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What a night it was on February 15, 1978! Boxing fans were treated to a fifteen round thriller. ’me result made it an evening that will go down in sporting history. It was one of those rare occasions when the world title changed hands.

let's imagine the situation. In one corner was ﬁne chanpicn, the ever-inposing Muhammad Ali, who supposedly floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. He was in his- fifty—eighth professimal bout and his twenty-third title match. Only mice had he lost. 'Jhe first defeat was to Joe Frazier and the second to Ken Norton. No one denied that he had slowed down in recent years, but he was an old pro, and his experience and wisdom always seemed to see him through.

'Ihe challenger was leon Spinks, a nere novice in carparison to his opponent. His amateur credentials were impress—- ive, but he had fought

as a professional oan seven times. Even those

weren't all victories.He had knocked out five opponents, decisioned another, and had Scott 1e Doux hold him to a draw. Olly twice had he gone as far as ten rounds. The confrontation with Ali was scheduled for fifteen. Many observers doubted that he would last the distance.

Yes, Ali seemed a safe bet. His superiority appeared mmhehtﬁng. On top of his experience and the distance of the fight, he dominated the tale of the tape. He outweighed his challenger 224 /4 to 1971/4, a difference of fully oventy seven pounds. He was also one and half inches taller and had an extra four inches in reach. Spinks' only important physical advantage was his twelve year edge in age.

Mamied was such a unanimous favorite that no odds were even issued. As for himself, he seemed as confident as ever. That was evident despite his refusal to discuss the fight. When soneone wished him luck, for instance, his reply was typically Ali: "Don't need no luck to beat a DJd<," he snapped. Angel Angelo Dundee, his trainer, was equally

optimistic. He cemented that,‘ "I think Spinks is a well conditioned kid, but I think he'll run out of gas. Ali is in the best condition he's been in for seven years." After all, how could a challenger earning $300,000 for the bout upset the charrpicn. whose fee was $3.7 million? Such a possibility seem- ed ridiculous. Ali was considered, as the movie of his life is called, "The Greatest."

The fight itself was long and gruelling. Spinks started off surprisingly well, but by the eleventh round the chanp seened in oatm- and. (lily later, when he was expected to be weakest, did the upstart

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challenger clind'1 the victory. He did well in the thirteenth round and clearly wcn the fourteenth. The fift— eenth though, was the one that truly settled the issue. Ali managed to connect with three good hooks and a right, but Spinks kept attacking. He outslugged the older man in the final thirty seconds and stung him badly with a powerful hock just as the bell rang. Young leon had stolen the heavyweight crown and stunned the world of boxing.

me can only be pleased by Spinks' success. We love to occasionally see the underdog win, to watch the little guy batter the big guy. ‘lhe

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new titlist's nodesty in victory makes him especially pleasing. 'Ihat in itself is a refreshing contrast to the d'ianpion to whcm we've grown accustomed.

Ali though, has been , fighting so long, and has given fans so many thrill thrills, that we must also feel sorry for him. Why, oh why didn't he retire while on top? 'Jhat's scnething we may never know. He says he'll regain his title, but let's not count on it. With Spinks in charge, and with Ken Nortcn and Jimmy Young also in the picture, it won't be easily available to anyone. Especially to a thirty—

six year old.