February 15, 1978: Forty Years Ago, Leon Spinks Upsets Muhammad Ali. Say What???
Posted: 15 Feb 2018, 06:24
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.
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.
