Boxing
Michael Spinks Celebrates 70 Years of Greatness in Light Heavyweight Boxing
Published
3 weeks agoon

A superb Olympian, Spinks, along with little bro Leon, won gold in 1976. Going pro in April of 1977, Spinks was soon bamboozling good fighters with his unpredictable, herky-jerky, hard to nail style. Fast, possessing a high ring IQ, and with Spinks showing real power in his “Jinx” of a right hand, the 20-something was soon seeing off men like Tom Bethea, Murray Sutherland, Yaqui Lopez, and Marvin Johnson.
This was superb work for a fast-moving contender. Then, in July of 1981, in what was just his 17th fight, Spinks unseated Eddie Mustafa Muhammad to take the WBA 175 pound title, Spinks dropping Muhammad late and winning a unanimous decision. Title retentions, an impressive 10 in total, would come against the likes of: Vonzell Johnson, Sutherland in a rematch, Johnny Davis, and, in a big unification clash, Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Spinks was brilliant against the dangerous “Camden Buzzsaw,” and he was now perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer out there. But Spinks wanted ultimate glory, and that would come, he knew, up at heavyweight. After four defences of his two belts, with Spinks also picking up the inaugural IBF strap along the way, the 29 year old set about building up his body ahead of his invasion of the heavyweight division. Spinks bulked up to around 200 pounds and, in September of 1985, having declined to take a heavyweight test beforehand, Spinks upset the great Larry Holmes to make history. Spinks won a controversial split decision over Holmes (one that sent Holmes into crazy mode, his infamous post-fight speech proving both hilarious and shocking), with him becoming the first man in history to have moved up from 175 to claim the world heavyweight crown. In terms of belts, Spinks had won the IBF title, this the sole title Holmes had had at the time (Larry having decided to fight exclusively for the new organisation). But Spinks had beaten THE man and he was now the man at heavyweight.
Spinks repeated the win over a still irate Holmes the following April, the rematch also closely decided on the three cards. But Spinks had proven his earlier win was no fluke. Later, an easy defence logged against Steffen Tangstad, Spinks was stripped of his IBF belt for not next facing Tony Tucker. Spinks, with the savvy Butch Lewis guiding him, preferred a bigger payday/easier fight against a rusty Gerry Cooney. Spinks destroyed Cooney over the course of five one-sided rounds in June of 1987.
But there was now a new star of the heavyweight division, his name being Mike Tyson. Tyson had scooped up the WBC, WBA and IBF belts in double-quick fashion, and there was just one man left to fight. Spinks, the linear champ, had no choice. The payday proved staggering, for both Tyson and Spinks, but the fight itself was no fight.
Where was the fearless Spinks who had swapped punches with terrors like Muhammad and Qawi? Nobody knows. Spinks, rattled and unnerved like never before, wore a bemused, some said flat-out terrified facial expression as he awaited the ring entrance of Tyson. It was as we know, all over in 91-seconds.
Spinks would forever be 31-1, and also a fixture on Tyson’s highlight reel. It was a sad way for such a great fighter to go out, but Spinks went out with his health, his money, and with him knowing that he made a big slice of boxing history during his career.
Today, plenty of boxing historians rank Spinks in the Top 5 greatest ever 175-pounders.
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Boxing
Pierce OLeary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights
Published
2 days agoon
August 1, 2026
LIVE COVERAGE
World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.
Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.
The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.
Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results
Times are Local – IST
17:46
Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.
Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.
The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.
17:01
Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.
McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.
16:31
Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.
Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.
Remaining Bouts
• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)
• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)
• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)
• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)
• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)
• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)
• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)
• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)
• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)

Preview
Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.
O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.
The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.
Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.
Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.
Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
Boxing
Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a Dangerman in Conor Benn at 147 lbs
Published
2 days agoon
August 1, 2026
Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has named one half of the main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn as the “dangerman” at 147lbs.
The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with Garcia making a first defence of his WBC world title.
He claimed the belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his surprising points loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025.
Interestingly enough, this defeat came shortly after his year-long doping ban, which he served on account of testing positive for ostarine ahead of his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.
The result of their showdown was then ruled a no-contest, with Garcia subsequently moving up to welterweight after failing to keep below the 140lb limit.
It now seems the 27-year-old is competing at a more natural weight while Benn, who tested positive for clomifene in 2022, has not made 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden that same year.
Speaking with talkSPORTIrish boxing icon McGuigan suggested that this – as well as the 29-year-old’s technical flaws – could prove a major factor against Garcia.
“[Benn’s] got that genetic code from his dad, and he’s got that explosiveness and everything else. But he is predictable – you can see when he’s going to throw.
“You ask yourself: is Garcia just a little bit too sharp for him? A little bit too cute. I think Garcia’s finally found the weight he’s most suitable [for]. I think he’s a dangerman at 147[lbs].
“Maybe Conor Benn has left it a little too late to make 147[lbs] again. I think that could be his Achilles’ heel. I make Garcia a slight favourite but would never write off Conor Benn – he’s got that fighting heart.”
Benn comes off a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis in April, which followed his two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year.
Boxing
Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot
Published
2 days agoon
August 1, 2026
Devin Haney’s immediate future has been thrown into uncertainty after Keyshawn Davis pulled out of their mandated contest on Friday.
The pair had been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO world title, with Davis having been named as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger at 147lbs.
Multiple reports then suggested that the 27-year-old was offered $3m by Top Rank, his promoter, only for ‘The Businessman’ to reject what would have been a career-high payday.
Subsequently, their bout went to a purse bit hearing, where Top Rank trumped Teofimo Lopez’s Takeover Promotions with a sum of $8,550,000.
This therefore gave Bob Arum’s outfit the promotional rights and, as per the usual 75/25 split in favour of the defending champion, Davis would have been entitled to a share of $2,137,500.
Since Thursday’s auction, though, Davis has excluded himself from the fight and left Haney without an obvious opponent for his first welterweight title defence.
Taking to social mediaWBO president Gustavo Olivieri explained that his organisation must now provide their champion with a solution.
“The WBO hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid proceedings and, accordingly, will NOT participate in the WBO welterweight mandatory championship contest against Devin Haney.
“In light of the foregoing, the WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will convene to proceed in accordance with the WBO world championship rules and regulations. The applicable ruling will be rendered and published in due course.”
Re: WBO Welterweight Participant Keyshawn Davis
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Mr. Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid…
— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) July 31, 2026
At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Haney will be immediately ordered to face a new mandatory challenger or, given the situation, have the opportunity to make a voluntary defence.
Either way, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November and is surely eager to return to action.
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