Michael Spinks shattered Larry Holmes’ pursuit of boxing history on September 21, 1985, taking a 15 round unanimous decision at the outdoor arena of the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Holmes (48-0, 34 KOs) entered the ring needing one victory to match Rocky Marciano’s iconic 49-0 mark. Another successful title defense would equal Joe Louis’ division benchmark of 20 consecutive defenses. The 35-year-old champion walked into the ring as a 6-1 favorite against a challenger moving straight up from the 175-pound ranks.
Spinks (27-0, 19 KOs) had unified the light heavyweight division, yet history stood firmly against him. Predecessors
