Editing Michael Spinks (section)

===Spinks vs Tyson===
{{Main|Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks}}
The fight between Spinks and Mike Tyson took place in June 1988, with Tyson knocking Spinks down twice on his way to a first-round knockout. Tyson and [[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]] were the only fighters to officially floor Spinks. It was Spinks's first defeat in the professional ring, and his last, as he retired following the fight. In this fight he was badly affected by fear.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Norris|first=Luke|date=2020-04-01|title=Why Michael Spinks Didn't Want to Leave His Dressing Room to Fight Mike Tyson|url=https://www.sportscasting.com/why-michael-spinks-didnt-want-to-leave-his-dressing-room-to-fight-mike-tyson/|access-date=2020-11-05|website=Sportscasting {{!}} Pure Sports|language=en-US}}</ref>

Spinks had a record of 31 wins and 0 losses, prior to the fight, with 21 wins by knockout as a professional, and still held [[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]] magazine heavyweight title, and had a legitimate claim to the [[Lineal championship|Lineal heavyweight championship]], for he never had been beaten for his title before them being stripped from him. And he only lost recognition for both when he lost to Tyson.

In addition to his success as a heavyweight, Spinks is generally considered one of the greatest light-heavyweight champions and fighters of all time. He was the only light-heavyweight champion to remain undefeated in the entire history of the division since its inception in 1903 (until [[Joe Calzaghe]]), as well as the only reigning light-heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title.

''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' Magazine in 2002 ranked Spinks as the third greatest light-heavyweight of all time, behind [[Ezzard Charles]] and [[Archie Moore]], but ahead of [[Tommy Loughran]], [[Bob Foster (boxer)|Bob Foster]], [[Harold Johnson (boxer)|Harold Johnson]], [[Maxie Rosenbloom]] and [[Billy Conn]]. Furthermore, Spinks did what no other light-heavyweight champion had ever done up to that point: move up to win the world heavyweight championship, by decisioning IBF champion [[Larry Holmes]] in 1985.<ref>BoxRec, [http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Division-By-Division_-_The_Greatest_Fighters_of_All-Time Division-By-Division - The Greatest Fighters of All-Time, As selected by The Ring magazine in various years, Lt Heavyweights], September 2002 Issue</ref>

On ''The Ring'' Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, Spinks was ranked 42nd.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time! |journal=The Ring Yearbook: 2003 Edition |date=October 2003 |page=96 |url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_100_Greatest_Punchers_of_All-Time!}}</ref>

On ''The Ring'' Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, released in 2002, Spinks ranked 41st.<ref>[http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_80_Best_Fighters_of_the_Last_80_Years The 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, as selected by the ''Ring'' Magazine in the Annual 2002 Volume II Issue]</ref>

East Side Boxing said in its tribute to Spinks, "Michael Spinks went undefeated fighting during the deepest era in Light Heavyweight history. And he beat the real heavyweight champion to win the title, who was also undefeated. Michael Spinks is the most accomplished light heavyweight champion in history."<ref>Lotierzo, Franbk [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=1985&more=1? "Michael Spinks: An Appreciation"]</ref>