MICHAEL SPINKS
Date / site: June 27, 1988 / Convention Hall, Atlantic City, N.J.
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Tyson 34-0, Spinks 31-0
At stake: Tyson’s IBF, WBA and WBC titles
Result: Tyson KO 1
Background: Spinks was an excellent fighter. The younger brother of former heavyweight champ Leon Spinks was a 1984 Olympic gold medalist and one of the better light heavyweight champions of all time. He then went from 175 directly into a heavyweight title fight Larry Holmes, won a decision to catpure the title and then won the rematch. He also stopped Gerry Cooney in five rounds leading into his defense against Tyson. He was no pushover. Until he was. Spinks had three things going against him: He was a small heavyweight, he was a notoriously slow starter and he was terrified. Bad combination. Tyson lit into a reluctant Spinks from the opening bell. About a minute in, he landed a left uppercut followed by a vicious shot to the body that forced Spinks to one knee. Moments later Tyson landed the punch of his career, a short right to the jaw that knocked Spinks onto his back and out. 91 breathtaking seconds. That’s all it took. Most consider it Tyson’s finest performance. Said Tyson: “The first punch I threw, he wobbled a bit. I knew right there I had him.”