- 7 hours ago
ABC's replay of the closed circuit fight between lineal and people's heavyweight champion Michael Spinks and Gerry Cooney. Spinks and Mike Tyson remain in studio with Jim Lampley and Alex Wallau
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00:00Jerry Cooney. Back to our ring in our ABC Sports Studios in New York and prepare now to look back
00:04at the fight which was billed as the war at the shore. Michael Spinks versus Jerry Cooney. As he
00:10prepared for this fight, Michael Spinks was unbeaten in 27 fights as a light heavyweight
00:14and three as a heavyweight. Michael Spinks first entered the public eye as middleweight gold
00:21medalist at the 1976 Olympics. Then won his first 15 pro fights before stepping into the ring in
00:27March 1981 against former light heavyweight champion Marvin Johnson. With one punch in the
00:32fourth round, he catapulted himself into a title shot against WBA light heavyweight champion Eddie
00:38Mustafa Muhammad. This was a grueling fight for the first 11 rounds but a combination in round 12
00:44dropped the champion and Spinks went on to capture a unanimous decision and the title. He then scored
00:51KOs in his first five title defenses but the match the public demanded and got took place in March
00:56of 1983 between Spinks and then WBC champion Dwight Muhammad Kawi. Here, he used reach, hand speed,
01:04and above all an accurate left jab to unify the light heavy crown. Two years later, he moved up to
01:10challenge IVF heavyweight titleist Larry Holmes. And at the end of 15 chaotic rounds, Michael Spinks awaited the
01:18decision of the judges in Las Vegas. For the winner, by unanimous decision and new
01:26IVF heavyweight champion of the world, Michael Spinks. He had become the first light heavyweight champion
01:35in history to move up and capture a heavyweight crown. After retaining the IVF title in a controversial
01:41rematch with home, Michael stopped Norwegian Stefan Tankstad in the fourth round in his last fight,
01:47thus setting up the match with Jerry Cooney. So Spinks arrived at June 15 with an 11-year pattern of
01:55unbroken success. And the same was true up to a point of Jerry Cooney. But Cooney's career has been an
02:01unusual one. In some ways, more graphically defined by his one loss than by his 28 victories.
02:10Jerry Cooney waded through his first 24 professional opponents with 20 knockouts before stepping in
02:15against former champion Ken Norton in May 1981. 54 brutal seconds into round one. It was all over for Norton.
02:2313 months passed before the much-ballyhooed battle between Cooney and WBC champion Larry Holmes,
02:33a fight in which Jerry started well, then seemed too preoccupied by the longer championship distance.
02:39He didn't fight his fight. By the 13th round, an exhausted and battered Cooney was finished.
02:46He fell into a period of deep personal depression, quit the ring, tried a short live comeback,
02:51then quit the ring again, citing personal problems. Before finally coming back once more,
02:56May 1986 against the lightly regarded Eddie Gregg, and demonstrating at least that at this level of
03:02competition, the old punching power was still there. The 86-second demolition of Gregg made Cooney a
03:10marketable contender again. Though in five years, he had spent fewer than seven rounds in the ring without
03:17headgear, and none of that against a strong opponent. Mike, this was your fourth fight as a heavyweight,
03:27but you're first against a man with a reputation as a big puncher. Did you prepare in any special way
03:31for this fight? Well, I did a few things different. Well, for one, I work with much taller men,
03:36and I train for distance in a sense. Do you have a set plan in mind that you work on in training,
03:45or do you wait until you get in the ring and react to your opponent? Well, if I need to look at films or
03:53watch anything in particular about a certain opponent, I will do. But for me, personally,
04:00I sum everything up in the ring. Jerry Cooney was a slight seven-to-five favorite. Did you have
04:09any doubts about your ability to beat him when you heard the match was made? No. No, I just wanted to
04:15know how. That was my question. Now, how am I going to beat him? You know, I know of the way I would have
04:24to do it, but I mean, how and which ways is it going to happen? And it's fascinating that you would
04:32say that, Michael, because it was to be about which would showcase Michael Spinks' remarkable
04:37improvisational talent, his resourcefulness, his ability to adjust in the ring. And we'll be back
04:42to look at all five rounds of Spinks and Cooney after this.
04:45The showdown is brought to go. A sold-out Atlantic City Convention Center with tickets ranging up
04:54to $500 tops. Scalpers lined up on the boardwalk outside and did business with a willing walk-up crowd.
05:01The assembled press corps brought full representation from both coasts. Liberal selection of celebrities
05:06dotted the crowd. Boxing champs Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard sat shoulder to shoulder. Legendary
05:13jockey Angel Cordero Jr. made the ride down from New York City. So did Donald Trump,
05:18financial backer of the fight. Up from Miami, Vinny Testaverde. So was Don Johnson. Arnold Lewis
05:25Crean, known as Jersey Joe Walcott, spent a lot of time in Sphinx's camp. World Cruiserweight
05:30champ Evander Holyfield at ringside. The scene was set. Alex Wallow and I prepared to call the fight.
05:37So to the music of Emerson, Lake, and Powell, Jerry Cooney enters.
05:41Jerry Cooney, a record of 28 wins and one loss. He is viewed as a paradox. Some see him as an awkward,
05:48unproven fighter who lost his one and only difficult match to Larry Holmes. Others call him a fighter of
05:54tremendous potential who might have been and may yet be a heavyweight champion. Which way do you see him, Alex?
