muhammad Ali|Spinks]]
[[Category:Boxing matches involving Muhammad Ali|Spinks]]
[[Category:Boxing on BBC]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:World Boxing Association heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches]]
[[Category:CBS Sports]]
[[Category:CBS Sports]]

{{boxing-stub}}

Latest revision as of 12:45, 22 October 2024

Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
DateFebruary 15, 1978
VenueHilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Title(s) on the lineWBA, WBC, and The Ring undisputed heavyweight championship
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)
Age 36 years 24 years, 7 months
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
undisputed
Heavyweight Champion		 1976 Olympic Light heavyweight Gold Medallist
Result
Spinks wins via 15-round split decision (142-143, 144-141, 145-140)

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.[1]

Background

[edit]

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.[2]

The fight

[edit]

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.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Aftermath

[edit]

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.

Broadcasting

[edit]
Country Broadcaster
 Australia Seven Network
 Brazil Band
 Canada CTV
 France TF1
 Germany ARD
 Japan TBS
 Mexico Televisa
 Philippines RPN 9
 Spain TVE
 United Kingdom BBC
 United States CBS

Undercard

[edit]

Confirmed bouts:[10]

Winner Loser Weight division/title belt(s) disputed Result
United States Danny Lopez Ghana David Kotey WBC World Featherweight Title 6th round TKO.
United States Eddie Mustafa Muhammad United States Jesse Burnett Light Heavyweight (10 rounds) 10th round TKO.
United States Tony Chiaverini Peru Marcelo Quiñones Middleweight (10 rounds) 3rd round KO.
United Kingdom Alan Minter Puerto Rico Sandy Torres Super Middleweight (10 rounds) 5th round KO.
United States Michael Spinks United States Tom Bethea Light Heavyweight (8 rounds) Unanimous decision.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks (1st meeting)". BoxRec.com.
  2. ^ "Ali-Spinks Winner Must Face Norton". Observer–Reporter. 2 December 1977. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  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 by Muhammad Ali' bouts
February 15, 1978 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Alfio Righetti
 Leon Spinks's bouts
February 15, 1978
Awards
Previous:
Jimmy Young vs. George Foreman 		The Ring Fight of the Year
1978 		Succeeded by
Previous:
Jorge Luján vs. Alfonso Zamora 		The Ring Upset of the Year
1978 		Next:
Vito Antuofermo vs. Marvin Hagler
Previous:
George Foreman vs. Jimmy Young
Round 12 		The Ring Round of the Year
Round 15
1978 		Next:
Marvin Johnson vs. Matthew Franklin
Round 8
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Muhammad_Ali_vs._Leon_Spinks&oldid=1252669937"