Michael Spinks stepping down

Press, 25 October 1985, Page 32

Michael Spinks stepping down

NZPA-Reuter Mexico City

Michael Spinks, the World Boxing Council light-heavy-weight champion, would surrender his title at the end of this month, a WBC spokesman said. Spinks’ manager, Mr Butch Lewis, telephoned the WBC president, Mr Jose Sulaiman to tell him the champion would publicly announce his decision to step down on October 30, he said.

Spinks contravened WBC regulations by holding two world championships simultaneously, and was asked to relinquish his International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title if he wished to bh recognised as the WBC champion. The spokesman said it still had not been decided who would contest the vacant crown.

But Sulaiman said in Bangkok two weeks ago that the new champion would be decided in a bout between first and secondranked contenders, Marvin Johnson, of the U.S., and Ghana’s Prince Mama Mohammed.

In another development, the WBC said its medical

committee had recommended that all title fights be limited to 12 rounds.

It quoted Britain’s Dr Adrian Whiteson, the joint president of the medical committee, as saying it had been demonstrated that boxers were better protected against serious injury by reducing bouts from 15 to 12 rounds.