Spinks, Ali rematch in September

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 32

Spinks, Ali rematch in September

NZPA-Reuter New Orleans Leon Spinks will defend his world heavy-weight boxing championship in a rematch against Muhammad Ali at the Superdome in New Orleans on September 15.

The promoter, Bob Arum, who staged the February 15 fight in Las Vegas when Spinks surprised the boxing world by taking the crown from Ali, will stage the September fight in conjunction with a New Orleans organ-

isation, Louisiana Sports Incorporated. The Superdome, the world’s largest enclosed arena, can hold 85,000 people for boxing. Arum said that he hoped to pay Spinks and Ali about SSM each in purses but the figures would depend on whether he received his asking price of S7M for the American television rights. Louisiana Sports, headed by Sherman Copelin, would pay S3M for rights to the “live” gate receipts. Arum said that all three main United States net-

works, C. 8.5., N.8.C., and A.8.C., were interested in obtaining the television rights.

All received $3.5M and I Spinks $300,000 for their I Las Vegas match. One month after that upset, the World Boxing Council stripped Spinks of his title for refusing to .make his first defence against Ken Norton, the number one contender. The W.B.C. proclaimed Norton the champion but Spinks is still recognised by the World Boxing Association and the New York State Athletic Commission.

Another promoter, Don j King, was expected to announce Norton’s first title (defence against the undeifeated Larry Holmes yesterday. Spinks, who is building up a reputation for tardiness, arrived an hour late for the signing ceremony at the Hilton hotel before about 200 reporters, photographers, and officials. “When I was champ, I never made anybody wait for me to show up,” said Ali.

After the contracts were signed, Ali said, “It’ll take a

lot of effort but I can take it back. I’ll be the first heavyweight ever to take the title three times.”