February 15, 1978: Forty Years Ago, Leon Spinks Upsets Muhammad Ali. Say What???

[elmersalsa]

On a Friday night of February 15, 1978, at the Las Vegas Hilton Sports Pavilion, a novice with only 7 professional fights named Leon Spinks, of St. Louis, MO upsets the great champion Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship. The fight was televised nationally in the U.S. by CBS and millions around the world also watched.

It was a fight that didn't sit well in many people's imagination. How can a novice 24-year old and happy-go-lucky kid with only 7 bouts got a title shot in the first place? And how he upset one of boxing's all time greatest champions no matter the weight class? The so-called Greatest, at 36, with more than 17 years of pro boxing experience, already a cult world wide hero with an all time favorite following, lose his crown to this guy? It was mind boggling at best. Something was not right.

But, for Spinks, it didn't matter. He knew who he was fighting against. Not just any man. He really was fighting against the whole entire world. There's no way in people's minds that he is going to dethrone The Greatest. Many people thought it was a joke and another "easy payday" for the deserving champion. A sports icon that changed the world of sports ever since he upset the great Sonny Liston in February of '64 for the heavyweight crown. A lot things happened between 1964 and the year 1978. All the headlines of the Vietnam war were still fresh on our minds. How Ali at one time said "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Com". His refusal to the draft. His changing of name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. His association with the Nation of Islam. His exile from the ring for 3 years that probably his prime was robbed for no justifiable reason. His come back to the ring. In the 1960s, his name was as famous as Martin Luther King, Jr, John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, The Beatles and world football's greatest Pele. And then, his most anticipated fight with nemesis Joe Frazier for The Fight of the Century in '71. And then his glorious return as King of the world when he dethroned George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire in '74. Then "The Thrilla in Manila" in '75. His fights with Ken Norton. And we could go on and on and on.

But, at 36, Ali, from Louisville, KY, was fading. He wasn't the same boxer that we saw in his prime. But, he was still champion. He was still making headlines. He was still the top guy in the world of boxing and sports. He was the heavyweight of the 70s decade. No question about that. He still had the gift of gab. He was still pretty but heavier. He was making $3.5 million dollars fir this light work. It was his 11th title defense of his two combined reigns. But, He weigh in at 224lbs. One of the heaviest of his career. Did he took this guy lightly? Was it worth to get up for this guy every morning at 5AM for a morning run? Does he had to spar more than 200 rounds? Does he has to train for at least 3 months? Ain't he got enough experience necessary to outmaneuver the young buck? What this young buck got to offer or have that Ali has not seen yet in his career. Can an old dog learn new tricks? His record was 55-2, with 37KOs. How can he have a third loss? He haven't stopped an opponent since May '76. Does it matter now? Who is Leon Spinks?

Well, Leon Spinks was the Olympic gold medalist of the 1976 games in Montreal. He was the light heavyweight recipient. He was perceived as seemingly "dumb" and an "ugly duckling" by the media. But, his amateur boxing record was a very impressive and extraordinary one. His record at amateur level was 178-7, with 133KOs! That's impressive. He was a member of probably the greatest Olympic boxing team in U.S.A's history alongside his great brother Michael, Howard Davis, Leon Randolph, and the great phenom, Sugar Ray Leonard.
A 10-1 underdog, he came from the slums of St. Louis. He was born poor. But, on this night, he was about to receive $320,000 dollars. He welcomed that with gusto. He, at least, is going to be rich. In his mind, he didn't had nothing to lose, but a lot to gain. The opportunities of being heavyweight champion of the world are endless. He could make lots of money after beating his idol. His motivation to be heavyweight champion of the world was more than enough to get him fit into camp. He trained his ass off. He is going to give all that he got. Even if he had to die on that ring that night. At a trimmed and chiseled body at 197lbs, he was ready.

