So why'd Michael Spinks retire...?

[Russell]

Was the Tyson fight really that... demoralizing?

Did he just want to call it quits anyway after his 11 year career?

How much money did he make in his final fight? Was it enough to live for the rest of his life on?

[la-califa]

Nothing left to prove, He was a dominant Light Heavyweight Champion. Then went on to Capture the Heavyweight Crown. He could have done nothing but tarnish his image.

[torchkit]

Was the Tyson fight really that... demoralizing?

Did he just want to call it quits anyway after his 11 year career?

How much money did he make in his final fight? Was it enough to live for the rest of his life on?For the Tyson-Spinks fight, Tyson got 22 mil and Spinks got 18 mil. At the time it was the largest purse in boxing history.

Why did Spinks retire? What else could he hope to accomplish? He obviously couldn't compete in the champion league at HW. He probably didn't see any point to slimming back down to LH, to await a new group of young contenders and CW was an empty division at the time. He would never again have an opportunity to fight for even a fraction of the purse he'd made that night.

Nothing more to prove, several million $$ in the bank, still in good physical condition, a motherless child to raise as a single dad...he made the wise choice.

[ajohnfp]

If I remember correctly, Spinks detested fighting, and did it only for the money. I would imagine the Tyson fight was easily enough to live out the rest of his life in luxury.

[apollack]

He got his mega payday and got out of there. He had millions of reasons to be done. Plus, he was already semi-retired even before that fight if you look at his record.

[salsanchezfan]

I think ajohnfp has it right; Spinks was by now pretty well off and never liked boxing to begin with. What better time to call it quits? What was he gonna do from there anyway?

[jackiebrown]

i believe what everyone here says...what was the point? .. his resume speaks for itself .. 30 some fights.. with that many scalpes on his record.. what more ?

the man got out of there with all his brains intact...

gotta admit .. a super fight at cw with holyfield would have been nice!

[Boilermaker]

He got his mega payday and got out of there. He had millions of reasons to be done. Plus, he was already semi-retired even before that fight if you look at his record.

Spinks actually retired (for a very short time) before the Tyson fight was signed, when negotiations for a "unification" broke down. he was technically brought out of retirement for the tyson fight.

It is a shame in some ways that Spinks didnt get to fight Holyfield, it would have been a great fight. It is also a shame that Tyson caught him so clean so early. And when tyson has you in trouble, he generally finishes you off. He may just be the greatest ever, once he gets his man in trouble. At least, in his prime he certainly was.

I was one of the silly ones that thought spinks would beat Tyson. I would have loved to see Spinks weather the early storm, and made a fight of it. I think that a prime spinks beats Tyson at any point after the prison break. I also think that Tyson Spinks II would have been a lot closer than anyone else believes. But sadly Spinks' age meant he retired and that was probably the best decision since he had done his homework. It is a shame thought that his legacy is spoiled just because he was caught cold early by arguably the greatest ko puncher ever. It is quite possible that Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Foreman and even Ali would have went exactly the same way if caught cold like spinks was.

[mr. magoo]

I agree with some of the previous posts. This was a guy who between his championship fights at lightheavyweight, along with his heavyweight paydays against Holmes, Cooney and Tyson, was well off financially, and had more than enough of a legacy to be satisfied with. He was an olympic gold medalist and a champion in two weight classes. Plus, he saw a future in promoting, which he persued. What's more, it was a telltale sign that he was preparing to get his ducks in order when he dodged Tony Tucker and gave up his IBF title in 1987, probably assuming that he would get called out later for a much bigger purse. I don't think Spinks had his goals set to be the next Muhammad Ali. If you ask me, I think he was a great fighter who played his cards right.

[jackiebrown]

yeah ! .. i agree with magoo .. but i mean heck ..he was sort of the ali of lightheavyweight ..i mean he beat EVERYBODY there!!! .. he was champ forever it seemed like..

plus big wins over holmes and cooney at heavyweight... i dont think he spends to many nights up wondering what could have been lol thats for sure

[JohnThomas1]

When it comes to well times retirements, Spinks is in the top 10 in boxing history. Beatifully times retirement, and Sal and co above expand on it well.

