LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Michael Spinks, fighting the way Larry Holmes did when he first won the heavyweight title nearly eight years ago, Saturday night survived near knockdowns in the 14th and 15th rounds to win a split decision over Holmes and retain his International Boxing Federation title.
With both fighters spent, Holmes nevertheless summoned enough power in a series of right hands to send Spinks walking helplessly around the ring late in the 14th round. Holmes didn't have enough to finish him off and Spinks controlled most of the toe-to-toe 15th round with unanswered flurries to Holmes' head. However, Holmes buckled Spinks' knees and the champion spent the final seconds dancing backward out of trouble.
Judge Jerry Roth had Spinks ahead 144-142 and Frank Brunette had it 144-141 for the champion. Joe Cortez had it 144-141 for Holmes. UPI favored Spinks, 143-142.
Holmes, 36, tried in vain to regain the heavyweight title he lost to Spinks on a decision last Sept. 21. Holmes first became champion by beating Ken Norton in June 1978, on a 15-round decision in a bout whose final round resembled that of Saturday night's Spinks-Holmes war.
Fighting as a challenger, Holmes turned slugger and used an 18-pound advantage to dominate the first four rounds. Spinks, 29, fought defensively early but eventually wore Holmes down with lefts to the face and right hands to the liver to improve to 29-0.
Holmes, 223, hurt Spinks with right hands in the second and fifth rounds, but Spinks, 205, dominated the fight from the eighth through 13th rounds by out-jabbing Holmes and controlling the infighting with rights to the body.
Holmes, both eyes puffy, appeared ready to fall after the 13th round and Spinks was in command for most of the 14th until taking a right to the top of the head that nearly put him on his right knee. Spinks retreated and a right hand put him in the ropes near his own corner.
Another right had Spinks walking around the ring with a glazed look and staring at a faraway spot.
In the corner before the 15th round, trainer Richie Giachetti slapped Holmes in an attempt to revive the sagging fighter while Spinks yelled at his promoter, Butch Lewis. The fighters met at center ring and it soon became evident that Spinks was the more accurate and crisper puncher although both were arm-weary.
Spinks had become the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title when he defeated Holmes last September. Holmes, 48-2, was trying to match Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record in the first meeting with Spinks.
Saturday night's fight was part of HBO's series to unify the heavyweight title.
Spinks earned $2 million and Holmes $1.125 million, minus training expenses. Holmes failed to follow Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Tim Witherspoon as fighters who regained heavyweight titles.
The loss all but closes the book on one of the great heavyweight careers. Holmes won the World Boxing Council title in his 27th fight. Holmes' 20 title defenses included victories over Ali, Witherspoon, Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver, Leon Spinks and Gerry Cooney.
Spinks is expected to defend his title in the fall, perhaps against Cooney, who fights Eddie Gregg May 31. The IBF champ will meet the winner of a fight between the WBC and WBA champions in the unification fight in 1987.
Spinks was fighting as a heavyweight for the second time, after a 4 year reign as light-heavyweight champ. Spinks won the World Boxing Association 175-pound title July 18, 1981 on a 15-round decision from Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and unified the light heavyweight title with a decision victory over Dwight Braxton March 18, 1983. He made a total of 10 light heavyweight defenses.
With both fighters spent, Holmes nevertheless summoned enough power in a series of right hands to send Spinks walking helplessly around the ring late in the 14th round. Holmes didn't have enough to finish him off and Spinks controlled most of the toe-to-toe 15th round with unanswered flurries to Holmes' head. However, Holmes buckled Spinks' knees and the champion spent the final seconds dancing backward out of trouble.
Judge Jerry Roth had Spinks ahead 144-142 and Frank Brunette had it 144-141 for the champion. Joe Cortez had it 144-141 for Holmes. UPI favored Spinks, 143-142.
Holmes, 36, tried in vain to regain the heavyweight title he lost to Spinks on a decision last Sept. 21. Holmes first became champion by beating Ken Norton in June 1978, on a 15-round decision in a bout whose final round resembled that of Saturday night's Spinks-Holmes war.
Fighting as a challenger, Holmes turned slugger and used an 18-pound advantage to dominate the first four rounds. Spinks, 29, fought defensively early but eventually wore Holmes down with lefts to the face and right hands to the liver to improve to 29-0.
Holmes, 223, hurt Spinks with right hands in the second and fifth rounds, but Spinks, 205, dominated the fight from the eighth through 13th rounds by out-jabbing Holmes and controlling the infighting with rights to the body.
Holmes, both eyes puffy, appeared ready to fall after the 13th round and Spinks was in command for most of the 14th until taking a right to the top of the head that nearly put him on his right knee. Spinks retreated and a right hand put him in the ropes near his own corner.
Another right had Spinks walking around the ring with a glazed look and staring at a faraway spot.
In the corner before the 15th round, trainer Richie Giachetti slapped Holmes in an attempt to revive the sagging fighter while Spinks yelled at his promoter, Butch Lewis. The fighters met at center ring and it soon became evident that Spinks was the more accurate and crisper puncher although both were arm-weary.
Spinks had become the first reigning light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title when he defeated Holmes last September. Holmes, 48-2, was trying to match Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record in the first meeting with Spinks.
Saturday night's fight was part of HBO's series to unify the heavyweight title.
Spinks earned $2 million and Holmes $1.125 million, minus training expenses. Holmes failed to follow Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Tim Witherspoon as fighters who regained heavyweight titles.
The loss all but closes the book on one of the great heavyweight careers. Holmes won the World Boxing Council title in his 27th fight. Holmes' 20 title defenses included victories over Ali, Witherspoon, Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver, Leon Spinks and Gerry Cooney.
Spinks is expected to defend his title in the fall, perhaps against Cooney, who fights Eddie Gregg May 31. The IBF champ will meet the winner of a fight between the WBC and WBA champions in the unification fight in 1987.
Spinks was fighting as a heavyweight for the second time, after a 4 year reign as light-heavyweight champ. Spinks won the World Boxing Association 175-pound title July 18, 1981 on a 15-round decision from Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and unified the light heavyweight title with a decision victory over Dwight Braxton March 18, 1983. He made a total of 10 light heavyweight defenses.
