46 years ago

Date: 15th February 1978

Venue: Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBC & WBA World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: CBS Sports

Muhammad Ali
( 55 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 224 1/4 lbs

Leon Spinks
( 6 - 0 - 1 )
Weight: 197 1/4 lbs

Spinks, the 1976 Olympic Games Light-heavyweight gold medalist, shocks the boxing world with a split decision win over Ali.

Coming into this fight Spinks was a 10-1 underdog with a 6-0-1 record. Ali was 55-2-0 at the time.

The fight took place at The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada in front of a sellout crowd of 5,298. CBS broadcast the fight live and drew more than 70 million viewers worldwide.

Spinks was aggressive from the first bell till last and landed more punches on Ali than any other fighter he ever faced. The Associated Press had Ali winning on points by 143-142 but the ringside judges saw it for Spinks.

Scores: Harold Buck 144-141 | Art Lurie 142-143 | Lou Tabat 145-140.