From the archive · June 12, 1982
Michael Spinks vs Jerry Celestine
WBA World Light Heavyweight Title · Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Record 20-0-0 · 173¾ lb
Record 23-6-1 · 174¼ lb

The fight
Michael Spinks successfully defended his WBA Light Heavyweight title for the fourth time against Jerry Celestine at Atlantic City's Playboy Hotel & Casino on June 12, 1982. The champion improved his perfect record to 21-0 when referee Jimmy Rondeau stopped the contest at 1:58 of the eighth round.
Spinks, weighing 173¾ pounds, methodically broke down the 174¼-pound challenger over seven rounds before landing a decisive right uppercut that left the 33-year-old Celestine defenseless against the ropes. The former sparring partners' familiarity with each other was evident in the early rounds, with Spinks suffering a cut by his left eye from an accidental head clash in the opening frame.
At the time of the stoppage, all three judges - Eva Shain, Harry Cecini, and Ishmael Fernandez - had identical scores of 68-65 for the champion. The ABC Wide World of Sports televised bout marked Spinks' fourth stoppage victory in his last five title defenses, while Celestine's record fell to 23-7-1.