On This Date in Sports June 27, 1988
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Billed “Once and For All” Mike Tyson defends his heavyweight title against Michael Spinks in a battle of unbeaten fighters in Atlantic City. Fans expected the fight to be another Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier, as it shattered pay per view sales records. The fight was over before fans had a chance to even settle-in as Tyson dominated and won with a first-round knockout in 91 seconds.
Michael Spinks nicknamed the Jinx was born in St. Louis on Friday, July 13, 1956. A tremendous amateur boxer, Spinks won the Gold Medal in the Middleweight division at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. After turning professional Spinks rose in weight class and took the light heavyweight title in 1981. Four years later, he upset Larry Holms to win the heavyweight title, which was previously held by his brother Leon Spinks. Michael Spinks held the title for two years before he was stripped by the IBF for refusing to fight Tony Tucker, choosing instead for a big payday against Gerry Cooney.
After Spinks was stripped of the IBF heavyweight championship, Mike Tyson unified the three major belts. Tyson who was born in Brooklyn on June 30, 1966, became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history in 1986. Over the next year, Mike Tyson unified by the WBC, WBA and IBF titles to become the undisputed heavyweight title Called Iron Mike, Tyson wowed fans with his punching power that often led to quick knockouts.
While Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion he was not the lineal heavyweight champion as Michael Spinks was never defeated. Both fighters, in fact, came into the fight unbeaten, with Mike Tyson fighting more often and compiling a record of 34-0 while Spinks entered the fight with a record of 31-0.
Sponsored by the Trump Plaza, the fight was held at the Atlantic City Convention Center, as the coastal New Jersey city was trying to become the Las Vegas of the Eastern seaboard. The fight created record revenue numbers for the casino, especially its sponsor the Trump Plaza. The lead up to the fight featured several weeks of hype as the boxers were on the cover of Sports Illustrated in consecutive weeks, as well as Time Magazine leading up to the fight. Pay-Per-View a relatively new service provided by cable companies was greatly bolstered by the fight as it set a record with $70 million in home buys. At ringside tickets were priced at $1,500 with a bevy of celebrities in attendance.
Before the fight was set to begin, Butch Lewis, the promoter of Michael Spinks claiming to see a bump in Mike Tyson’s gloves asked for the champion’s hands to be re-wrapped. The move was calculated to psyche out Tyson. It only served to anger Iron Mike who looked over to trainer Kevin Rooney and remarked, “You know I am going to hurt this guy”. When the fight began Mike Tyson came out the aggressor and delivered a devastating blow that hurt Michael Spinks just ten seconds into the fight. Spinks than tried to cover up as Tyson drove Spinks back into the ropes. Trying to launch a counter-attack, Michael Spinks fell to his knees a minute into the fight. Though he was able to get up at a count of four, it was clear he was in trouble. After the fight resumed Mike Tyson would floor Spinks again, this time there would be no getting up as the fight ended after just 91 seconds with just ten punches thrown the entire fright.
The fight was the peak of Mike Tyson’s career as he fired his trainer Kevin Rooney a few months later and never again reached pinnacle of his dominant effort against Spinks. In 1990, Tyson suffered his first loss to Buster Douglas and began a downfall in and out of the ring. The fight also marked the end of Michael Spinks career as he retired a month later.