06:00Jimmy could really be both of those things. I do think he's got tremendous potential and if he can't
06:06fulfill it at this at the age of 30 and beyond, he could still be a dominant heavyweight champion.
06:12The big key here is it's five years since Jerry got into the ring in the first big fight of his
06:16career against Larry. Which way do you see him, Alex? Jimmy could really be both of those things. I do
06:22think he's got tremendous potential and if he can fulfill it at this at the age of 30 and beyond,
06:27he could still be a dominant heavyweight champion. The big key here is it's five years since Jerry got
06:32into the ring in the first big fight of his career against Larry Holmes that night in Las Vegas when he
06:37showed that he was a world-class fighter but he just wasn't quite ready physically or mentally.
06:43And I think the real intrigue of this fight is how will this version of Jerry Cooney compare to
06:48the one that fought Holmes? What do you think? Well, if he was a boxer, I wouldn't give him a real
06:55chance because of his lack of work in the last five years. But Jerry Cooney is a puncher and that
07:01that ring rust does not affect punchers as it does boxers. The reflexes and the timing and the overall
07:07skill are just not as critical to someone like Jerry who relies on his raw power.
07:13When last he fought in a spotlight this bright, he wore a full-length green robe decorated with shamrocks.
07:23Tonight, the green is on white as Jerry Cooney returns to the limelight.
07:34And now also robed in white, Michael Fink-Moran, never beaten in 27 fights as a light heavyweight
07:40and three as a heavyweight. Like Cooney, he is seen as being awkward in the ring, Alex. But in his case,
07:46it's widely regarded as a virtue. Also possessed of ring intelligence, in fact, called by some the
07:52smartest fighter in the sport. The biggest question which surrounds Michael Fink, is he really a heavyweight?
07:58Does he truly think of himself as one? Jim, you know, we have Goliath in the ring and here comes David.
08:06Michael looks calm, but when we spoke to him earlier this week, he really openly admitted to us
08:11that he is very concerned about facing Jerry Cooney. He said, I'm worried about how I'm going to hit him.
08:16I'm worried about what's going to happen when he hits me. And he said, there's no way to prepare
08:21yourself to face a Jerry Cooney. He's been a survivor for 11 years since he's been fighting
08:28professionally and since his last amateur loss, he's always found a way to win every time he stepped
08:33in the ring. Obviously, Michael Spinks and everybody here wonders whether the tactics that he used to
08:39beat Larry Holmes not once but twice will work against a powerful giant like Jerry Cooney.
08:47So now, Spinks will step up into the ring and face the giant across 20 feet of campus.
08:54Alex, what do you expect to happen once the bell rings in round one?
09:00Jim, I think the biggest single factor in the fight, obviously, is Cooney's power.
09:04But in the Holmes fight, Jerry was so preoccupied with his stamina and his ability to go the distance
09:09that he never really unloaded his power and took the initiative. Jerry says he learned his lesson
09:14from that fight and he'll jump on Michael from the opening bell. If Jerry Cooney can plant his feet,
09:20wind up and hit Michael Spinks, this fight is over. Michael must keep Jerry off balance. He must not
09:27let him get set. He's got to frustrate him. He's got to tire him. And he's got to hope that Jerry will
09:32fade just the way he did against Larry Holmes. But he also has to pick his spots and he's got to generate
09:38some offense to keep Jerry from walking in without any fear. All right, Alex, the tale of the tape
09:45shows that both fighters are 30 years old. Cooney outweighed Sphinx at the weigh-in by 30 pounds.
09:51The scale was regarded by many as being three or four pounds heavy. Let's say Sphinx is at least 205,
09:57and Cooney at least 234. Height, a five-inch difference in Cooney's favor. Reach,
10:04a similar dissimilarity again in Cooney's favor. And now ring announcer Ed Darian prepares to begin the
10:12festivities.
10:15In the ring at this time, the man in charge of the scheduled 15-round title belt, referee Frank Cappuccino.
10:24And now boxing fans, introducing the principals, first in the blue corner, wearing the white trunks
10:35with the green and gold trim. He tipped in at an even 238 pounds. This gentleman has 28 wins,
10:46one loss with 24 knockouts from Huntington, Rhode Island, New York. Ladies and gentlemen, here is the
10:54challenger, gentlemen, Jerry Coupie. Coupie.
11:01And here is the corner of the corner, wearing the white trunks with the black rim. He weighed in at even
11:12208 pounds. This young man is undefeated in playing professional paths with a 20 knockouts. He is the 1976
11:23Olympic gold medalist in the middleweight division. The former undisputed lightweight champion of the world.
11:31And now, representing the Greek military, ladies and gentlemen, here is the heavyweight champion of the world,
11:42Michael Space.
11:55Now, referee Frank Cappuccino will issue final instructions to the fighters about
12:00not sanctioned as a title fight by any of the three world governing bodies, but supposedly recognized
12:08for title purposes by a variety of state athletic commissions.
12:11The rules used here in the state of New Jersey. The fight is scheduled for 15 rounds, scoring on the 10-point
12:24must system by three judges. Referee Frank Cappuccino doesn't score. No three-knockdown rule, no standing eight-count. There will be a mandatory eight-count on knockdowns.
12:33And round one begins.
12:43Gooney, with the first few issues, rejams.
