Michael Spinks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Spinks
Spinks in 1987
Statistics
Real name	Michael Spinks
Nickname(s)	Jinx
Rated at	Light heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 2+1/2 in
Reach	76 in
Born	(1956-07-22) July 22, 1956 (age 68) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	32
Wins	31
Wins by KO	21
Losses	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1976 Montreal Middleweight

Michael Spinks (born July 22, 1956) is an American former professional boxer. He competed from 1977 to 1988. Michael Spinks held world championship titles in two different weight classes. These included the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988. As an amateur boxer, he won a gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Spinks was nicknamed "Jinx." This led to his powerful straight right hand punch being called "The Spinks Jinx." Michael is the brother of Leon Spinks, who was also a world heavyweight champion. He is also the uncle of Cory Spinks, a former welterweight and light middleweight champion. Michael Spinks had a very successful amateur career, winning an Olympic gold medal. He then went undefeated in his first 31 professional fights. He beat famous boxers like Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Larry Holmes. Spinks became the first light heavyweight world champion to also win the heavyweight title. In his last fight, Mike Tyson knocked him out in just 91 seconds. This was the only loss in Michael Spinks's professional career. He has been honored in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Michael Spinks's Amateur Boxing Career

Michael Spinks had a great amateur boxing career. He won several important championships before becoming a professional.

Winning Golden Gloves and AAU Medals

In 1974, Spinks won the 156-pound Light Middleweight Golden Gloves Championship. He defeated Wilber Cameron in Denver, Colorado. The next year, in 1975, he won a Silver Medal in the National AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) 165-pound Championship. He lost to Tom Sullivan in the final round.

Spinks came back strong in 1976. He won the National Golden Gloves Middleweight championship. He beat Lamont Kirkland in Miami, Florida. In the same year, he won the United States Olympic Trials Middleweight Championship. He defeated Keith Broom in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Olympic Gold Medal Victory

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Spinks had a good path to the final. He only had to box two opponents to win the gold medal. This was because of a bye (meaning he didn't have to fight in an early round) and two walkovers (meaning his opponents didn't show up). He went on to defeat Rufat Riskiyev from the Soviet Union in the final match.

Key Amateur Achievements

• He had an amateur record of 93 wins and 7 losses.
• He won the 1974 Light Middleweight (156 lb.) National Golden Gloves Championship.
• He reached the finals of the 1975 National AAU.
• He won the 1976 Middleweight (165 lb.) National Golden Gloves Championship.
• He won the Middleweight Gold Medal for the United States at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.

1976 Olympic Results

• Round of 32: He had a bye.
• Round of 16: He won against Jean-Marie Emebe (Cameroon) by walkover.
• Quarterfinal: He defeated Ryszard Pasiewicz (Poland) by a unanimous decision (all five judges agreed).
• Semifinal: He won against Alec Năstac (Romania) by walkover.
• Final: He defeated Rufat Riskiyev (Soviet Union) when the referee stopped the fight in the third round. Riskiyev was knocked down in the first round.

Spinks ended his amateur career with 93 wins (35 by knockout) and 7 losses.

Michael Spinks's Professional Boxing Career

After his Olympic success, Michael Spinks didn't immediately become a professional boxer. He worked at a chemical factory. His brother, Leon Spinks, was a rising star in boxing at the time. In 1977, a promoter named Butch Lewis convinced Michael to turn professional.

Starting His Professional Journey

Michael Spinks began his professional career with a win. He knocked out Eddie Benson in the first round on April 17, 1977, in Las Vegas. This started a winning streak of 31 fights that lasted almost until the end of his career.

After four more wins, Spinks faced tougher opponents. In 1977, he won an eight-round decision against Gary Summerhays. In 1978, he won two fights, including an eight-round decision over Tom Bethea. This fight was on the same night his brother Leon beat Muhammad Ali to become the world Heavyweight champion.

In 1979, Spinks had only one fight, winning by knockout in the first round. But in 1980, he stepped up his game. He beat future champions and strong contenders like Murray Sutherland and Yaqui Lopez. He won five fights that year, with three knockouts.