[Marciano Frazier]

Well, he'd already won the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. He'd been there and done that with the light heavyweight division, and had proven himself more than dominant. He had already been heavyweight champion, although his title reign had been lackluster, and there was no chance he was going to beat Tyson in a rematch and regain the title. He was certainly quite well off with the money from his distinguished career and especially the Tyson fight. This would have seemed quite the appropriate time to retire.

[Mendoza]

It would have been nice to see Spinks fight one more time. Spinks was a great fighter. You don't want to end your career on a 1st round KO loss at age 32.

I bet Spinks to this day regrets not fighting one more time. Perhaps not to Tyson, but anyone else.

[Titan1]

He won the undisputed light heavyweight belt, won the heavweight title, and there was no more horizons to conquer.And if you don't like to fight to begin with, better to get out then end up tragically damaged like some other fighters we know.

[JohnThomas1]

It would have been nice to see Spinks fight one more time. Spinks was a great fighter. You don't want to end your career on a 1st round KO loss at age 32.

I bet Spinks to this day regrets not fighting one more time. Perhaps not to Tyson, but anyone else.

I can't see how it matters, and he prolly had about 18 000 000 reasons not to. Stretching it, but just say he somehow gets permanently damaged.

[Unforgiven]

Perhaps more fighters should follow the example of Spinks, Hagler, Marciano.

Spinks retired at the IDEAL time.

[Vantage_West]

If I remember correctly, Spinks detested fighting, and did it only for the money. I would imagine the Tyson fight was easily enough to live out the rest of his life in luxury.if he was an olympian why the hell did he do it for free...

[JohnThomas1]

if he was an olympian why the hell did he do it for free...

To get to the pro's and then make money.

[ironchamp]

His loss to Tyson showed that even if he stayed on the HW scene at some point he'd have to fight Tyson again. Assuming he's taking on top contenders.

Cruiserweight wasnt that attractive and at that point in his career he didnt want to get back down to LHW although I must say a fight with Evander Holyfield at Cruiserweight would have been pretty good. Shame it didnt happen.

[Unforgiven]

Evander Holyfield had already moved up to heavyweight, and debuted against James Tillis 3 weeks after Spinks lost to Tyson.

[mr. magoo]

Evander Holyfield had already moved up to heavyweight, and debuted against James Tillis 3 weeks after Spinks lost to Tyson.

Yes, and not to mention, that probably wouldn't have made Spinks the kind of payday that would have made it worth his while. Although Holyfield was a Cruiser champ, he didn't have much market value at the time, and with Spinks just losing to Tyson in 91 seconds, I don't think the public would have paid much to see it.

[Unforgiven]

Yes, and not to mention, that probably wouldn't have made Spinks the kind of payday that would have made it worth his while. Although Holyfield was a Cruiser champ, he didn't have much market value at the time, and with Spinks just losing to Tyson in 91 seconds, I don't think the public would have paid much to see it.

I disagree with the claim that Holyfield didn't have much market value at the time.
He was exciting and popular enough to be considered the next mega-money fight on Tyson's horizon.

Of course, a cruiserweight fight would never have grossed like Tyson-Spinks did, or some later heavyweight fights, but Holyfield was already among the top 5 or 6 most marketable names in boxing at the time (behind only Tyson, SRL, Hearns and Chavez ) by my reckoning.

[Dempsey1238]

People were relly looking for a Tyson Holyfiled fight in 1991 or so. Before the rape case and all that of couse.

[brownpimp88]

How much did he make against holmes, cooney and qawi?

[DocDevil]

Nothing left to prove,he was young, had money,his son.Plus he watched the very rapid slide of his older brother Leon.

[mcvey]

For the Tyson-Spinks fight, Tyson got 22 mil and Spinks got 18 mil. At the time it was the largest purse in boxing history.

Why did Spinks retire? What else could he hope to accomplish? He obviously couldn't compete in the champion league at HW. He probably didn't see any point to slimming back down to LH, to await a new group of young contenders and CW was an empty division at the time. He would never again have an opportunity to fight for even a fraction of the purse he'd made that night.

