http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/michael_spinks/75146 Recent articles about Michael Spinks en-us With two fight cards under its belt this year, Bobby D Presents will now stage its biggest event to date this year on Friday, May 24th, when “San Diego Fights” makes its debut at the historic Bing Crosby Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  Known for its all-action bouts filled with explosive match-ups, Bobby DePhilippis guarantees that the upcoming card, the first of seven exciting monthly shows scheduled at the fairgrounds this year, will be no different. As an added bonus, fight fans will receive one FREE 2013 San Diego County Fair admission ticket with every boxing ticket purchased, a value of $14. Featured in the main event will be Vista’s Aaron “Gavilan“ Garcia (10-3-2, 2KOs) as he returns to his hometown in a featured featherweight six rounder. A rising pro, Garcia is best known as one of the most decorated amateur fighters to come out of San Diego with more than 150 fights, multiple Golden Gloves titles, a silver medal at the Pan-Am Games and a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic tea... Wed, 15 May 2013 23:28:14 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/san_diego_fights_returns_may_24_with_local_prospects_and_leon_spinks_iii/13627520 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/san_diego_fights_returns_may_24_with_local_prospects_and_leon_spinks_iii/13627520 San Diego Fights returns May 24 with local prospects, and Leon Spinks III http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/san_diego_fights_returns_may_24_with_local_prospects_and_leon_spinks_iii/13627520 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/2/f26e33dbcbe8e4048e1f711f29a14aa40f48698b/mini/WBAWBCIBF_Welterweight_Championship_6fb2.jpg   Mike Tyson is a striking figure even at age 46.   He no longer looks like the baddest man on the planet. Or the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. And while he still has a squat, heavy build, aside from his auspicious facial tattoo, he doesn't even look particularly menacing.   But looking beyond the physical man, the one who fought 58 times over a 20 year professional career, and punched his way through an untold cadre of brawls in the streets and back alleys of Brooklyn, you find a quietly simmering figure who has an energy that swirls around him; that he exudes even when he is standing motionless.   It's a sort of pent up ardor... an angst that begs for expression. In his youth he foisted it upon his hapless opponents in the ring.   Having ridden the undulating waves of recovery and relapse for large chunks of his life, now middle-aged, “Iron” Mike is enjoying the crest of a recovery period. His one-man show "Mike Tyso... Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:21:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mike_tyson_at_this_stage/13524077 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/mike_tyson_at_this_stage/13524077 Mike Tyson At This Stage http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/mike_tyson_at_this_stage/13524077 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/2/9239005f5fb9f500201d207404caa5b3756e5ccf/mini/GettyImage.ashx_url_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f71125103.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3dC741680DF7CB86E33D1C1F6F17496F97FB972F1C4F9A67451A4F91417BD0090B.jpg There was a time, before Buster Douglas erased his aura of invincibility and before prison eroded his skill and will, when boxers feared, avoided and melted in Iron Mike Tyson's presence the way golfers weakened in Tiger's shadow before Thanksgiving 2009. This all came to a head for Tyson in 1988, his 35th professional fight. He stormed across the ring and eviscerated a quivering, previously undefeated, 31-year-old heavyweight champion Michael Spinks in 91 seconds. Spinks never fought again. Tyson became a legend, the baddest man on the planet and arguably its most famous. Two months after the Spinks fight and just seven months after his first marriage, Tyson and Robin Givens sat down with Barbara Walters on 20/20 and gave us our first significant glimpse into the price of evoking that kind of fear, legend and fame. A decade later, Tiger Woods Mike-Tysoned the golf world, winning the Masters by 12 strokes, provoking widespread panic throughout golf clubhouses and launching his legend and fame to th Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:35:26 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/can_anything_stop_lebron_james/13086550 http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/can_anything_stop_lebron_james/13086550 Can anything stop LeBron James? http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/can_anything_stop_lebron_james/13086550 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/93b148cfc9a1e4b71b009db04b74df502b5eaadb/mini/6904592.jpg On this day in 1988, boxing great Mike Tyson signed a seven-fight deal with HBO for $26.5 million. Unlike most other prize-fighters, Tyson was surrounded by trustworthy management that let him keep the majority share of that contract. In 1988, Iron Mike earned a total of approximately $35 million just through boxing; he made millions more via endorsement deals with Eastman Kodak, Pepsi, and Nintendo. The most lucrative fight of the deal with against Larry Holmes in 1988. In our $26.5 million deal, people assumed -wrongly, I might add – that the money was divided equally for the seven fights. But it didn’t work that way. The Larry Holmes fight, for instance, went for $5 million. Others were priced at $2 million.” – Seth Abraham of HBO Tyson handed Larry Holmes the only knockout loss he ever had in 76 fights as a pro [video below]. Once Holmes went down, the only boxer considered to have any type of chance against Tyson was Michael Spinks. Read about the Spinks fight here.   Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:19:04 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/today_in_sports_history_16_tyson_signs_a_big_contract/12591964 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/today_in_sports_history_16_tyson_signs_a_big_contract/12591964 Today in Sports History (1/6): Tyson Signs a BIG Contract http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/today_in_sports_history_16_tyson_signs_a_big_contract/12591964 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/d/0db71bc958ab54e210807a515bdd8d0ddf48a82e/mini/Evander_Holyfield_III_8153.jpg You gotta be f---ing kidding me. In a society that increasingly supports caged human cockfighting -- aka MMA -- has a proud history with boxing, cheers lustily whenever fights break out inside a hockey rink and builds Roman Empire-stylized coliseums for football games, a 320-pound, sweet-talking lineman has somehow convinced a segment of America that Chiefs fans are the sick and disgusting bad guys. You gotta be f---ing kidding me. You damn straight a small percentage of Chiefs fans cheered loudly when two overgrown Ravens knocked Matt Cassel smooth the hell out. Did we not cheer when Mike Tyson curb-stomped Michael Spinks? Google the knockout work that made Anderson Silva the MMA's most beloved star and tell me if you hear respectful silence or wild, joyful hysteria? We love violence and Eric Winston's hypocritical ass is wealthy because he's relatively adept at inflicting it. The only thing all that unusual about the smattering of cheers that greeted Cassel's glazed-eyed trip to the turf Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:11:56 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/kc_fans_ire_directed_at_gm_owner/11910451 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/kc_fans_ire_directed_at_gm_owner/11910451 KC fans' ire directed at GM, owner http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/kc_fans_ire_directed_at_gm_owner/11910451 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png A woman who gave birth to boxing promoter Butch Lewis' daughter after his death is seeking money from his estate. Louise Cummings had the baby in April, nine months after Lewis died at age 65. She wants the child declared a beneficiary of the estate and requested interim payments of $3,250 a month until the case is resolved. Her attorneys withdrew that request at a hearing Wednesday in Delaware after The Associated Press objected to closing of the courtroom and the judge indicated it likely would be denied. Attorneys for Lewis' estate say no beneficiaries can be paid until creditors are satisfied. They have reached a tentative settlement with boxer Michael Spinks, whose claims exceed the estimated estate value of about $8 million. Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:38:29 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_promoters_estate_subject_of_legal_fight/11874331 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/boxing_promoters_estate_subject_of_legal_fight/11874331 Boxing promoter's estate subject of legal fight http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/boxing_promoters_estate_subject_of_legal_fight/11874331 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Back on June 23rd, the San Fernando Valley's legendary Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, CA hosted its first boxing event in 17 years before an appreciative full house. On Saturday night, August 11, Goossen Tutor Promotions, the Valley's first family of boxing, will present the second program in its "LIVE AT THE LODGE" series of boxing events held every two months throughout the year designed by promoter Dan Goossen to produce a number of "Tomorrow's Champions, Fighting Today." In the main event, 2008 U.S. Olympian Shawn Estrada (14-0, 12 KOs) will square off with undefeated Felix Piedra (8-0-1, 5 KOs) in a scheduled 8-round light heavyweight contest -- with both fighters taking on their toughest challenge to date. In addition to the main event, young knockout artist Jessie Villanueva (3-0, 3 KOs) of Palmdale, CA. - who won by first-round TKO in the inaugural show last month -- will be featured in a 4-round junior featherweight bout... Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:08:49 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/live_at_the_lodge_august_11_features_shawn_estrada_leon_spinks_iii_more/11204527 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/live_at_the_lodge_august_11_features_shawn_estrada_leon_spinks_iii_more/11204527 Live at the Lodge August 11 features Shawn Estrada, Leon Spinks III & more http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/live_at_the_lodge_august_11_features_shawn_estrada_leon_spinks_iii_more/11204527 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b9175dd96a9d93d005881bfa10c802506b76ddb3/mini/Boys__Girls_b0ab.jpg On June 27, 1988, heavyweight champ Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks 91 seconds into the first round, the sixth-shortest heavyweight title fight in boxing history. The severe beat-down Tyson laid on Spinks had the boxing world asking: could anyone beat Iron Mike?  [fight really gets going around 6 minute mark of video]   Tyson won his first nineteen professional fights by knockout, fifteen of those coming in the 1st round. In his first attempt at the title, Tyson beat Trevor Berbick for the WBC heavyweight championship. On March 7, 1987, Tyson defeated “Bonecrusher” Smith, a victory that would unify the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles. Already the youngest-ever heavyweight champion, Tyson became the youngest undisputed heavyweight champion in boxing history. Over the following year (87-88), Tyson defeated four other opponents to hold on his title. In 1988, he handed Larry Holmes the only knockout loss he ever had in 76 fights as a pro. Once Holmes went down, the only boxer cons... Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:41:58 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/today_in_sports_history_tyson_vs_spinks/11106386 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/today_in_sports_history_tyson_vs_spinks/11106386 Today in Sports History- Tyson vs Spinks http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/today_in_sports_history_tyson_vs_spinks/11106386 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/9/b9175dd96a9d93d005881bfa10c802506b76ddb3/mini/Boys__Girls_b0ab.jpg Vancouver, BC (June 26th, 2012) – Roots of Fight is proud to honor the most devastating heavyweight boxer of all time, “Iron” Mike Tyson, with a T-shirt and short film to commemorate Tyson’s three victories in 1988, including his demolition of Michael Spinks on June 27th that earned him the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion title, but also the rare “lineal” Heavyweight Championship of the World. The stunning short film features Tyson and is anchored by boxing legend Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, with insights from Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin, and Snoop Dogg. “The thing that made him so successful, made him so dangerous, and so feared, wasn’t that he hit hard, because he did,” says Mancini. “It wasn’t that he was so aggressive, which he was. It’s because he had some of the fastest hands of any heavyweight of all time.” Viewers can watch Tyson’s trainer, the late Cus D’Amato, predicting the then 17-year-old Tyson’s ascension to the heavyweight throne dur Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:37:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/roots_of_fight_releasesiron_mike_tyson_short_film_and_commemorative_t_shirt/11093237 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/roots_of_fight_releasesiron_mike_tyson_short_film_and_commemorative_t_shirt/11093237 Roots of Fight releases”Iron” Mike Tyson short film and commemorative t-shirt http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/roots_of_fight_releasesiron_mike_tyson_short_film_and_commemorative_t_shirt/11093237 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Atlantic City. It's where Nucky Johnson made his bones and broke some others. It's where Mike Tyson turned Michael Spinks into a YouTube clip for the ages. It's where Donald Trump built a modern day Boardwalk Empire. Oh, Atlantic City's seen some things, all right. And so has 33-year-old lightweight UFC fighter Gray Maynard. But neither town nor fighter had seen the type of bout UFC fans got here Friday night. In front of a raucous Jersey crowd at the sparkling new Revel Resort and Casino, Maynard defeated fan favorite Clay Guida by split decision (49-48, 49-48, 48-49) in the main event of Friday evening's UFC on FX event. To the great displeasure of the fans, Maynard and UFC President Dana White, it wasn't quite the slugfest that was initially expected. Guida's long hair, the staple of his larger-than-life, high-energy cage persona, was braided back, per request from Maynard's camp. With his hair tied back for the first time of his career, Guida proceeded to spend much of Sat, 23 Jun 2012 02:10:18 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/maynard_wins_em_over_down_the_shore/11073461 http://network.yardbarker.com/mma/article_external/maynard_wins_em_over_down_the_shore/11073461 Maynard wins 'em over down the shore http://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/maynard_wins_em_over_down_the_shore/11073461 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png In the topsy-turvy world of heavyweight boxing, pressure can be brought to bear in many different forms. It could be said that Englishman Tyson Fury was burdened the moment he came into existence, when his father saw fit to saddle him with the same name as the "Baddest Man On The Planet." On the day the younger Fury came blinkingly into the world, Iron Mike Tyson was a month away from arguably his meanest performance in the ring -- a unification bout with Michael Spinks in which Tyson literally frightened his opponent out of the fight in less than a round. Coming from gypsy stock, and with that name slung around his neck, young Tyson Fury really had no choice but to be a fighter. His dad, Gypsy John Fury, was a professional heavyweight in his own right, and was 5-1 at the time of Tyson's birth, so he may have even entertained thoughts of sharing a ring with his American hero. But in truth, the elder Fury was better known as a bare-knuckler in the travelers tradition than as a fighter under Mar Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:45:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/tyson_fury_young_man_of_the_moment/10543372 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/tyson_fury_young_man_of_the_moment/10543372 Tyson Fury: Young man of the moment http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/tyson_fury_young_man_of_the_moment/10543372 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8uaKqgR8gU I’ll be the first to admit that I think that Mike Tyson was the best heavyweight ever when he was in his prime.  