ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Michael Spinks proved Saturday he can fight nearly five pounds below the light-heavyweight limit. Now he wants to show the world he can fight above 175 pounds.
Spinks' third-round knockout of David Sears leaves him in the same position he's been in the past two years -- without a viable contender for his undisputed crown.
Spinks, 26-0, 18 knockouts, could probably hold his title for years with no problem, but won't make big money fighting guys like Marvin Johnson or Prince Mama Muhammed.
A bout against World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Carlos DeLeon would bring Spinks considerable money, but DeLeon has other commitments. That leaves Spinks eyeing International Boxing Federation champion Larry Holmes as his biggest possible payday.
'The light-heavyweight division is in poor shape right now,' said Eddie Futch, who trains both Spinks and Holmes. 'There's not much money there. Michael deserves a payday.'
Futch and Butch Lewis, Spinks' promoter, agree Spinks can be successful as a heavyweight. They also believe the only heavyweight fight Spinks should take is a title fight.
Lewis said Spinks, who weighed 170 against Sears, can be just as effective a puncher at a heavier weight.
'Michael is a lean guy anyway, he won't be like some light-heavyweights who just blow up,' Lewis said. 'Michael will be strong, structured, trim. He won't let himself bloat up.'
'When I make the move, I'll have the right type of weight - armor,' said Spinks, who lost nearly 40 pounds in six weeks of training for Sears.
'When I fight Holmes, you'll see muscles busting out everywhere.'
Futch won't say what he would do if Holmes and Spinks ever fought. There's no sense alienating one of his champions by pledging allegiance to the other. Besides, if Holmes lives up to his promise to quit after his March 15 defense against David Bey, the possibility of a Holmes-Spinks showdown becomes moot.
But Futch likes to think about Spinks fighting for the heavyweight crown. Although the list of great light-heavyweights who tried and failed to win the heavyweight title includes Archie Moore, Bob Foster and Billy Conn, Futch points out there are 175 pound champs who succeeded as heavyweights.
'When Ezzard Charles was heavyweight champion, he was no more than a light-heavyweight,' Futch said. 'If Ezzard Charles can do it, why not Michael.
'A one-handed fighter like (WBC champion) Pinklon Thomas would have trouble beating Michael. Thomas has a good jab, but shows nothing else. And a slow moving heaayweight against Michael ...'
Sears, 16-1-1, won the first two rounds on two judges' cards Saturday, but an overhand right sent him on his face at the start of the third. Spinks hurried in to finish the bout with a two-handed attack that prompted referee Larry Hazzard to stop it with Sears floundering at 1:02 of the round.
'He did surprise me with his strength, especially since he came in so light,' Sears said.