12:51You see the brace on Michael Spinks' right knee. That is something we've seen in fights
12:58before. It was a knee injury that kept him out of boxing earlier in his career.
13:02It's just prevented if he says there's nothing wrong with the knee, but he wants to make sure nothing
13:06happens. Michael Spinks, historically a slow starter, particularly in the second fight against Larry
13:12Holmes when he lost the first four rounds. Cooney, on the other hand, starts fast.
13:18He generally starts fast, as judged by his record, except in the Holmes fight when he paced himself.
13:23But it's interesting to see if he jumps right on Michael.
13:26He has contended ever since the Holmes fight that it was a mistake to pace himself, and he would not do it again.
13:33You see right off that Michael is not running away, as many people expected him to do.
13:42He's moving his head. He's not giving him a set target, but he's not running. He's not on his
13:47bicycle. And there he's getting off a good two-punch combination, generating that offense that we
13:51talked about. You have to give Jerry something to think about. You can't just let him walk in.
13:56Spinks' trainer, Eddie Foote, has intimated to many that relieves Cooney can easily be hit with
14:02the right hand. Spinks has already landed two right crosses. He just landed a low blow, that left hook
14:08low that he landed so many times against Larry Holmes. I didn't hear a warning from the referee.
14:12Good right hand by Michael Spinks. And indeed, it does appear in this round that Cooney is vulnerable
14:19to the Spinks' overhand right. Traditionally, the best weapon in his arsenal. And traditionally,
14:25the best punch to throw against a left hooker. The overhand right against the left hook,
14:30countering left hook. So far, it has been Cooney's jab against Spinks' right hand.
14:44Under a minute to go in round one.
14:46Another scoring limp hand by Michael.
15:03The uppercut is something Cooney has used increasingly in recent bouts. Came back with a left and a right. Two left hooks.
15:10One landed, one missed. That first combination seemed to bother Michael a little bit. Comes back with a good,
15:16stiff jab of his own. In another one. Chris, precise jab by Spinks. Coming back with the right.
15:27Ten seconds to go in the round. Both fighters have done some damage.
15:32One, two, three, four.
15:33One, two, three, four.
15:34One, two, three.
15:35One, two, three.
15:38All right, let's go.
15:39One, two, three.
15:40The jab wants you got to move in twice, and he's going to bend down.
15:44Meet him with the left hook in the body. Every time the jab, you're going to block the jab.
15:49When you jab, expect him to go down. You'll be ready to go down with the double hooks in the body and the hook
15:54with the chin. All right? Don't let it take your play with you. Take your time.
15:58Take your time. Keep your faith. Keep your faith. Stay close and be ready to go down all the time.
16:04Tick-tack all the time. Tick-tack. Nice and cool. Keep your elbows close to your body.
16:11Don't get over time. Give your hand. Watch your right hand.
16:16Advice between rounds one and two from Cooney's trainer, Victor Vallee, sometimes seen as his second father.
16:23One, two, three.
16:27Round two begins. Round one would appear to have been won by Michael Spinks, at least to these observers.
16:35I thought Michael, Fox, an outstanding first round. Did just what he has to do.
16:40Kept Jerry off balance with movement and with punches of his own.
16:43Left hook. Left hook and a right behind it by Cooney. Moved Michael a few feet across the ring.
16:50And you see more movement from Michael now. A little bit more respect for Cooney.
16:55He didn't land any of those punches.
16:56Not as solid with the right as he was in the first round. Good jab.
17:06Right hand of the body. Cooney's right hand is not a big part of his arsenal.
17:11He does throw it well to the body. And that could take away some of Michael Spinks' movements.
17:17And Spinks increasingly is standing still now again in this round, making himself available to Cooney's left hand.
17:26Another good jab. He keeps getting that jab in between Jerry Cooney's hands.
17:31He's been very accurate with his punches so far.
17:36Jerry just scored a punch of his own, but then took another Michael Spinks jab in his face.
17:39Come on. Come on.
17:41Already there is reddening around the nose of Cooney.
17:47Another terrific left hand by Michael Spinks and another.
17:56Those jabs are doing two things. One, they're scoring points.
17:58And two, they're keeping Jerry Cooney from getting set and letting his own hands go.
18:01Indeed. Cooney is not moving forward nearly as assertively as he did at the beginning of the fight or even at the beginning of this round.
18:11Again, the Spinks jab gets home.
18:13Michael's standing much more flat-footed now and getting the better of the scoring.
18:24One minute to go in round two. This has been an unusually fast start for Michael Spinks.
18:30And a terrific right hand.
18:38It will take an accumulation of blows for Spinks to be able to hurt Cooney.
18:43But he has indeed gained the respect that you mentioned a few moments ago, Alex.
18:47You saw Jerry Cooney look over at his corner just then to Victor Valley.
18:51That may be a little bit frustration.
18:54Looking for some help from the corner and solving the problems that Spinks is presenting to him right now.
18:58And indeed, one thing that most Spinks supporters expected was that he would be able to get inside Cooney's head.
19:09And caused his self-confidence to erode. Another good combination inside by Spinks.
19:14And nothing coming back from Jerry Cooney. He's allowing Michael to get in there,
19:17score those punches, and he's not giving anything back.
19:20The first two rounds belong to Michael Spinks.
19:23Terrific. Two-punch combination and a lift.
19:25Let's take a look at some action here at the end of round two.
19:31Michael Spinks followed that jab in with his head to get inside, score heavily there to Cooney.
