One Punch from the Promised Land

by John Florio

  ———. “The Iron Ball and the Bible.” Sports Illustrated, March 13, 1978.

  ———. “The Louisiana Purchase.” Sports Illustrated, October 2, 1978.

  ———. “Michael Played the Heavy.” Sports Illustrated, September 30, 1985.

  ———. “Oh Brothers—They Put Punch Into It.” Sports Illustrated, August 9, 1976.

  ———. “One More Time to the Top.” Sports Illustrated, September 25, 1978.

  ———. “They Got Leon All Messed Up.” Sports Illustrated, March 27, 1978.

  Saraceno, Jon. “Ali, Spinks Cross Unsteady Paths to Help Support Brain Study.” USA Today, February 18, 2012.

  Simms, Gregory. “The Other Side of Leon Spinks.” Jet, June 8, 1978.

  “Spinks’ Girlfriend Killed in Philly Auto Collision.” Jet, January 24, 1983.

  Newspapers and Wire Services

  Abel, Allen. “It’s So Tough That the Cops Don’t Dare Come in the Buildings.” Globe and Mail (Toronto), February 17, 1978.

  ———. “Spinks Wasn’t Ready Second Time.” Globe and Mail (Toronto), September 18, 1978.

  Anderson, Dave. “Ali! Ali!” New York Times, February 16, 1978.

  ———. “‘Don’t Stop,’ but He Did.” New York Times, April 21, 1986.

  ———. “A Reign Is Ended as Face Shows Stings of Defeat.” New York Times, February 16, 1978.

  ———. “Sports of the Times: Loss to Age Not Candles.” New York Times, September 22, 1985.

  ———. “Sports of the Times: The Other Larry Holmes.” New York Times, April 19, 1986.

  ———. “They’re Trying to Steal Leon.” New York Times, February 28, 1978.

  Archdeacon, Tom. “Michael Spinks’ Lessons Beyond Boxing.” Miami News, June 12, 1987.

  “Armstrong Punches Out Olympic Ticket.” The Associated Press, June 6, 1976.

  Aschburner, Steve. “He Would Rather Switch Than Fight.” Star Tribune (Minneapolis), June 26, 1988.

  Barnes, Bart. “Promoter Lewis Is No. 3, and Trying Harder.” Washington Post, July 3, 1983.

  Barrish, Chris, and Sean O’Sullivan. “Estate of Promoter Butch Lewis Hit With Lawsuits.” News Journal (Wilmington), October 30, 2011.

  Berger, Phil. “Ali’s Made-for-TV Challenger.” New York Times, January 29, 1978.

  ———. “Boxing: Death at Hands of Elusive Foe.” New York Times, July 29, 1990.

  ———. “Cash Fight Snarls Unification Series; King, Lewis Trade Verbal Punches.” New York Times, January 26, 1987.

  ———. “Lewis Promotes Himself as Well as the Fighters.” New York Times, May 30, 1983.

  ———. “Spinks Learns Value of His Work.” New York Times, April 14, 1986.

  Boswell, Thomas. “A Champion’s Roots Spinks; Champ Now Prey of Ring Sharpies.” Washington Post, February 19, 1978.

  Bradley, John Ed. “Spinks: Alone for the Ride.” Washington Post, July 10, 1983.

  ———. “Spinks Believes ‘Anything’s Possible’; Holmes’ Challenger Already Has Proved He Can Survive St. Louis Ghetto. Washington Post, September 18, 1985.

  Brady, Dave. “King, Arum Swap Slurs as Boxing Heads for Courts; King, Arum Trade Slurs Over Spinks.” Washington Post, March 29, 1978.

  Broeg, Bob. “Spinks Brothers Fight for a Future.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 4, 1976.

  Brown, Sylvester, Jr. “At Pruitt-Igoe, Crime Moved in Fast, Doomed Experiment.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 6, 2005.

  ———. “Monument to Failure Lies Fallow Amid Ghosts of Danger and Decay.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 2, 2005.