Nothing more to prove, several million $$ in the bank, still in good physical condition, a motherless child to raise as a single dad...he made the wise choice.
Totally agree,it was the right time to say goodbye,no future in the Heavy ranks ,the prospect of making weight back down to the LHs,plenty of dough in the bank,why continue?

[Duodenum]

Mike Spinks was his own manager, resulting in him getting a much larger percentage of the profits from his matches than brother Leon. (Something the older Spinks admitted envying his brother when they got paid, back in the day.)

Well into retirement, he continued a very close relationship with his promoter Butch Lewis. (At times, they seemed more like brothers than Mike and Leon, hardly the sort of arrangement retired boxers usually enjoy with Don King or Bob Arum.)

After Mike returned from his triumph in Montreal, he took a regular job, and was chewed out by his boss when he was caught sleeping on it. As a professional, he was exactly that, professional. He stoically accepted the training process, but that tolerance didn't necessarily mean that he was enjoying boxing. It was a means to an end. But the sleeping incident does point to something of a lazy streak. Win or lose, I think Tyson would have always been his last bout. He didn't need anything in the way of money after that, and he wasn't a Larry Holmes (who did do it for money, but also enjoyed schooling Mercer and Beanfart) or a Muhammad Ali (who missed the glory).

His professionalism paid off big time, when he got the call to substitute for an injured Mike Rossman, who was scheduled for a rematch with Ramon Ranquello. It was his second bout in a month, but he always kept himself in good shape, and his impressive win (jabbing Ranquello into a bloody mess) gave him a reputation for responsible behavior and self-discipline which contrasted sharply with the uncontrolled antics of Leon. (And his own eventual conquerer, Tyson. What is it about winning the undisputed heavyweight championship which turns somebody into a nutcase like Neon Leon, Iron Bite and Riddickulous anyways?)

There were rumblings about him coming back a few years after the Tyson loss, but these amonted to no more than the notion of a Marciano comeback against Ingo. Boxing experts agreed that if he were to make such an attempt, it would have to be as a light heavyweight again to be viable.

Nothing can take away the fact that he'd already made history by climbing directly from the LHW Championship (which he'd reunified for the first time since Foster abandoned it) to the top of the heavyweight ranks. He proved for the RJJs, Moorers and Toneys that it was possible to be an excellent heavyweight after moving up from a lower weight class in the modern age. He had nothing left to prove, and nothing else to gain.

[Bill1234]

IMO he had great timing when he retired, just starting to go down hill, but just enough to notice. IMO he knew that he was lucky to get the heavyweight crown, and IMO he knew he was very lucky in the timing when he did so...right before Tyson made it to very, very top, and when Holmes was 3-4 years past his prime. IMO he took his pay days from Holmes, Cooney, and Tyson and ran with them, like others here have stated.

[Rumsfeld]

For the Tyson-Spinks fight, Tyson got 22 mil and Spinks got 18 mil. At the time it was the largest purse in boxing history.

Why did Spinks retire? What else could he hope to accomplish? He obviously couldn't compete in the champion league at HW. He probably didn't see any point to slimming back down to LH, to await a new group of young contenders and CW was an empty division at the time. He would never again have an opportunity to fight for even a fraction of the purse he'd made that night.

Nothing more to prove, several million $$ in the bank, still in good physical condition, a motherless child to raise as a single dad...he made the wise choice.

Co-signed.

[groove]

It is quite possible that Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Foreman and even Ali would have went exactly the same way if caught cold like spinks was.

hahaha. Spinks lost before the first punch was thrown. Think Ali would be shitting it. I think not LOL.

[ChrisPontius]

Speaking of his health, does anyone know if he's punchdrunk today?

[Bill1234]

I don't think he is, but I know he gave up on Leon. I think he's still going along just fine, but I don't think he still has all of the millions he earned, I think he is sort of upper middle class, or lower upperclass (yes I made that last one up).

[mr. magoo]

I don't think he is, but I know he gave up on Leon. I think he's still going along just fine, but I don't think he still has all of the millions he earned, I think he is sort of upper middle class, or lower upperclass (yes I made that last one up).

I think Michael is still doing OK financially. I haven't read anything in the last 20 years to suggest that he was anywhere near bankruptcy, and in fact, he made a few bucks promoting a few fighters, including his relative Cory Spinks. M. Spinks is a smart fellow who had a reputation for managing his money well and staying out of trouble.

