Spinks retains W.B.A. title

Press, 20 September 1982, Page 20

Spinks retains W.B.A. title

NZPA-Reuter Atlantic City Michael Spinks on Saturday knocked down the challenger, Johnny, Davis, in the eighth round before stopping him in the ninth to retain his World Boxing Association light heavyweight title for a fifth time. , The referee. Larry Hazzard. halted the scheduled 15round bout after two minutes 27 seconds of the nineth round after Spinks crashed a -straight right into Davis’s chin. Davis, shielded by his seconds, cried as he left the ring. Blood was trickling from cuts over his swollen left eye and lower lip. Davis opened aggressively, forcing Spinks to the rope’s, and landed more punches in the first three rounds. But after the fourth round. Davis lost his punching power and began clutching the champion. Spinks flew into Davis in the eighth round, landing punches almost at will as the

r worried challenger tried desperately to cover up. Spinks, who won the title : from Eddie . Mustapha ; Muhammad 14 months ago. ; _sent Davis to the canvas with i a right chop to the ear. but i the challenger beat the count just before the bell sounded. With this bout, the champion ties Bob Foster's record ; of four title defences within i a single year. The victory i takes Spinks a step closer to ; a title unification showdown later this year with the ; World Boxing Council chami pion. Dwight Braxton, who ; was sitting at the ringside, i Spinks, weighing 78.5 kg. extended his record to 22-0. while Davis. 78 kg. dropped . to 13-4.

Davis, who gave up his farm life in North Carolina to pursue a boxing career, was never a hard puncher but had a remarkable knack for upsets. He is the only man to have beaten Braxton. As an amateur. Davis twice beat Gerry Cooney.