There are many names to discuss. Archie Moore. Ezzard Charles. Bob Foster. Roy Jones Junior.
The one I want to begin with is Michael Spinks. Spinks won the gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 games. By the end of 1980 he was a top contender for the light-heavyweight championship, capping off the year with a win over Yaqui Lopez, who had just come of the fight of the year against Matthew Saad Muhammad.
Spinks put one more strong contender away in Marvin Johnson and then challenged Eddie Mustapha Muhammad for the WBA light heavyweight title in 1981, winning a 15 round decision. Spinks defended the title five times, all by knockout before facing Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBC light heavyweight title in 1983. Spinks took the title with a 15 round win. He defended the unified title four times.
In 1985, Spinks challenged the 6'3, 222 lbs heavyweight champion of the world Larry Holmes. Holmes was undefeated 48 fights and depending on how you counted them, had as many at 20 successful title defenses under his belt. Spinks executed the perfect game plan and at the end of 15 rounds he was the world heavyweight champion, the first reigning world light-heavyweight champion to put it off. He defended the heavyweight three times, including a rematch against Holmes and a knock out of Gerry Cooney.
In 1988, Spinks ran into Mike Tyson who, at the absolute peak of his awesome powers, blew Michael away 1:31 into the first round. It was Spinks' last fight and the only loss of a truly remarkable career.
The one I want to begin with is Michael Spinks. Spinks won the gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 games. By the end of 1980 he was a top contender for the light-heavyweight championship, capping off the year with a win over Yaqui Lopez, who had just come of the fight of the year against Matthew Saad Muhammad.
Spinks put one more strong contender away in Marvin Johnson and then challenged Eddie Mustapha Muhammad for the WBA light heavyweight title in 1981, winning a 15 round decision. Spinks defended the title five times, all by knockout before facing Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBC light heavyweight title in 1983. Spinks took the title with a 15 round win. He defended the unified title four times.
In 1985, Spinks challenged the 6'3, 222 lbs heavyweight champion of the world Larry Holmes. Holmes was undefeated 48 fights and depending on how you counted them, had as many at 20 successful title defenses under his belt. Spinks executed the perfect game plan and at the end of 15 rounds he was the world heavyweight champion, the first reigning world light-heavyweight champion to put it off. He defended the heavyweight three times, including a rematch against Holmes and a knock out of Gerry Cooney.
In 1988, Spinks ran into Mike Tyson who, at the absolute peak of his awesome powers, blew Michael away 1:31 into the first round. It was Spinks' last fight and the only loss of a truly remarkable career.