I agree with Bill's statement however, that he has cut most of his ties with his brother Leon. Frankly, I don't blame him. In 1997, I ran into Leon Spinks at the Chicago Palmer House Hilton Hotel. He was one of maybe only 4 people ( including myself ) drinking in the bar at 12 AM. I was down there for business purposes, and enjoying a few late night spirits. I engaged in a 5 minute conversation with him, most of which was uncomprehensable, when he asked if I would buy him a few drinks. Thats when I realized how bad off he was, and just threw him a $20 dollar bill and said " later dude ".

[brownpimp88]

How do you think michael spinks would have done against the following heavyweights from the 80s?
Tony tucker
Tim Witherspoon
John Tate
Bonecrusher Smith
Buster Douglas
Trevor Berbick
Pinklon Thomas
Gerrie Coetzee
Greg Page
Tony Tubbs
Miek Weaver

[mr. magoo]

How do you think michael spinks would have done against the following heavyweights from the 80s?
Tony tucker
Tim Witherspoon
John Tate
Bonecrusher Smith
Buster Douglas
Trevor Berbick
Pinklon Thomas
Gerrie Coetzee
Greg Page
Tony Tubbs
Miek Weaver

I'm not going to take the time to go through this whole list in its entirety, but I feel that Spinks could have faired well against a lot of these fighters, if well trained and properly motivated.

Page, Douglas, Smith, and Berbick were beaten by fighters who were of far less quality than Spinks. Berbick for example, was outboxed by St. Gordon who was a cruiserweight, and Douglas was drawn with against Tangastad and beaten by Ferguson and White. Page was defeated by so many low quality fighters its hard to even keep track.

I think Spinks would have struggled against a fighter like Tim Witherspoon, who gave even the best of natural heavyweights trouble, but on an off night? Who knows?

[brownpimp88]

If spinks would have defeated 4-5 more heavyweights from 85-89, his legacy would be so much bigger, its a shame that he decided to leave after a 32 fight career.

[Duodenum]

I think Michael is still doing OK financially. I haven't read anything in the last 20 years to suggest that he was anywhere near bankruptcy, and in fact, he made a few bucks promoting a few fighters, including his relative Cory Spinks. M. Spinks is a smart fellow who had a reputation for managing his money well and staying out of trouble.He also comes across as a likable person with a cheerful attitude, a personality which would work well in a broadcasting medium, if he were to pursue such a career in the future. I remember him guest commentating on a few bouts, and he did an entertaining, intelligent and energetic job. (His contemporaries, Saad Muhammad and Mustafa Muhammad, would also be very good at that kind of work. Matt is extremely well-spoken, and Eddie has a wit and sense of humor which go over well on a telecast.)

At the age Michael retired at, it can be a challenge to continue for a lifetime without producing further income, no matter how much one has salted away, or how carefully it's managed. (Joltin' Jeff Chandler wasn't reckless with his earnings, yet he was down to around $40,000 left when enshrined in the IBHOF.) Without the financial arrangement which set Joe Frazier up with a guaranteed lifetime source of income while still at his peak, Smoke would almost surely be destitute today.

My understanding is that he still maintains an active partnership with Butch Lewis, and they have appeared together in the past at IBHOF Induction Weekend. The media vultures feed on sordid stories like the downfalls of Tyson, Ali and Louis. There is no such news about Michael, and in his case, I would intrepret no news as being good news. While I don't no much about his personal life since hanging up the gloves, I would imagine that he might have put his daughter through college by this time (which can be a costly venture itself, when paying cash up-front for it).

[florin3k3]

Well, he'd already won the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. He'd been there and done that with the light heavyweight division, and had proven himself more than dominant. He had already been heavyweight champion, although his title reign had been lackluster, and there was no chance he was going to beat Tyson in a rematch and regain the title. He was certainly quite well off with the money from his distinguished career and especially the Tyson fight. This would have seemed quite the appropriate time to retire.

