Michael Spinks was not nearly so well known in 1976 as his older brother, Leon. Michael had only one title to his name, 1976 Golden Gloves Association of America champion, but he joined his brother on the victory platform at Montreal by also winning a gold medal. Since turning professional, however, Michael Spinks has gone on to a more successful career than his brother. Early in his career he won all his bouts but some said he didn’t fight enough to make real progress. However he won the WBA light-heavyweight championship in 1981 by defeating Eddie Mustafa Muhammed and in early 1983 he won a much ballyhooed unification title fight with WBC champion, Dwight Braxton. Spinks held some version of the light-heavyweight title thru 1985 when he fought, and defeated, Larry Holmes, to win the IBF heavyweight championship, becoming the first light-heavyweight to win the heavyweight professional title. Michael Spinks again defeated Holmes in 1986 in a re-match. Spinks held the heavyweight title until 1988 when he fought Mike Tyson, who KOed him in 1:31 of the 1st round. Spinks then retired, with a career record of 31 wins and one loss.
United States