  Bruton, Mike. “A Weighty Decision for Spinks.” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 8, 1985.

  Burns, Robert. “Today’s Focus: St. Louis Tops the Murder Heap.” The Associated Press, April 3, 1980.

  Cady, Steve. “U.S. Is Assured 7 Boxing Medals.” New York Times, July 28, 1976.

  Carnicelli, Joe. “Spinks Feels He Won’t Be a Pushover for Holmes.” United Press International, June 11, 1981.

  Cipriano, Ralph. “A Cutman Who’s Above All the Rest.” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 27, 1991.

  “Close-Knit American Boxers Seek Six Gold Medals Tonight.” The Associated Press, July 31, 1976.

  Cooper, Richard T. “Anatomy of a Housing Failure.” Spokesman-Review (Spokane), September 1, 1971.

  Dahlberg, Tim. “Former Heavyweight Champion Spinks Reflects on His Rise to Top and His Decline.” The Associated Press, February 16, 2003.

  Doogan, Brian. “The Big Interview: Leon Spinks.” Sunday Times (London), October 3, 2006.

  Dorr, Dave. “Boxers Play Cinderella.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 1976.

  ———. “Leon Steals Spotlight from Cosell.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 20, 1976.

  ———. “Michael Watches Leon Strike Closer to Gold.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 27, 1976.

  ———. “Wanted Preachers: Boxers’ Mother Credits the Lord.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 1976.

  “Fight Night for Spinks, Cooney.” The Associated Press, June 15, 1987.

  Finney, Peter. “Auditorium Makeover Sweeps Away Memories.” Times Picayune (New Orleans), May 2, 1995.

  Fiske, Jack. “Spinks at 200 for Holmes Fight.” San Francisco Chronicle, September 21, 1985.

  Giegerich, Steve. “Loss of Corvette a Turning Point for St. Louis Manufacturing.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 10, 2011.

  Gildea, William. “Confronting the Riddle of Spinks; In the Mountains, Waiting for the Bell.” Washington Post, May 29, 1988.

  ———. “Leon Spinks Looks to Answer the Bell; Former Champ, 41, Fights Here Saturday.” Washington Post, October 19, 1994.

  Goldstein, Alan. “Spinks Trying to Shake Obscurity.” Baltimore Sun, October 22, 1994.

  Gordon, Jeff. “Leon Spinks Should Punt Latest Idea.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 3, 1988.

  Gordon, Randy. “Michael Spinks Now Stands Tallest Among the Light Heavyweights.” The Ring, May 1983.

  Greer, T. “Spinks’ Choice: Daughter or the Ring.” Philadelphia Inquirer, July 14, 1983.

  Grossfield, Stan. “Riches to Rags; Years After Gaining World Fame and Fortune, It’s Been a Hard Fall from Glory for Leon Spinks.” Boston Globe, December 21, 2005.

  Gustkey, Earl. “A Longshot: Once Again, the Odds Are Against Him, but Don’t Ever Count Out Michael Spinks.” Los Angeles Times, June 26, 1988.

  ———. “Tyson Does a Minute-and-a-Half Waltz; It Takes 1:31 to Make Spinks a Lightweight.” Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1988.

  Haas, Al. “Spinks Finds Peace in his Big Rural Home.” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 24, 1985.

  Hanson, Lloyd. “Spinks’ Downfall Retold by Camp Lejeune Trainer.” Wilmington Star–News, July 13, 1980.

  Hasen, Jeff. “Spinks Belts Cooney in Fifth.” United Press International, June 16, 1987.

  Hinman, Kristen. “Prized Fighter: Boxing in St. Louis Will Never Die—Not as Long as Kenny Loehr Has a Kid in the Ring.” Riverfront Times (St. Louis), December 3, 2008.

  Hoffer, Richard. “Leon Sinks Teeth Into a Comeback: Bark May Be Worse Than Bite, but Tell Johnny, He’s Back.” Los Angeles Times, February 6, 1985.

  ———. “Maybe Michael Spinks Is Taken Too Lightly; After All, There’s Leon.” Los Angeles Times, September 21, 1985.