19:38Their heads are very, very close.
19:42And it's apparent here at the end of round two that when their heads met,
19:45that Michael Spinks got accidentally butted and cut, as you see by his disgusted reaction.
19:50And now cut man Percy Richardson goes to work in Spinks' corner.
19:55There you can see it right on the eyebrow, very close to the bridge of the nose.
20:00Michael Spinks with something brand new to worry about,
20:03as they get ready for the bell in the beginning of round three.
20:10It would be interesting to see if Michael fights differently trying to protect that eye.
20:15Interesting. He's already begun pawing at it with the right glove.
20:19You saw him do so before he left the corner.
20:21Now we'll watch to see if Cooney will go after that cut.
20:29Again, Spinks beating Cooney to the punch.
20:30They both threw left and Michael shot home.
20:34Watch blood has begun to trickle from the cut above Spinks' eye.
20:37And you can see him pawing at it with the glove.
20:39It's bothering him, and if Jerry Cooney's got a target to shoot for it, that left jab.
20:43And he's going after it.
20:44He's going after it.
20:55Spinks more and more becoming the aggressor in the fight.
20:58Startling, really, when you consider all the free fight speculation
21:02that he would merely try to stay away in the early rounds.
21:05You see the movement back and forth.
21:19Jerry Cooney has to move, try to cut off the ring,
21:21and meanwhile he's not throwing any punches.
21:24There's Michael Spinks, take a little time off the clock, stalling.
21:31Alex, you suggested before the fight that ring rust does not hurt a puncher,
21:34but one area in which it can be critical is defense.
21:38And Cooney seems short on reflexes to avoid Spinks' punches.
21:41Well, defense was never Jerry's strong suit.
21:44His defense is his offense, and he just is not letting his hands go now,
21:47and that is a function of the ring rust.
21:49He doesn't have his rhythm, and he's not allowing,
21:52he's not getting set because of Michael's movement and Michael's offense.
22:04One minute to go in round three.
22:08Now Jerry coming on a little bit.
22:13He went to throw the left, and Michael, when he hesitated,
22:16Michael drilled him with his own.
22:17All right, get him loose, get him loose.
22:22Spinks is showing remarkable courage going in at Cooney,
22:25and using his quickness to beat him to the butt.
22:30His instincts are so good, Michael.
22:31He says, I'm going to go out there and see what he's got,
22:33and then I'm going to do what I have to do to win, and that's what he's doing.
22:36He went out, he saw he could go in there, get off his own punches,
22:39and not take punches in retaliation.
22:42That does not mean he's won the fight, however.
22:44Jerry Cooney is a ticking time bomb.
22:46Michael Spinks can win round after round and make just one mistake
22:50and be on the seat of his pants and in desperate trouble.
22:53But again, here in round three, he has landed to this point
22:57with 15 seconds to go in the round.
22:59Far and away, the more effective punches and the greater numbers.
23:02Cooney, though, just came with the left hook.
23:06And the second half of this round was a better round for Jerry Cooney.
23:11In the books, we again watched the work of Percy Richardson
23:18in Michael Spinks' corner as they attend to the cut above Spinks' right eye.
23:27Take a look here at some action from round three.
23:32Jerry Cooney bends down to throw his left hook.
23:34He hesitates, and when he hesitates, he is lost.
23:37Michael Spinks lands his own left and then moves out of range.
23:41Action typical of the fight thus far.
23:45Round four begins in Atlantic City.
23:48To this point, Michael Spinks has had the better of all of the first three rounds
23:53with the use of his left jab, overhand rights, the quick left hook inside.
23:58Cooney has landed some damaging blows, but not enough to score with Spinks.
24:10Jerry is not cutting the ring off.
24:12He's following Michael around.
24:13He's not letting his hands go.
24:17It's as simple as that.
24:29Cooney doubling and tripling with the left hook.
24:32And I think those lefts took a little something out of Michael.
24:35He's fighting back.
24:38It's possible with the heavy hands of Jerry Cooney.
24:42He just looked down at the photographers and told him to step back.
24:45He must have stepped on one of the photographers on his way by there.
24:48Two more good left from Cooney.
24:53It looks like Jerry Cooney is starting to get the ring.
24:58And Spinks has begun to back up once again.
25:01Not coming forward now as he did in rounds two and three.
25:11Warning to both fighters from the referee, Frank Cappuccino, you've got to stop holding.
25:17Cooney there able to block a right with his left hand.
25:20Earlier he did not seem capable of doing that.
25:22He did not seem capable of doing that.
25:28Left hand from Spinks who is sniping more now.
25:31Hitting and moving away.
25:35Much less active round for Michael.
25:37With a little more than a minute left in this round.
25:39He really hasn't scored a good clean blow.
25:45For the first time in the fight, Jerry Cooney is dictating the pace.
25:52The first time in the fight, Jerry Cooney, the first time in the fight.
25:58Indeed, this is a round which should build Cooney's confidence.
26:02Proud beginning to well up behind him a little.
26:08Inside uppercut.
26:10Mike Cooney didn't land clean.
26:12Good left hook.
26:13There's Michael in the corner, moves away.
26:19He wants to use all the ring and never feel the ropes on his back, Michael Spinks.
26:24There he is scoring one good punch inside.
26:28Beating Cooney to the punch inside.
26:30But not really scoring much there, Jim.