The fight started and all Ali did was lay upon the ropes and let Leon throw all kinds of punches. Ali was the punching bag using The Rope-a-Dope strategy that worked with Foreman. But, this night, it looked like it wasn't working. The kid is not getting tired. He is still throwing leather and more leather. For about ten rounds, Ali was on the ropes, playing with the young man. Hoping that at one point, Spinks get tired and then take over. Useless! Leon was probably in the greatest shape of his life. He was more motivated than anything else. He fought like there was no tomorrow. He just keep pounding Ali's ribs and head. Some shots were going in. Some weren't. But they were points in Spinks favor.

By the tenth round, Ali's corner urged him to step it up. He did but for a minute, but went back to the rope a dope strategy. Was he tired? Is he resting to knock this guy off in the championship rounds? We thought so. By round 15, Ali finally "wakes up" and started throwing a barrage of punches that he dished to his opponents for the last 18 years. Leon didn't stopped throwing, either. And why would he stop now? Spinks and Ali exchanged so many blows in the last round that computer box would have been glad to tally it up. It was The Ring Round of the Year. At the final bell, Spinks had the last to thrown punch in the fight just like he threw the first one. He had Ali dizzy and tired going to his corner for the great finale. Spinks was happy that he made it to 15 rounds. Happy with his performance. The question is: Will he get the decision? Will the judges dick him of his glory? Will Ali scape another loss that has been following him since the third Norton fight? No, he didn't. Leon became the new heavyweight champion of the world! And it was by split decision. Judge Lou Tabat scored it 145-140 for Spinks. Judge Art Lurie had it 143-142 for Ali. The crowd booed. He must got paid by Ali's camp under table. And when judge Harold Buck had it 144-141 for the winner by split decision and new heavyweight champ....the crowd roared like a carnival in Mardi Gras. Leon Spinks, is the new Heavyweight Champion of the World!

It was the first time that the heavyweight crown was changed hands by decision since Jimmy Braddock took the crown from champion Max Baer in 1935. At the press conference, a sobbing but optimistic and graciously Ali recognized defeat. Someone in his camp shouted "We was robbed!" Ali said "Shut up!, Nobody got robbed! I lost the fight!" He wanted just another crack at Leon. Meanwhile, a jubilant Spinks said "I'm the LATEST, but he is the GREATEST!" For once in his life, he is the king of the world. He partied and partied like if it was 1999. He wore the belt never leaving his waist while drinking champagne all night long.

The Aftermath:
The Ring Magazine called the fight, The Fight of the Year, Upset of the Year and round 15 was Round of the Year. It was the first time since Clay vs Liston in '64 that a fight take all those honors. Spinks, chose to fight Ali again for a bigger payday than to defend it to number one contender Ken Norton. The WBC stripped him of his title. It was the first time a champion got stripped from his crown by not defending it to a mandatory challenger. It seemed that he wasn't that dumb after all. He got $3.75 million dollars for the rematch later in that September. He lost the rematch to Ali by decision in a lackluster performance in a record-setting 63,546 crowd in New Orleans Superdome. It was the beginning of the end. Three years later in 1981, he challenged WBC great champ Larry Holmes of Easton, PA. Holmes knocked him out in 4. Seeing that he was too small for the heavyweights, he dropped to the cruiserweight class. After a couple of years, he challenged Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA cruiser belt in '86, but got crushed also by KO. His son Cory became the Undisputed World Welterweight Champion in 2003 by being the first time that two siblings and an offspring became undisputed world champions (Leon's brother, Michael was undisputed world champion at light-heavyweight).

As for Ali, well, we know his story. Embarrassed, he regained his title in the rematch with Leon and retired in September of '79. Then, he make an ill-adviced comeback at age 38 when Larry Holmes tortured him for ten rounds for the Real Heavyweight World Championship in October '80. He was already suffering from the Parkinson's disease and had slurred speech. In December of '81, he lost to future champion Trevor Berbick of Jamaica by decision and hung up the gloves finally for good.

[East End]

After Ali retired following the rematch victory (a decision he sadly went back on of course) Spinks was entered in a four-man elimination tournament for the vacant title. Despite going into the tournament as a fairly heavy favourite with the bookies, Spinks was flattened inside a round in his semi final bout by Gerrie Coetzee (who went on to lose the title decider to John Tate). This appeared to highlight just what a freak result the first Ali-Spinks fight was and, sure enough, Leon never beat another world level fighter either at heavyweight or cruiser.