  ———. “It’s Spinks vs. Cooney Tonight, and Non-Title Bout Leaves Fans Cold.” Los Angeles Times, June 15, 1987.

  ———. “Spinks’ Toughest Opponent: Self-Doubt Still Getting the Better of Fighter Despite His 30-0 Record.” Los Angeles Times, June 14, 1987.

  “Holmes Wants Loss to Spinks Reversed.” The Associated Press, June 25, 1986.

  Izenberg, Jerry. “The Champion.” Star-Ledger (Newark), September 19, 1985.

  ———. “Down & Sloppy.” Star-Ledger (Newark), April 20, 1986.

  ———. “E pluribus Unum.” Star-Ledger (Newark), March 19, 1983.

  ———. “El Dorado.” Star-Ledger (Newark), June 24,
1988.

  ———. “Emotional Tug of War Rages to Tear Spinks Brothers from Nest.” Star-Ledger (Newark), March 16, 1978.

  ———. “Of Fallen Idols.” Star-Ledger (Newark), April 17, 1986.

  ———. “The Long Shot.” Star-Ledger (Newark), September 20, 1985.

  ———. “Miracle of Miracles.” Star-Ledger (Newark), September 16, 1978.

  ———. “Spinks, Futch a Perfect Match.” Star-Ledger (Newark), June 13, 1987.

  Katz, Michael. “Ali: Ready, Willing, but Is He Able?” New York Times, September 29, 1980.

  ———. “Holmes Aims to Stop Spinks but Sets His Sights on Retirement.” New York Times, June 10, 1981.

  ———. “Leon Spinks Fights to Pay the Bills.” New York Times, March 5, 1983.

  ———. “Leon Spinks in Search of Himself and Title.” New York Times, June 8, 1981.

  ———. “Michael Spinks Finds He’s Too Good for His Own Good.” New York Times, February 23, 1985.

  ———. “Michael Spinks Is Under Pressure.” New York Times, July 13, 1981.

  ———. “Spinks Blows Up a Storm in Training.” New York Times, January 11, 1978.

  ———. “Spinks Facing ’Ol What’s His Name.” New York Daily News, September 5, 1986.

  Kindred, Dave. “World Moves, Champ Spins; Despite Public Statements, Ali Admires His Conqueror.” Washington Post, August 27, 1978.

  Kriegel, Mark. “True Champ Michael Spinks Survives Boxing, Retirement with Grace.” New York Daily News, July 26, 1998.

  Krupa, Gregg. “Legendary Boxing Trainer Emanuel Steward Dies.” Detroit News, October 25, 2012.

  Kunda, John. “A 200-Pound Surprise for Holmes.” Morning Call (Lehigh Valley), September 21, 1985.

  Lader, Martin. “Boxers Are U.S. Hope.” United Press International, July 30, 1976.

  “Leon Spinks’ Career May Be Nearing End.” The Associated Press, June 1, 1988.

  Lincicome, Bernie. “Boxing Finally Meets Its Match.” Chicago Tribune, February 18, 1985.

  ———. “Holmes Went a Fight Too Far.” Chicago Tribune, September 22, 1985.

  ———. “Little Doubt of Spinks’ Fate.” Chicago Tribune, September 20, 1985.

  Litsky, Frank. “Roland Schwartz, 85, Coach of Prominent Amateur Boxers.” New York Times, April 8, 1998.

  Logan, Greg. “Spinks’ Man; Gambling, Scrambling Butch Lewis Plays His Ace for Boxing’s Biggest Pot.” Newsday (New York), June 26, 1988.

  ———. “Spinks Still Feels the Pain from a Year-Old Tragedy.” Newsday (New York), February 25, 1984.

  Macdonald, Bob. “Leon Spinks ‘Born Again.’” Daily Telegraph (London), February 1, 1985.

  Malone, Ray. “Romney Looks Over High-Rise Complex.” The Associated Press, May 15, 1971.

