Michael Spinks Michael Spinks (born July 22, 1956) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1988. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal ...

vs.

Larry Holmes Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002 and was world heavyweight champion from 1978 until 1985. He is often considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. ...

II, billed as ''Vindication in Vegas'', was a professional boxing match contested on 19 April 1986, IBF, ''The Ring'' and ''Lineal'' heavyweight championship.

Background

In October 1985, shortly after

defeated

to win the heavyweight title, promotor

Don King Donald King (born August 20, 1931) is an American boxing promoter, known for his involvement in several historic boxing matchups. King's career highlights include, among multiple other enterprises, promoting "The Rumble in the Jungle" and the ...

pitched to

HBO Sports Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based ...

president Seth Abraham a World Series style competition to unify the heavyweight division which had been without an undisputed champion since

Leon Spinks Leon Spinks (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1995. In only his eighth professional fight, he won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 after defeating Muhammad Ali in a s ...

in 1978. By mid January 1986 negotiations between King and the other promoters (including Spinks' promoter Butch Lewis) were completed and the

Heavyweight unification series The heavyweight unification series, also known as the Heavyweight World Series, was a sequence of professional boxing matches held in 1986 and 1987 to crown an undisputed champion of the heavyweight class. The series was produced by HBO Sports and ...

was set to began in March with

Pinklon Thomas Pinklon Thomas (born February 10, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1978 to 1993. He was boxing's first 'Centennial Champion' (1886-1986) and held the WBC heavyweight title from 1984 to 1986. He is considered one ...

vs.

Trevor Berbick Trevor Berbick (1 August 1954 – 28 October 2006) was a Jamaican professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 2000. He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Pinklon Thomas, then lost it in his first defense in the same year to Mi ...

. Spinks' first bout in this series would be a rematch with Holmes a month late. In the build up the bout, Holmes sent a letter to IBF president Bob Lee listing the Judges he didn't want to officiate the rematch, Lee however declined to take Holmes' advice. Holmes would later claim that the judges from the first fight "must have been drunk" when they scored Spinks the winner. Holmes was a 7½ to 5 betting favourite.

The fight

Holmes would start the fight strong, throwing many hard shots and left jabs while Spinks was focused on dodging punches and keeping out of range. As the rounds went on, Spinks would start using his jab and left hook to wear down Holmes. The 14th round would start with Spinks scoring with a series of jabs and head punches, however with about a minute left in the round, Holmes suddenly badly hurt Spinks with a right high to the head. Spinks bent at the knee and almost went down. Holmes would land a couple more punches but he couldn't finish off Spinks, who as the round drew to a close threw a series of head shots that backed Holmes across the ring. Holmes would again hurt Spinks in the final round, with a right that had the champion backing into the ropes. Judge

Joe Cortez Joe Cortez (born October 13, 1945) is an American former boxing referee who has officiated in many important world title bouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. Biography Cortez is of Puerto Rican descent. H ...

scored the contest 144–141 in favour of Holmes, but the other two judges Frank Brunette and

Jerry Roth Gerald Howard "Jerry" Roth (May 12, 1941 – December 23, 2022) was an American boxing judge. Career Roth was born on 12 May 1941 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was married with Bunnie Roth and they have three children together. Roth started his ...

scored it for Spinks 144–141 and 144–142 respectively, giving the champion a split decision victory. HBO's unofficial scorer

Harold Lederman Harold Lederman (January 26, 1940 – May 11, 2019) was an American boxing judge and analyst. He began his career as a boxing judge in 1967 and joined the cast of '' HBO World Championship Boxing'' in 1986, and was there until HBO dropped boxin ...

(who had been one of the three judges for the first bout) had it 144–141 for Holmes. The

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

also scored the bout for Holmes, 143–142.

Aftermath

Speaking in the ring afterwards Spinks said "I had to stay cool and calm, then break his morale, Larry proved to be one hell of a champion. He was a die-hard out there tonight." In a post-fight interview with

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

, Holmes said, "the judges, the referees and promoters can kiss me where the sun don't shine—and because we're on HBO, that's my big black behind." Holmes was taken to Valley Hospital, after breaking his right thumb in the third round. He would announce his retirement in November 1986.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:

Broadcasting

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinks, Holmes II 1986 in boxing 1986 in sports in Nevada April 1986 sports events in the United States Boxing matches at the Las Vegas Hilton Spinks M II Boxing matches refereed by Mills Lane Boxing on ITV Boxing on HBO International Boxing Federation heavyweight championship matches