On September 21, 1985, a 29-year-old Michael Spinks (27-0, 19 KOs) got a shot at the IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles held by 35-year-old Larry Holmes (48-0, 34 KOs).
Spinks came in to the fight on a 27-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 15 days. Holmes was on a 48-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 1 day.
Michael Spinks defeated Larry Holmes via unanimous decision and wins the IBF and The Ring titles. Spinks improves his record to 28-0, while Holmes adds a loss to his record at 48-1.
On April 19, 1986, Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes met again in an immediate rematch.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 28-fight win streak with a 67% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months and 29 days. Holmes was on a -1-fight win streak with a 69% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 29 days.
Michael Spinks defeated Larry Holmes via split decision in the rematch and successfully defended his IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles. Spinks improves his record to 29-0, while Holmes adds a loss to his record at 48-2.
On June 15, 1987, the 30-year-old The Ring heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (30-0, 20 KOs), faced a 30-year-old Gerry Cooney (28-1, 24 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 30-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 9 months and 9 days. Cooney was on a 3-fight win streak with a 82% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 year and 15 days.
Michael Spinks stopped Gerry Cooney via TKO in the 5th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his The Ring heavyweight title. Spinks improves his record to 31-0 (21 KOs), while Cooney adds a loss to his record at 28-2.
On September 6, 1986, the 30-year-old IBF and The Ring heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (29-0, 19 KOs), faced Steffen Tangstad, in a title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 29-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 4 months and 18 days.
Michael Spinks stopped Steffen Tangstad via TKO in the 4th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF and The Ring heavyweight titles. Spinks improves his record to 30-0 (20 KOs)
On March 18, 1983, the 26-year-old WBA light-heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks (22-0, 16 KOs), and the 30-year-old WBC and The Ring light-heavyweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi (19-1-1, 12 KOs) faced each other for the undisputed world championpionship.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 22-fight win streak with a 72% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months. Qawi was on a 18-fight win streak with a 57% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 26 days.
Michael Spinks defeated Dwight Muhammad Qawi via unanimous decision and wins the WBA, WBC, and The Ring light-heavyweight world champion — and becomes the undisputed light-heavyweight world champion. Spinks improves his record to 23-0, while Qawi adds a loss to his record at 19-2-1.
On February 23, 1985, the 28-year-old undisputed light-heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (25-0, 17 KOs), faced a undefined David Sears undefined in an undisputed title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 25-fight win streak with a 68% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 11 months and 29 days.
Michael Spinks made easy work of David Sears, stopping the challenger via TKO in the 3rd. Spinks improves his record to 26-0 (18 KOs)
On April 11, 1982, Michael Spinks and Murray Sutherland met again in a rematch.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 19-fight win streak with a 68% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 29 days.
In the rematch, Michael Spinks stopped Murray Sutherland via TKO in the 8th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBA light-heavyweight title. Spinks improves his record to 20-0 (14 KOs)
On February 13, 1982, the 25-year-old WBA light-heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (18-0, 12 KOs), faced Mustafa Wassaja, in a title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 6 days.
Michael Spinks stopped Mustafa Wassaja via TKO in the 6th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBA light-heavyweight title. Spinks improves his record to 19-0 (13 KOs)
On November 7, 1981, the 25-year-old WBA light-heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (17-0, 11 KOs), faced Vonzell Johnson, in a title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 17-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 20 days.
Michael Spinks stopped Vonzell Johnson via TKO in the 7th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBA light-heavyweight title. Spinks improves his record to 18-0 (12 KOs)
On June 6, 1985, the 28-year-old undisputed light-heavyweight world champion, Michael Spinks (26-0, 18 KOs), faced a undefined Jim MacDonald undefined in an undisputed title defense fight.
Spinks came in to the fight on a 26-fight win streak with a 69% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 14 days.
Michael Spinks stopped Jim MacDonald via TKO in the 8th round of the 15-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles. Spinks improves his record to 27-0 (19 KOs)