Hilton Pavillion, Las Vegas. 15th February, 1978.
The 1976 Olympic Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks was a rookie professional with just five fights and a manager called Butch Lewis behind him.
Mu...
Hilton Pavillion, Las Vegas. 15th February, 1978.
The 1976 Olympic Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks was a rookie professional with just five fights and a manager called Butch Lewis behind him.
Muhammad Ali was first cool on taking the fight but then figured out an angle to sell the fight. Ali, himself an Olympic Champion, had beaten all the other gold medalists of his era; namely Floyd Patterson (1956), Joe Frazier (1964) and George Foreman (1970). The raw and ill-disciplined Spinks offered Ali the chance to beat another olympic champion.
Ali did not really train for the fight with the rumour being that he only sparred twenty rounds in preperation. Still, Ali should have been able to handle Spinks. But, the pattern of Ali's most recent fights was repeated. Ali lay on the ropes while the challenger built up a lead.
But when Ali later went to the well he found it empty for the first time in his career. He could not erode the early lead built by Spinks and could not engineer a stopage. Adrenaline and the thought of beating Ali carried Spinks through
The champ summoned something for the last round and drove Spinks into the ropes, but it was not enough. Ali lost a split decision, which appeared a little kind to the beaten champ.
FOTY 1978- Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks I 7-8 1978-02-15 : Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA : Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali by SD in round 15 of 15 World Boxing Council Heavyweight Title (Ali defending) World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title (Ali defending) Referee: Davey Pearl Judges scoring: Lou Tabat (145-140 Spinks), Harold Buck (144-141 Spinks), Art Lurie (143-142 Ali) Weights: Spinks 197.25 lbs, Ali 224.25 lbs (more) ANDREA ( ANDREACHEOR )
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i doubt any heavy weight today could stand up any of those ali or spinks shots.. brutal. ali eats the right hand and come back 4 more.. i saw leon bout to fall ali grabbed him. kinda like passing the torch
@emoran001 he was on his early stages of parkinson desaese thats why he is lost you could clearly see he was not himself from the interview previous to the fight
@unvaccmnger When I first clicked on the video, I thought "why does Ali look 'glassy' doesn't look like the sharp, brisk fighter that I remember him" then I read your comment about Parkinsons, then it made sense why Ali doesn't like the 'Ali' we all know.
yea he woulda had couple more good fights if it wasnt for parkinson but he will be one of the greatest no matter what dance like a butterl fly sting like a bee!
Leon did more damage to every cell in this man's brain that anyone could imagine; sure, he took the kid too lightly and won a re-match...the greatest of ALL TIME should have determined this is IT...pay off your lackeys, attorneys, ex-wives, Chill! Tiger Woods... are ya' listenin...! George Foreman is inwardly having the best belly laugh of his life...
Funny to read nasty comments of emoran and lifeonbeach, both never know how the boxing is. If Ali is so weak like they commented, boxing commentators will not raise him as the greatest of all time. He gave boxing with good tactics and fighting with talents. Norton just talked big after fight but in the ring he has been taught the lesson twice same as Frazier who suffered seriously three times. Cooper with blood full on his face if the fight continues, British Cooper would be dead.
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Holmes took the torch followed by Tyson followed by Hollyfield ect....