And yes I think better than Muhammad Ali.   I know that probably will cause quite a stir but that’s just how I feel. Sure maybe his opponents weren’t as good but at the same time I have a really hard time buying it.  I think Mike Tyson was that good.  I think that Tyson won fights before they even started and his opponents were that afraid of him.  Is that Tyson’s fault?  Nope.    In Tyson’s prime I think he’d have wiped the canvas with Ali. Anyway, here’s a clip of what was supposed to be Tyson’s first real competition when he was champ.   As you can see, it was a joke. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:19 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/memorable_moments_in_sports_mike_tyson_kos_michael_spinks/10411660 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/memorable_moments_in_sports_mike_tyson_kos_michael_spinks/10411660 Memorable Moments in Sports: Mike Tyson KO’s Michael Spinks http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/memorable_moments_in_sports_mike_tyson_kos_michael_spinks/10411660 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png 140W 44th St (between Broadway & 7th Ave in the Theater District) New York, NY 10036   (212) 221-9510 The Big Apple is known for many things, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, etc. but it is the little places that make New York unlike no other place.  I stumbled onto Jimmy’s Corner just off of Times Square and just fell in love with it. The owner, Jimmy Glenn has worked in boxing most of his life. He’s trained at-risk youth in Harlem and worked as a cut man for boxing greats Michael Spinks and Floyd Patterson (He even lost some teeth to Patterson as an amateur fighter). The picture of Glenn shaking hands with Muhammad Ali shows he is the real deal and it is just one of many that pictures on the walls that show more than a generation of boxing history. The bar is long and thin so it is easy to meet fellow patrons as they enter the bar which is staffed by a friendly and fun staff.  In a city where it is hard to buy a Coke for less than $3 the best thing about the Jimmy’s Corner ba... Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:04:41 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jimmys_corner_bar_in_new_york_city/9280190 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/jimmys_corner_bar_in_new_york_city/9280190 Jimmy’s Corner Bar in New York City http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/jimmys_corner_bar_in_new_york_city/9280190 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/a/eaf34e0ea9b8270c8fe780ad73324c185a18ccff/mini/Duke_Of_Windsor_eb8a.jpg Off all the people I wouldn’t want to run into when committing a crime, Mike Tyson would probably be tops on the list. Well a lucky Las Vegas criminal got away unscathed after breaking into Iron Mikes room. According to TMZ.com Iron Mike went back to his hotel room on New Year’s Eve after attending the Stevie Wonder and rapper Eves’ concert. After the champ and his family were sleeping comfortbaly, some idiot broke in to his room hoping to leave with something more than empty pockets. After hearing some ruffling noises and seeing the light, Mike arose to see what was going on. By this time, the intruder already left, saving himself the beatdown of his life. A rep for the hotel told TMZ, “We have received a report of an incident that is currently under investigation. As always, guest safety is of the utmost importance.” How lucky of a guy do you have to be after breaking in Mike Tyson’s’ room to survive. If only Michael Spinks had similar luck in the ring.   Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:16:36 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/mike_tysons_hotel_room_broken_into_robber_escapes_unscathed/9184195 http://network.yardbarker.com/entertainment/article_external/mike_tysons_hotel_room_broken_into_robber_escapes_unscathed/9184195 Mike Tyson’s Hotel Room Broken Into, Robber Escapes Unscathed http://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/mike_tysons_hotel_room_broken_into_robber_escapes_unscathed/9184195 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I spent a lot of time this past week covering the public outpouring of love and respect in Philly for Smokin' Joe Frazier, the first guy to — as one preacher put it at yesterday's "Homegoing Ceremony" — "put [Muhammad] Ali on his ass." This, while Ali sat near the front of a behemoth church that holds up to 6,500 people. He seemingly took it well. More » Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:45:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/it_only_takes_a_nickel_on_the_ground_to_end_a_michael_spinks_interview/8120164 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/it_only_takes_a_nickel_on_the_ground_to_end_a_michael_spinks_interview/8120164 It Only Takes A Nickel On The Ground To End A Michael Spinks Interview http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/it_only_takes_a_nickel_on_the_ground_to_end_a_michael_spinks_interview/8120164 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/febc6561e185add415f868539378ab1e9b1abf84/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f56026730.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193268B03E3DD5E0E0993EBAC2361E35F6A.jpg