26:34Good right to the body by Spinks, I'm sorry.
26:37Round four has been, for the first time, Cooney's round.
26:47Don't keep that head straight.
26:48If you do that, then you dig on the leg and head up.
26:51Understand?
26:52This guy's here to watch when you hurt him.
26:54You gotta believe that.
26:56You hurt him a couple of times and you wait.
26:59Now watch when he comes with a spurt.
27:01I can show you.
27:02Get down and bang with the two hands in the belly.
27:05Two hands in the belly.
27:06You gotta use a joint.
27:08All right, watch head to power.
27:13Grab, please watch the head.
27:15I'm serious.
27:19I don't ask you guys that...
27:20I don't tell you what to do with your fire.
27:32Round five.
27:35Jerry Cooney will try to continue the momentum he gained in the last round.
27:39Spinks exits his corner with two stiff downs.
27:42And enough.
27:44That's the jab Michael didn't throw in round four.
27:48He scored two quick ones here in round five.
27:51And a third.
27:51Spinks, the aggressor, returns.
28:03Cooney retaliates with one left hook inside.
28:05Michael Spinks told us before the fight, there's four ways to avoid a roadblock.
28:20You can go around either side.
28:21You go over or under.
28:22But sometimes you just have to go right through it.
28:25And he is smart enough to know that he has to fight Jerry Cooney.
28:28He just can't run.
28:33The key is how well he fixes spots.
28:35Cooney backing up.
28:39A 15-round fight evolves in chapters.
28:43But for the moment, it would appear that Michael Spinks has been immaculately prepared
28:48and very well prepared for this assignment.
28:51It's hard to believe that what many people consider to be a blown up light heavyweight
28:56like Michael Spinks could back up Jerry Cooney, which he has done here in the first half of round five.
29:02Good right hand by Spinks.
29:03It's going well.
29:04Cooney is hurt.
29:05Cooney is hurt.
29:12Much as he was against Holmes, can't defend himself.
29:16Cappuccino will start the count.
29:17Five, six, seven, eight.
29:23You all right, man?
29:25He is not all right.
29:26He's desperate.
29:27And this fight could very well be stopped if Michael could continue this thing.
29:33Cooney is not throwing at all.
29:37No three knockdown rule in effect.
29:39Five, six, seven, eight.
29:46You all right, you know who I am?
29:47Huh?
29:48Okay.
29:55This fight is over.
29:57Jerry Cooney cannot defend himself.
30:00He doesn't know how to grab.
30:01He's not holding on at all, and he's not fighting back.
30:03He's just taking punches.
30:07There's one punch of retaliation.
30:09Spinks has to correct himself.
30:11He backs off, and Cooney walks right to him.
30:15Spinks may be arm-weary, but Cooney can't stop it.
30:18And Cappuccino's got to stop it.
30:20That's all, Jerry.
30:21That's all, Jerry.
30:23Taking too many shots, Jerry.
30:25That's all, Jerry.
30:26That's all, Jerry.
30:27That's all, Jerry.
30:31That's all, Jerry.
30:31That's all, Jerry.
30:32That's all, Jerry.
30:33That's all, Jerry.
30:34That's all, Jerry.
30:34That's all, Jerry.
30:34That's all, Jerry.
30:35That's all, Jerry.
30:36That's all, Jerry.
30:40For 11 years, Michael Spinks has been undefeated in the ring.
30:44He's faced the big challenges, and he always had the right answer.
30:47And tonight, against a man who was favored against him, a giant, a Goliath.
30:52This David came up with the answer again.
30:54Tremendous heart, tremendous rig intelligence, and an awful lot of guts on the part of Michael Spinks.
31:00And a fight which, because of legal entanglements, jurisdictional disputes, personal acrimony,
31:07seemed for so long, so unlikely, finally takes place and ends with the most unlikely result.
31:15An early knockout by Michael Spinks of Jerry Cooney.
31:20Official time, 2 minutes 51 seconds of the fifth round.
31:26Referee Frank Cappuccino decrees that this fight cannot go on.
31:32Cooney helpless in his own corner.
31:36He never really lost consciousness, Jerry Cooney, but he was just taking too many clean punches.
31:40The referee did absolutely the right thing to stop it.
31:45Here, Alex, the first knockdown.
31:48Michael Spinks took off round four, but he came out in round five, used the jab,
31:52and then power punches with both hands right at the inside.
31:55Cooney had no punching room at all.
31:57And you see Michael just landing punch after punch.
32:00Cooney trying to back off to get some room to breathe.
32:02Cooney, Spinks right in his face, very accurate punches, wasted very few punches at putting down
32:09Jerry Cooney there.
32:10Let's take a look at knockdown number two.
32:13You see Jerry Cooney's face on the receiving end.
32:16Again, Spinks right inside.
32:20Cooney completely unable to tie him up to get by himself any time.
32:25Not getting any punches off the zone, just taking punches.
32:29The overhand right on the temple area.
32:31Michael Spinks and Eddie Fudge said they could hurt Jerry Cooney to the temple,
32:35and Cooney went down again.
32:39Let's take a look here at the final stoppage of the fight.
32:42Cooney on the ropes, trying to defend himself,
32:44but Spinks' accuracy just going through whatever defense Jerry Cooney was able to put up.
32:51And there's Frank Cappuccino stepping in and saying it's all over.
32:57So there it was.