Why not go fOr a rematch? If he got $18 mil for the first fight, he could have easily gotten $5-10mil... maybe a bit more for a rematch. He could have built the fight by saying it was a fluke or something like that. Best case scenario he beats Tyson, worst case he gets ko'd in the first ( nothing different). Another big payday

[Clinton]

I remember reading at the time that he retired to take care of his kids as his common-law wife,Sandra Massey,had been killed in an accident.Anyone?

[Clinton]

He also comes across as a likable person with a cheerful attitude, a personality which would work well in a broadcasting medium, if he were to pursue such a career in the future. I remember him guest commentating on a few bouts, and he did an entertaining, intelligent and energetic job. (His contemporaries, Saad Muhammad and Mustafa Muhammad, would also be very good at that kind of work. Matt is extremely well-spoken, and Eddie has a wit and sense of humor which go over well on a telecast.)

At the age Michael retired at, it can be a challenge to continue for a lifetime without producing further income, no matter how much one has salted away, or how carefully it's managed. (Joltin' Jeff Chandler wasn't reckless with his earnings, yet he was down to around $40,000 left when enshrined in the IBHOF.) Without the financial arrangement which set Joe Frazier up with a guaranteed lifetime source of income while still at his peak, Smoke would almost surely be destitute today.

My understanding is that he still maintains an active partnership with Butch Lewis, and they have appeared together in the past at IBHOF Induction Weekend. The media vultures feed on sordid stories like the downfalls of Tyson, Ali and Louis. There is no such news about Michael, and in his case, I would intrepret no news as being good news. While I don't no much about his personal life since hanging up the gloves, I would imagine that he might have put his daughter through college by this time (which can be a costly venture itself, when paying cash up-front for it).
Duo,I believe Butch Lewis passed away not to long ago.Again,anyone?

[Duodenum]

Duo, I believe Butch Lewis passed away not to long ago. Again, anyone?I typed that old post in October 2007. Butch died of a massive heart attack at age 65 last July 23rd, nearly four years later.

[Clinton]

I typed that old post in October 2007. Butch died of a massive heart attack at age 65 last July 23rd, nearly four years later.
Cheers,man:good.Always liked Butch.Thought he was good for the sport.The shirtless tux look was hilarious !!!!!!!!

[MagnaNasakki]

I'd imagine he sensed his own decline and thought he had nothing left to prove.

An amazing career, lots of money made, his faculties intact. He probably felt himself slowing in the gym and in sparring, and when he ran into Tyson, it was probably a clear indicator that his time at the top of his division was over.

Sometimes fighters don't want to continue if they can't be at the very top of the sport. Just a small decline from top 5 to something less can lead a proud champion to call it quits. Oscar De La Hoya. and Sugar Ray Leonard come to mind.

[Duodenum]

Cheers,man:good. Always liked Butch. Thought he was good for the sport. The shirtless tux look was hilarious !!!!!!!!It speaks volumes for him that he continued the close relationship with Michael that he did throughout their lives after. Yeah, I liked Butch too. He seemed like much more of a big brother to Michael than Leon ever coulda been. I remember how hoarse his voice was when he was interviewed with Michael the morning after Holmes I, after screaming his head off. The two of them together may have been the most fun post fight interview I've ever seen. (Caller: "Mike, how's the added weight feel?" Michael, thoughtfully looking down at his body as he bounced up and down on the sofa: "It feels good!" Another caller: Mike, whoya gonna make your first defense against? Michael, looking at Butch as they're giggling together: "Uh gee, I didn't think about that! I guess now I gotta defend it, don't I Butch?")

Earlier, I remember Michael's downcast dejection when the rematch with Eddie Mustafa Muhammad fell through. Easy Eddie failed to make the 175 weight limit necessary for a title return. At first, Butch and Michael decided to go ahead with a non title bout, so Mustafa Muhammad would have no excuses for losing, but then they decided "not to dignify Eddie" in a raucous press conference. The failure of this to come off left Michael with his head bowed in dejection, while Butch was wiping tears off his face. Eddie has only himself to blame for not being in top shape when they did square off, and when the rematch fell through. Butch and Michael actually wanted a championship defense rematch for the now undisputed LHW Title worse than Mustafa Muhammad wanted a shot at it. I think they did the right thing skipping a non title return. Eddie later made 175 with ease for Mwale. Why did he fail when it really mattered?