  Marantz, Steve. “Spinks Faces Biggest Test Alone.” Boston Globe, March 16, 1983.

  Markus, Robert. “Leon Spinks Lands With ‘No Regrets.’” Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1989.

  Matthews, Wallace. “Kicking Leon When He’s Down.” Newsday (New York), July 11, 1988.

  ———. “Spinks’ Farewell to Fists; Occasional Tears During Speech.” Newsday (New York), July 28, 1988.

  ———. “Spinks and Tyson? Not Soon.” Newsday (New York). January 21, 1988.

  ———. “Tyson Is Skimping on Prep for Spinks.” Newsday (New York), May 5, 1988.

  ———. “Underdog and Loving It; Spinks Says He Is Typically ‘Scared’ and ‘Worried’ Before a Fight, but Tyson Isn’t Buying the Modesty.” Newsday (New York), June 20, 1988.

  “Michael Spinks Arrested on Gun Charge.” The Associated Press, January 6, 1983.

  “Michael Wears Smile; Mamma Wears Medal.” United Press International, August 3, 1976.

  “Mike Spinks Wins Easily.” United Press International, July 28, 1976.

  Miller, Ira. “Cuba Mastery: Double Gold, Stevenson KO.” United Press International, July 30, 1976.

  Moore, Shelley. “The Making of a Fight Promoter.” New York Amsterdam News, September 8, 1979.

  Moore, Terence. “Jones Should See Spinks’ Precedent.” Atlanta Journal–Constitution, March 1, 2003.

  “Mrs. Spinks, Sons Are Jubilant at Montreal Reunion for Bouts.” United Press International, July 31, 1976.

  Murray, Jim. “The Other Spinks Lives in Slow Lane.” Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1987.

  ———. “When Little Champs Fight the Big Champs, It’s Lights-Out Time.” Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1985.

  “Olympic Boxing Official Picks Ali Over Spinks.” United Press International, February 12, 1978.

  Pepe, Phil. “Will Braxton-Spinks Be Like Arguello-Pryor?” New York Daily News, March 18, 1983.

  Phillips, Angus. “‘New’ Spinks Still Lights Up the Ring; Neither Time nor Smile Has Changed for the ‘New’ Leon Spinks.” Washington Post, June 11, 1981.

  Povich, Shirley. “Heavyweight Fight Picture Is Fuzzy and a Counterfeit.” Miami Herald, November 4, 1984.

  “Prayers Answered for U.S. Boxers.” United Press International, July 28, 1976.

  Richmond, Peter. “Spinks Has Small Ego in His Corner; No-Brag Attitude Isn’t Nonchalance, He Warns.” Miami Herald, June 23, 1988.

  Roberts, Randall. “It Was Just Like Beverly Hills.” Riverfront Times (St. Louis), June 1, 2005.

  Rogal, James C. “‘God Bless’ Anonymous Trip Donor.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 30, 1976.

  Rule, Sheila. “Boxers’ Mother Credits the Lord.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 1976.

  ———. “Missing Spinks Link Springs Up in Time.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 5, 1976.

  Schmitz, Brian. “Tyson-Spinks Weigh-In an Exercise in Boredom.” Orlando Sentinel, June 26, 1988.

  Schuyler, Ed. “An AP Sports Analysis.” The Associated Press, September 24, 1985.

  ———. “Michael Spinks Fights with Fear.” The Associated Press, June 26, 1988.

  Seltzer, Robert. “Outside the Ring, He Fights Stereotypes—and He Wins.” Philadelphia Inquirer, May 22, 1988.

  Seymour, Gene. “The Facts of Her Life—She Was a Champ’s Girlfriend… but There Was More to Sandra.” Philadelphia Daily News, January 10, 1983.

  Shales, Tom. “Flying with Spinks; After the Big Fight, Reaping the Hypothon Harvest at CBS.” Washington Post, February 17, 1978.

  “Since Turning Professional, Michael Spinks Has Been Best Known as Leon’s Little Brother.” United Press International, July 17, 1981.