32:58Eleven nights later, a look back at Michael Spinks' nearly flawless performance
33:02in his five-round David and Goliath TKO of Jerry Cooney in Atlantic City.
33:07It had been our hope that Jerry Cooney would also be here with us to look back at that fight.
33:12But that isn't the case.
33:13Jerry was offered an opportunity to appear on this program and declined to appear.
33:18So let's take a look back now at what Jerry had to say to Alex Wallow in the ring right after the fight.
33:23Jerry, what happened?
33:24I just felt tightened. I never got going.
33:26I never got the fluid movement for some reason. I don't know why.
33:29Were you shocked that he came out and traded with you and threw so many punches at you?
33:33I just didn't get going. I never got going in the fight.
33:36All the credits were in the world to him.
33:38He did very well tonight. Those are the breaks.
33:40Jerry, did your inactivity hurt you? Did you feel that that's the reason you couldn't get off while you're tight?
33:45I just never got moving. I should have warmed up a little more. Whatever the reason is, I didn't get going and turn out the way it did.
33:52Jerry, following the loss to Larry Holmes five years ago, you left the ring for over two years.
33:57It took you a long time to get back in. Do you think you'll continue your fighting career now?
34:00I'll take some time out and think about it, and we'll talk again.
34:04Thank you, Jerry.
34:05In the week and a half since that fight took place, there have been reports of a falling out between Jerry Cooney and his management.
34:11Specifically, it has been written that Cooney has not spoken with manager Dennis Rappaport since the loss to Spinks.
34:18Our attempts to reach Rappaport have not met with success, so no further light can be shed on that subject at this time.
34:23When we come back, Alex Wallow will discuss the fight with Michael Spinks.
34:28...of the ring in our ABC Sports studio in New York.
34:30I'm Jim Lampley, along with Mike Tyson, Michael Spinks, and Alex Wallow.
34:34And Alex, a chance now to talk over Cooney Spinks with the winner.
34:38Michael, this is the first opportunity you've had to see a replay of the fight.
34:42In the weeks before the fight, did you ever believe you could score such a sensational knockout?
34:47No. I didn't see how I was going to do it.
34:50But I did believe that things were possible to happen.
34:55You're normally a slow starter, but you dominated Jerry Cooney almost right from the opening bell.
35:00Did you think that you could come out right away and score such heavy punches?
35:03Well, I disagree with the slow starter part. That's the rumors.
35:08But I did. I was very effective in the gym against my taller men, so I thought that I could possibly score very well against Jerry Cooney.
35:18And at once, things came down to a certain pace, because Jerry gives you a lot.
35:23And all I had to do was throw the right punches, and I would connect.
35:28You still have stitches over your right eye. How much did that cut bother you during the fight?
35:32Well, it bothered me very much because, I mean, in a sense, because of Jerry's previous fights.
35:44Every last one, he had each and every opponent bleeding like a hog.
35:48So I said that I didn't want to suffer from these type of things, damages that could possibly end the fight.
35:56So when I noticed that I had collided heads with him, and I felt a burning sensation.
36:04So I knew it was a cut, and I checked it as I went back to the corner, sound of the bell, and it kind of, you know, got to me.
36:10So I knew I had something else to deal with, and the reaction from my corner man, it told me that it was a pretty bad cut.
36:19But knowing that he was good at his trade, I felt confident in dealing with it.
36:27Well, let's take a look at action from the decisive round, perhaps in your long career,
36:31the most single sensational round that you've ever fought. Midway here in round five.
36:39Okay, I was steady moving, lateral moving, and I saw that I could stand with Jerry for a certain amount of time.
36:51And the more I punched, the more he seemed to have gathered on the defense.
36:56Did he ever hurt you?
36:57Uh, some quick punches. I think in the earlier round, he threw a quick right hand off his left hook, and it surprised me.
37:06You had coasted a little bit in round four. Did you sense that you could come out here and take him out here in round five?
37:13Well, not at all. I just, um, I think what the coasting did for me was give me, uh, a large burst of energy.
37:22I mean, there you saw a large burst of energy that put Jerry Cooney down. Were you surprised that he got up, Michael?
37:29No, no. I, I, I always, I look for things to happen like that for myself, but it never happens.
37:36So, I look forward to everybody getting up, giving me the fight that I'm used to getting.
37:42And he goes down again there. It looked almost like he was looking for a place to get some rest.
37:48I, I mean, as easy as he, as he was going down, I guess it's not easy. I mean, it took a great deal of punches to put him down.
37:55I thought that, uh, well, he would relax for a while before he would get up, make any attempt to get up.
38:01So, I said, well, I know he's probably going to recover, and it would go another line. I never knew how many seconds had ticked away.
38:09Coming up right here, he lands one single left hook on you that backs you up. Did this punch hurt you?
38:14Right? No, not at all. There. I was surprised that he, uh, you know, like I said, I, I thought he would recover.
38:20And I, and I thought after beating him so much, normally you beat a guy out of it and back into it. So, I thought I had actually done that to Jerry. Beat him out of it and back into it. And I thought he had recovered. So, I said, well, let me, let me see, let me look at him. I looked at him to see if, to see if he had recovered totally. But he was still kind of drooped over. So, I said, I mean, go ahead.
38:40You've beaten Larry Holmes twice. You've now beaten a Jerry Cooney that was favored. Do you think people will now give you your due as a legitimate heavyweight?