[Syntax Error]

It's crazy to say, but I shall say it again: Leon Spinks becoming HW champion at that point was the worse thing that could have happened to him in his boxing career.

Yes, you can never take the memories away, nor the money & Leon himself must wake up everyday thinking & wishing it was 1978, but he just wasn't ready for it after so few fights.

To be fair to Leon, he got his shot & he turned up to win & he did, but it's more a damning indictment of Ali that he managed to lose to a 7 fight novice who was in effect, a cruiserweight.

[East End]

Even the greatest (pun intended) can make the fatal sporting mistake of underestimating an opponent and becoming complacent, and I am fairly sure that is what Ali was guilty of going into the first Spinks fight.

[SenorPipino]

Even the greatest (pun intended) can make the fatal sporting mistake of underestimating an opponent and becoming complacent, and I am fairly sure that is what Ali was guilty of going into the first Spinks fight.

Weighing a career high 224 was a pretty good clue that Ali wasn't taking the fight seriously.

Just another day in the gym, he probably thought.

But at 36, Ali wad pretty much just going through the motions, bored and tired with training and boxing, but unable to step away from the spotlight.

Spinks earned $320,000 for the fight. I doubt the free spending, hard partying challenger had a penny of it left by time the rematch took place 7 months later.

For that return bout in New Orleans, the new champion pocketed about $3.7 million.

I'm sure that quickly evaporated too. Leon was nothing like his brother Michael, who retired from boxing with a sizeable nest egg.

In later years, Leon worked as a janitor at a YMCA and a McDonald's, earning less than $5 an hour.

For a while, the man who scored one of boxing's most unthinkable upsets and dethroned a legend, called a homeless shelter his residence.

February 15 1978 was the pinnacle not only of Spink's career, but his life.

Sadly it all went downhill after that day. A boxing career that went nowhere. Battles with alcohol and drug addiction. The shooting death of his oldest son.

Today, an infirmed Spinks lives in Las Vegas, suffering from brain damage and earning a few dollars by selling his autograph.

[Syntax Error]

Even the greatest (pun intended) can make the fatal sporting mistake of underestimating an opponent and becoming complacent, and I am fairly sure that is what Ali was guilty of going into the first Spinks fight.

Weighing a career high 224 was a pretty good clue that Ali wasn't taking the fight seriously.

Just another day in the gym, he probably thought.

But at 36, Ali wad pretty much just going through the motions, bored and tired with training and boxing, but unable to step away from the spotlight.

Spinks earned $320,000 for the fight. I doubt the free spending, hard partying challenger had a penny of it left by time the rematch took place 7 months later.

For that return bout in New Orleans, the new champion pocketed about $3.7 million.

I'm sure that quickly evaporated too. Leon was nothing like his brother Michael, who retired from boxing with a sizeable nest egg.

In later years, Leon worked as a janitor at a YMCA and a McDonald's, earning less than $5 an hour.

For a while, the man who scored one of boxing's most unthinkable upsets and dethroned a legend, called a homeless shelter his residence.

February 15 1978 was the pinnacle not only of Spink's career, but his life.

Sadly it all went downhill after that day. A boxing career that went nowhere. Battles with alcohol and drug addiction. The shooting death of his oldest son.

Today, an infirmed Spinks lives in Las Vegas, suffering from brain damage and earning a few dollars by selling his autograph.

It makes you wonder why nobody has thought to make a film about Leon's life?

That man has one hell of a story to tell & it would give him a nice cash boost if he were to give someone permission to make a film about his life.

[sweetsci]

Funny what you remember... I was 10 when this fight happened. I read the opening line, "On a Friday night..." and I thought to myself, "I don't think it was on a Friday. I think it was mid-week. The rematch was on a Friday." I looked it up on BoxRec and my memory was confirmed. The first fight was on a Wednesday and the rematch was indeed on a Friday, both on free prime-time tv. I think I'm remembering the school yard talk around both fights.

Back to the significant discussion...

[SenorPipino]

The only undercard fight I recall (I was watching the fight at a pub near my campus. I didn't attend my night classes for some odd reason) was the rematch between Danny Lopez and David Kotey.