Becoming a World Champion

By 1981, Spinks was a top-ranked boxer. After knocking out Marvin Johnson in four rounds, the World Boxing Association (WBA) made Spinks their top challenger. On July 18, 1981, he fought WBA light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad in Las Vegas. Spinks knocked down Mustafa Muhammad in the 12th round. He won the WBA light heavyweight title with a 15-round decision. He defended his title once in 1981, knocking out Vonzell Johnson.

In 1982, Spinks continued to win, becoming a boxing superstar. Fans wanted him to fight Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the WBC champion, to unify the titles. Sadly, in January 1983, his wife, Sandy Massey, died in a car crash. This left Spinks as a single parent to their two-year-old daughter, Michelle.

Unifying the Light Heavyweight Titles

Two months after his wife's death, on March 18, 1983, Spinks and Qawi met for the undisputed light heavyweight championship. The fight was shown on HBO. Before the fight, Spinks had a very emotional moment when his daughter asked if her mother would watch the fight. Despite this, he composed himself and fought a strong match.

Spinks used his jab and powerful hooks to control the fight. Qawi scored a knockdown in the eighth round. But Spinks won the fight by unanimous decision. The judges' scores were 144–140, 144–141, and 144–141, all for Spinks. He became the undisputed world Light Heavyweight champion. He defended the title again in 1983, knocking out Oscar Rivadeneyra.

In 1984, Spinks fought once, keeping his title by beating Eddie Davis. He also became recognized as the IBF Light heavyweight champion that year.

Moving Up to Heavyweight and Making History

In 1985, Spinks defended his light heavyweight title twice more, winning both by knockout. Then, he decided to challenge Larry Holmes for the IBF and lineal heavyweight championship. Holmes was trying to tie Rocky Marciano's record of 49 wins and no losses. But Spinks made history instead. He won a close and somewhat controversial 15-round decision. He became the first light heavyweight world champion to also win the world heavyweight title. This victory was named Ring Magazine Upset of the Year. With this win, Michael and Leon Spinks became the first brothers to both be world heavyweight champions.

Defending the Heavyweight Title

In 1986, Spinks and Holmes had a rematch. Spinks won again, this time by a split decision after 15 rounds. After that, he defended his heavyweight championship by knocking out Steffen Tangstad in four rounds.

In 1987, the IBF took away his heavyweight title. This happened because he chose to fight Gerry Cooney instead of their mandatory challenger, Tony Tucker. Spinks knocked out Cooney in five rounds. After Mike Tyson had unified the other heavyweight belts, fans really wanted to see Spinks fight Tyson. Many still saw Spinks as the true heavyweight champion.

The Final Fight: Spinks vs. Tyson

The highly anticipated fight between Spinks and Mike Tyson happened in June 1988. Tyson knocked Spinks down twice in the first round. Tyson then won by knockout in the first round. This was Spinks's first and only loss in his professional career. He retired from boxing after this fight.

Before this fight, Spinks had a record of 31 wins and 0 losses, with 21 knockouts. He still held The Ring magazine heavyweight title and was considered the lineal heavyweight champion. He only lost these titles when he lost to Tyson.

Michael Spinks is considered one of the greatest light heavyweight champions ever. He was the only light heavyweight champion to remain undefeated in that division's history (until Joe Calzaghe). He was also the only reigning light heavyweight champion to move up and win the heavyweight title.

The Ring Magazine ranked Spinks as the third greatest light heavyweight of all time in 2002. He was also ranked 42nd on The Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers. In 2002, he was ranked 41st on The Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years.

Life After Boxing

Spinks in 1996

Michael Spinks is one of the few top boxers who left the sport with a good amount of money and without serious injuries. He has mostly stayed out of the public eye since retiring. He rarely attends boxing events or public appearances.

However, Spinks has been known to visit schools. He brings his Olympic gold medal and his championship belts. He tells kids to follow their dreams. He says, "Most of the kids don't have a clue who I am, but they listen when they see all the gold."

For many years, he stayed close to his former promoter, Butch Lewis. Spinks would train fighters and make rare public appearances at events Lewis promoted.

Professional Boxing Record

See also

In Spanish: Michael Spinks para niños

• List of heavyweight boxing champions
• List of light heavyweight boxing champions
• List of WBA world champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of The Ring world champions