38:47Honestly, I don't really care. I don't, and if they don't, I don't want it. You know, I, I am who I am. I do what I do the best I can do it. And, and I'm satisfied.
38:58Well, Michael, as you noted on the videotape, this man, Mike Tyson, was at ringside that night and now has seen the bout again on videotape. Your reaction to Spinks' performance?
39:07You know, Jim, I, I was impressed. I was totally impressed. I just, I never expected that from him. And it was just tremendous the way he displayed the accuracy. He used his experience. He used his wildliness. He discouraged him. He frustrated him. And he played into his game.
39:23And I see the result was a foregone conclusion.
39:27Pretty good right cross, too, huh?
39:28Unbelievable. Very impressed with it.
39:30All right. When we come back, we're going to sum up the entire question of who deserves to be called the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world.
39:37That'll be right after this.
39:38There are two primary schools of thought with regard to how a man gains recognition as a boxing champion.
39:43One has to do with the three self-appointed governing bodies which are now in the business of sanctioning championship fights.
39:49The so-called alphabet groups, the WBA, the WBC, and the IBF.
39:54All three have evolved within the past 25 years in response to commercial, political, and organizational conflicts within the sport.
40:01They seldom agree on a unified champion in any weight class and have not been in sync on a heavyweight champ since the WBC stripped undisputed title holder Leon Spinks in 1978.
40:11But as a result of the elimination contests in which he has already won two championship belts, Mike Tyson now has a chance to unify the heavyweight crown in the eyes of those sanctioning bodies by defeating the IBF title holder Tony Tucker on August 1.
40:26Tucker won that title, stripped from Michael Spinks, in an elimination bout TKO of Buster Douglas last month.
40:34But there's another important force in boxing, in some ways more powerful than the alphabet groups.
40:41And that force is ring tradition.
40:43Since the days of John L. Sullivan, a part of the mystique of a boxing championship is that it must be won or lost in the ring.
40:51The heavyweight title has a lineage which can be traced through the past century from Sullivan on up to Larry Holmes.
40:57And the man who defeated Larry Holmes in the ring, not once but twice, was Michael Spinks.
41:01So by the standard of tradition, it is Spinks who is heavyweight champ until he loses to another man.
41:08The Ring magazine, founded in 1922, regards itself as a custodian of boxing tradition.
41:13It is in keeping with that philosophy that the ring continues to recognize Michael Spinks as its heavyweight champion.
41:21We at ABC Sports conducted two ad hoc samplings of public opinion among various groups to determine what people think about this.
41:28First among boxing people and writers, those who work within the sport.
41:33In my opinion, it's still Mike Tyson because, as far as I can see, Michael Spinks allowed his title to be stripped so as not to fight Tyson.
41:41Mike Tyson. It's obvious to the whole world he's the heavyweight champ. He's got the belts to prove it.
41:47Michael Spinks is the genuine, no-naugahyde, 100% heavyweight champion of the world because he won the title from Larry Holmes.
41:56On balance, I think Mike Tyson's overall record and the way, the spectacular way in which he's won all these fights, makes him the champion.
42:05Well, I don't know about legitimate in this world of boxing. Who's to say what's legitimate? I just think Tyson's the better fighter right now, that's all.
42:12I think that there are two legitimate claims by Michael Tyson and Michael Spinks.
42:18They both have good reason to claim the title and it won't be settled until they meet.
42:23Now, what about the man on the street here in the United States?
42:27What does the average American boxing fan think of the question of who should be recognized as the true heavyweight champ?
42:35Well, I would say Tyson is the champion of the world.
42:40Tyson's the only champ. He's a beast. He'll beat anybody.
42:43I believe myself that Mike Spinks is the heavyweight champion of the world right now until Mike Tyson beat him and when they fight, Spinks will beat him.
42:51Mike Tyson. It's only because he's got iron in his glove.
42:56I think Michael Spinks is the heavyweight champ legally and I think when he fights Mike Tyson, Tyson will then become the world champ.
43:06Mike Tyson?
43:07Yeah, Mike Tyson. He can beat anybody around.
43:09Michael Spinks. The reason I think it's Michael Spinks is because he won it from the champion.
43:15Michael Tyson. Without a doubt.
43:18Michael Spinks because he beat Larry Holmes.
43:20Mike Tyson, without a doubt. No question about it.
43:24Or Rick Wisniewski.
43:25One more group.
43:29The man on the street overseas because it is, after all, not just an American championship, but a world championship.
43:36Here's how people in other countries answered our question about the heavyweight champ.
43:40They're busy, they're busy, they're busy, they're busy, they're busy, they're busy, they're busy, they're busy.
43:43Oh, Mr. Tyson?
43:46Spinks, maybe.
43:47Spinks?
43:48Spinks, maybe.
43:49In the current situation, Mike Tyson is...
43:52Tyson is also strong.
43:53Tyson?
43:54Oh, Tyson.
43:55And why do you think so?
43:58Well, I don't know any boxers besides Tyson.
44:01Well, Mike Tyson.
44:03I heard that you had such Ali.
44:05Aha.
44:06Muhammad Ali.
44:07I'm not sure about it, but I think he's Mike Tyson now.
44:12In box is Michael Spinks.
44:16Can you hear me?
44:17Mike Tyson, because he's the best.
44:21Mike Tyson, isn't it? It's got to be.
44:22Uh, is he Mike Tyson?