Lopez had won the featherweight title from Kotey about a year earlier in a grueling bout in Africa.

I've never seen that bout, but it was a huge surprise that Lopez could travel to Africa and decision a respected champion in 15.

The rematch was thoroughly one sided.
Kotey looked old and slow despite being listed as 27.

Lopez manhandled him and stopped him in 6.

The stage was set for the main event, also expected to be an easy night's work for the champion.

[nobleart1978]

Michael Spinks is broke as well.

His manager Butch Lewis kept hold of Michael's money and paid him a monthly allowance.

It was only when Butch died that Michael rang Lewis' company up asking for his money, only to be told that there was none. Butch had spent it all.

Its in the book - "One punch from the promised land"

[SenorPipino]

Michael Spinks is broke as well.

His manager Butch Lewis kept hold of Michael's money and paid him a monthly allowance.

It was only when Butch died that Michael rang Lewis' company up asking for his money, only to be told that there was none. Butch had spent it all.

Its in the book - "One punch from the promised land"

That's a book I need to get my hands on.

I was aware that Michael sued the Butch Lewis estate some years back but I wasn't aware that he was broke.

The last I had heard, Michael Spinks lived in an expensive home on the East Coast.

Does the book mention how Spinks lawsuit turned out?

[nobleart1978]

No. The lawsuit took place after the book was published.

Michael was so trusting of Lewis that he didn't want to believe the truth about what Lewis did for a long time. Very sad.

Its a very good book about the Spinks brothers and the pitfalls of the boxing business.

[Syntax Error]

Michael Spinks is broke as well.

His manager Butch Lewis kept hold of Michael's money and paid him a monthly allowance.

It was only when Butch died that Michael rang Lewis' company up asking for his money, only to be told that there was none. Butch had spent it all.

Its in the book - "One punch from the promised land"

Interesting indeed.

I really didn't know that Michael was broke.

I was always of the impression that he had done well for himself & was living comfortably.

It just goes to show how seedy boxing can really be.

[SenorPipino]

By 1978, Ali had a lot of people to support.

His wife Veronica, a host of children including several out of wedlock, a heavy alimony debt to second wife Khalilah (Belinda) and large handouts to all the hanger-oners that he simply couldn't say "no" to.

Supposedly he also supported his brother Rahman.

Ali probably would have liked to have called a career after Manila, but his debts made it impossible for him to leave.

[elmersalsa]

I never knew that Leon Spinks had an amateur boxing record of 178-7, with 133KOs!

Wow! It looked like he was very good. Why they rushed him so early for a title shot? I don't know. It seems that it was a great move. He never saw $3.75 million dollars again in his life.

[SenorPipino]

I never knew that Leon Spinks had an amateur boxing record of 178-7, with 133KOs!

Wow! It looked like he was very good. Why they rushed him so early for a title shot? I don't know. It seems that it was a great move. He never saw $3.75 million dollars again in his life.

And as I said earlier, the hard partying Spinks probably didn't see that $3.75 million for very long.

[Syntax Error]

I never knew that Leon Spinks had an amateur boxing record of 178-7, with 133KOs!

Wow! It looked like he was very good. Why they rushed him so early for a title shot? I don't know. It seems that it was a great move. He never saw $3.75 million dollars again in his life.

And as I said earlier, the hard partying Spinks probably didn't see that $3.75 million for very long.

Leon Spinks must have partied like it was 1999 to blow that kind of money so quickly in 1978.

[Nile4000]

I never knew that Leon Spinks had an amateur boxing record of 178-7, with 133KOs!

Wow! It looked like he was very good. Why they rushed him so early for a title shot? I don't know. It seems that it was a great move. He never saw $3.75 million dollars again in his life.

Won the National AAU title three years straight, 1974-1976, beating an underage Michael Dokes for the first one.

[elmersalsa]

Why they rushed Leon for a title fight that quick, instead of develop him into a great fighter? Maybe his management team knew that he wasn't that serious into boxing. That's the ONLY REASON I see why he got that title shot so soon. As I said earlier, it was a great business decision move.

