31.08 - Upsets are a part of boxing, and if anyone knows a thing or two about them it's Larry Holmes. Holmes' streak of upsets, and or screw jobs, is most recently brought up with the name of Brian Nielson, in which Holmes lost a controversial decision on foreign ground a few years back. One cannot forget that Holmes has fought way past his time and age continues to grow on his bones. But there was a time when Holmes was near history, a time when it looked as though he would break Rocky Marciano's career win mark without a loss.

Then came Michael Spinks.

At 48-0, thirty-six years of age, having taken ten men's zeros, and defended the heavyweight crown more than anyone besides the Brown Bomber, Larry Holmes had already established himself as a legit ring warrior and soon-to-be legend of the sport. But Larry Holmes is a man built on pride, a winner at heart and someone who will never stop doing what he wants until he sees fit.

To Larry Holmes Michael Spinks was a great light heavyweight, but an unproven, untested, and in some cases an unworthy heavyweight contender. The public built Spinks future around his first bout with Holmes and he saw it as a sort of slap in the face to the greatness he had obtained over the years.

As if a panel of boxing experts were whispering, " Holmes doesn't have it anymore. Spinks is going to prove he's washed up." But with a champion and ring savvy warrior like the Eastern Assassin, one can never count him out.

Michael Spinks, 27-0 at the time, was never afraid to be doubted and going into this fight he planned on using it to his advantage. A win over a legend like Holmes would help prove to the world that he was as legit a heavyweight as there ever could be. After all, Spinks wasn't out to prove anything to himself. He knew he could beat Holmes, but it was the public that thought different.

Going into this fight there was plenty on the table for both fighters. Holmes refused to use his age as an excuse and preached weeks into the fight that he could beat Spinks and out shine Marciano's unbeaten record. Not to mention that by winning against Spinks Holmes would already have more heavyweight title defenses than The Rock, and now more victories while on top.

But nothing gold lasts forever.

From the opening bell Michael Spinks attacked Larry Holmes like he had been fighting at heavyweight for five years and had a few defenses of the crown under his belt. He was able to get inside and throw five and six punch combinations, then move out of the way, dodge a few jabs, and continue at his pace. For the most part it looked like Spinks, who had to adopt a new style of physical training to get up to 200lbs, was pushing Holmes around and making his case for present domination a lot stronger.

The old cat, Holmes, still made it a very close fight. He was able to pepper Spinks with his jab for a full fifteen rounds, causing a small amount of swelling under Spinks eyes. Holmes brought the jab but forgot about his most lethal punch, the punch that had signified his career: His right hand bomb.

He jabbed Spinks to death and kept Spinks on the outside as the later rounds came into play. It appeared as though Holmes was fighting a technically sound fight, one of perfection in most people's eyes. Spinks started to slow down, stay at bay and every once in awhile throw a combination that would get a reaction from the crowd. But the combinations would come either at the very beginning of the round or the very end. For the most part it appeared that Holmes was doing just enough to win the whole round.

After each round Spinks sat in his corner with his jaw dropped to the floor panting like a Golden Retriever. He didn't look like he could last, but then he would come back out and fire a combination and work his way inside.

Holmes wouldn't give much. He started throwing the right hand a little bit as the championship rounds passed, but he didn't throw any punches with bad enough intentions to discourage Spinks from continuing to work. At the end of the night the official scores were 143-142 twice and 145-142, all in favor of Michael Spinks.

Let the fun and games begin. After hearing the scores Larry Holmes broke himself. This was a fight that would make or break a fighter, but never like how Holmes had shot himself in the foot. The old grump went on to question the judges, even going as far as to say that they " must drink before coming to the fights."

But the quote that brought the shockwaves was one on Rocky Marciano and his not being able to hold Holmes' jockstrap. Those words lit a fire in the sports world. To this day Larry Holmes is looked down upon for, as he says, "telling the truth."

Michael Spinks won in one of the biggest upsets in boxing on that night, but most of the boxing public saw it for Larry Holmes. Was Holmes robbed? If so, why? In the end it doesn't matter because this is boxing and anything can happen. No matter how many "screw jobs" we see, we always come back for more.

Like us, Holmes got more of Spinks seven months later.

This is part one of a new series "Upsets, Screw jobs, and everything that is Boxing." Look back for part two next week. Mike Samuels can be reached at Tyson180@aol.com