44:24Yes.
44:25Ah.
44:26How's your way, Sean?
44:27I mean, Mike Tyson, of course, young man.
44:30Boxing?
44:31Yeah.
44:31No, my husband do.
44:33I'm a snooker.
44:37It was our intention in those little montages to accurately reflect the range of opinion we encountered on the street.
44:44Interesting to note that here in the United States there was quite a mixture of opinion,
44:47though Tyson was favoured by about a two-to-one margin.
44:50Overseas, for whatever reason, it was almost unanimous for Tyson.
44:54And in the man-on-the-street interviews, not those with inside boxing people,
44:58nobody picked the current IBF world champion, Tony Tucker.
45:02A chance now for these two gentlemen to each in turn stake their claims to the title.
45:06Michael Spinks, why should you be seen as the heavyweight champ?
45:08Well, for reasons of, say, history, as it was shown, as it was traced back to John L. Sullivan.
45:21Crowns are only won and lost in the ring.
45:23And those are my reasons why I still should be considered the heavyweight champion.
45:28And Mike Tyson, what's your argument against that?
45:30Well, I feel, you know, there's no doubt in my mind that he's a great fighter
45:34and he deserves the right to be champion.
45:37And titles are won and lost in the ring, but they've been never given up.
45:41When they've lost, nobody never gave the title up.
45:44I think that was a bad idea, but he feels that he's champion.
45:47I feel that I'm champion.
45:50Perhaps someday in the future we can get together and we can squash it.
45:52Well, that, of course, is what the boxing public looks forward to,
45:56a final settlement in the ring.
45:57And when we come back, we'll discuss the future of the heavyweight division
46:00and the question of when Michael Spinks and Mike Tyson might meet again
46:04inside a boxing ring with bad intentions.
46:07Last time in our ABC Sports ring in New York to reflect again on the question that began the evening.
46:12Who deserves to be recognized as the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world?
46:16Quite obviously, barring catastrophe, these two men, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks,
46:20will someday meet in a ring to settle the issue once and for all.
46:24And with an eye toward that, we ask the two men who will hold the answers to the questions of where and when
46:29that bout will take place for their observations.
46:32First, Jim Jacobs, co-manager along with Bill Caton of Mike Tyson.
46:36Second, promoter Butch Lewis.
46:39We tried desperately to get Michael Spinks to fight Mike Tyson.
46:43Did everything humanly possible to get Michael Spinks to fight our champion.
46:49We were unsuccessful.
46:51I even testified in court to try to force Michael Spinks into the ring against Mike Tyson.
46:57They actually forced us out of the series.
47:01But now, to settle it, we're willing to come to the table right away and settle all that.
47:07We're not running away.
47:09We're not ducking.
47:10Please hear my plea.
47:12We want some Tyson in the ring now.
47:16Now, Michael Spinks has beaten Jerry Cooney, and he wants Bill and I to do an opposite turn.
47:24All of a sudden, we are supposed to ignore our contractual commitments, ignore our verbal commitments,
47:31all of which will make the heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, enormously wealthy.
47:37And we're simply not going to do it.
47:39These commitments, these so-called commitments, can certainly be put on hold for a period of 90 days.
47:46I spoke with Jacobs and Kate.
47:49The commitments are commitments that don't even carry fighter names.
47:54Well, who are you fighting? Don't know yet.
47:56Well, then, why don't you just pencil Michael Spinks in?
48:00We've made plans for a year.
48:02We're going to proceed with our plans.
48:05We're going to ignore the Michael Spinks-Jerry Cooney fight.
48:09And at some time in the future, if there's a reason to sit down,
48:13after we have fulfilled all of our commitments, we'll sit down.
48:17There now, one final look at two great heavyweight fighters sitting together.
48:21Alex Wallow, your turn.
48:22Well, first for Michael Spinks.
48:24Michael, there are those who say that you pulled out of the fight with Mike Tyson
48:27because you're afraid of him.
48:29How do you react to that?
48:30Well, I would say that's a falsehood.
48:32It's very untrue.
48:34And it's make-believe.
48:37I've never been afraid of anybody.
48:39And I think there's no time now to start.
48:42And for Mike Tyson, you follow boxing history.
48:45Is it possible for you to feel that you are the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world
48:50until you beat this man in the ring?
48:51Well, it's not as if Michael's retired or anything and I'm in his shadow.
48:56You know, and if we go by history terms, perhaps someday in the future we can get together.
49:02You know what I mean?
49:03I don't know what goes on with the management.
49:05I hear he would make that chance to fight me.
49:08But until then, I'm going to still get rewarded greatly,
49:11even if people don't think so, pretending I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
49:15Well, a few final thoughts.
49:18I think the question will remain open and discussed until the two men read in the ring.
49:22But until that time, all of this controversy and all of the questions are very good for the heavyweight division.
49:27And, Jim, what's good for the heavyweight division is very good for the sport of boxing.
49:30Indeed it is, Alex.
49:31Yes, and ABC Sports' coverage of boxing will continue, incidentally, tomorrow at 3 o'clock Eastern time
49:36when we bring you live coverage of the IBF junior middleweight championship fight from Montreal
49:41between champion Buster Drayton and challenger Matthew Hilton
49:44as ABC Sports presents Schlitzmalt Liquor Professional Boxing.
49:47Until then, for Alex Wallow, so long and thanks for being with us.
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