A lot of guys that were great amateur boxers we're pushed too quickly to the alligators. Pete Radamecher, Davey Moore and David Reid are some that comes to my mind. Any others?

[elmersalsa]

But, anyway, it was a great win for the novice and inexperienced Leon Spinks. He trained his ass off. He didn't succumbed to the Muhammad Ali myth and legend. He showed heart, will and determination. And he was fighting not just The Greatest, but the whole entire world. The whole world was against him. It was a remarkable upset.

[elmersalsa]

on

But, anyway, it was a great win for the novice and inexperienced Leon Spinks. He trained his ass off. He didn't succumbed to the Muhammad Ali myth and legend. He showed heart, will and determination. And he was fighting not just A SHADOW of The Greatest, but the whole entire world. The whole world was against him. It was a remarkable upset.

Fixed it for ya.

Thanks.

[sweetsci]

Thoughts on a couple of points in the thread...

If they were to make a movie on Leon's life, I'd think it would have to conclude in February 1978. That'd be the only way to get the happy ending Hollywood and moviegoers like.

As far as other rushed amateur stars, Tyrell Biggs comes to mind. So does Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya, but they had the goods.

Michael Spinks being broke - if true, that's a shame. He always came off as a gentleman and pretty much did everything right in his career. I have a lot of respect for him.

[Nile4000]

I am sorry, but the Michael Spinks-Butch Lewis relationship always struck me as strange. Maybe there was more to it than we want to admit. Like on a Marlon Brando-Richard Pryor level.

[bwu]

Why they rushed Leon for a title fight that quick, instead of develop him into a great fighter? Maybe his management team knew that he wasn't that serious into boxing. That's the ONLY REASON I see why he got that title shot so soon. As I said earlier, it was a great business decision move.

A lot of guys that were great amateur boxers we're pushed too quickly to the alligators. Pete Radamecher, Davey Moore and David Reid are some that comes to my mind. Any others?

Ironically, Ali himself could've fit into the "rushed" category. At least one member of the business consortium that managed him in his early career thought the Liston challenge was too early. Rushing things seemed to work out well enough for him.

[Kalan]

Ali wasn't rushed any more than Anthony Joshua was rushed... They both went for the title at the perfect time.

It was the ideal time for Ali to challenge Sonny -- because the aging Liston fought only 3 shortened rounds in the previous 3 years and was in poor physical condition... Going into hard training after months of idleness is not good... It led to his torn left shoulder and biceps injuries... It was an even fight on the scorecards but had to be halted due to the injured arm...

The rematch was the biggest fiasco in Fistic History with Ali refusing to go to a neutral corner and Liston getting no count from the referee... Liston, Ali, and referee Walcott all thought the fight was still on when Liston got up... They continued fighting until Nat Fleischer (not an official) told Walcott to stop it and award it to Ali.

By that time Ali was 23 so the timing worked out perfectly. Couldn't be better.

It wasn't that way with Leon Spinks... He beat an ATG Heavyweight Champion in a tremendous upset, but that was the only significant win he ever achieved... Leon had major flaws to dispose of before being tossed in with top Heavyweights... It was the same for Marvis Frazier... No way you put a kid with 10 fights against a 44-0 ATG unless his name is Lomachenko or Rigondeaux - the 2 greatest amateurs in the history of Boxing... Marvis needed 20 fights... By the time he got them he was mentally and emotionally scarred by the 2 very high profile mismatches... He quit.

[Syntax Error]

Thoughts on a couple of points in the thread...

If they were to make a movie on Leon's life, I'd think it would have to conclude in February 1978. That'd be the only way to get the happy ending Hollywood and moviegoers like.

As far as other rushed amateur stars, Tyrell Biggs comes to mind. So does Evander Holyfield and Oscar De La Hoya, but they had the goods.

Michael Spinks being broke - if true, that's a shame. He always came off as a gentleman and pretty much did everything right in his career. I have a lot of respect for him.

I get your point, but if it ended in February '78, it would be boring.

Leon's 'life' really began after he beat Ali & it's the period from February to September '78 which the film would have to mainly focus on.