  Smith, Elmer. “On Floor at the Shore Spinks Drops Cooney, Wins by TKO in 5th.” Philadelphia Inquirer, June 16, 1987.

  Smith, Red. “On Viewing the Fight from Boston.” New York Times, October 5, 1980.

  Smith, Sam. “Breathless Cooney Defenseless.” Chicago Tribune, June 17, 1987.

  ———. “Fame Eludes ‘Other’ Spinks.” Chicago Tribune, June 5, 1985.

  ———. “Leon Spinks Finds His Way; Errant Fighter Returns With ‘God On My Side.’” Chicago Tribune, March 31, 1985.

  Sons, Ray. “Boxers Step into the Lion’s Cage.” Chicago Daily News, July 31, 1976.

  “Spinks Brothers Head Boxing Team.” The Associated Press, June 7, 1976.

  “Spinks Starts Fast, Flattens Foe in First.” Boston Globe, July 20, 1976.

  Taylor, Leon. “Guilty Plea on Gun Is Fine with Spinks.” Philadelphia Daily News, April 5, 1983.

  Timmermann, Tim. “Becoming a Champion Has Been Cory’s Destiny; Road to Title Is Filled With Pain.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 14, 2004.

  Tuite, James. “Spinks Defeats Ali to Capture Title.” New York Times, February 16, 1978.

  Waters, Mike. “Holmes Gets Overdue Respect; Hall of Fame Inductee Larry Holmes Dominated His Era with Little Fanfare.” Post-Standard (Syracuse), June 8, 2008.

  ———. “Young U.S. Boxers in ’76 Overcame Hardship, Doubt.” Post-Standard (Syracuse), June 9, 2006.

  Weich, Susan. “Boxing Legend Kenny Loehr Still Ringside at 80.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 13
, 2012.

  Wheatley, Tom. “After the Gold Rush, Work Ethic Pushes Michael to the Top.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 26, 1988.

  ———. “Marine Corps Couldn’t Handle Leon Spinks.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 1988.

  ———. “Spinks’ Left Uppercut Could Stop Heavily Favored Tyson.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 27, 1988.

  White, M. J. “Round 1: It’s a Draw in the War of Insults.” Miami Herald, July 14, 1983.

  Whiteside, Larry. “Holmes TKOs Spinks in 3.” Boston Globe, June 13, 1981.

  Winderman, Ira. “Leon Spinks Back in Ring Today; Ex-champ Has Nothing to Lose, Title Shot to Gain, He Hopes.” Fort Lauderdale News & Sun-Sentinel, January 17, 1987.

  Ziegel, Vic. “Saturday Night Is Latest Leon Spinks Comeback.” New York Daily News, October 23, 1994.

  Websites/Films/Miscellaneous

  “Factsheet; The Games of the Olympiad.” Olympic.org, May 2012.

  Friedrichs, Chad. The Pruitt-Igoe Myth. Directed by Chad Friedrichs. New York: First Run Features, 2011.

  HUD. “Pruitt Homes and Igoe Apartments Public Housing Complex: Final Environmental Impact Statement.” September 1974.

  “Induction Statistics.” sss.gov/induct.htm.

  Johnson, Lyndon B. “Special Message to the Congress Proposing a Nationwide War on the Sources of Poverty.” March 16, 1964.

  Linder, Doveed. “An Interview with Leon Spinks.” BoxingTalk.com, May 1, 2004.

  Maysles, Albert. Muhammad and Ali. Directed by Albert Maysles. ESPN, 2009.

  Mladinich, Robert. “Charles Mooney, Money and What Might Have Been.” TheSweetScience.com, February 1, 2006.

  ———. “Where Are They Now? Michael Spinks.” TheSweetScience.com, November 4, 2007.

  Tallent, Aaron. “The Joke That Almost Ended Ali’s Career.” TheSweetScience.com, February 20, 2005.

  INDEX

  A

  Abernathy, Earl, 234–35

  Abraham, Seth, 150, 151

  fight tournament, 172–73

  and Lewis, 188, 189