A Brief History
On September 15, 1978, the self-proclaimed “Greatest” boxer, Muhammad Ali, won a decision on points against former US Marine, Leon Spinks, winning back the heavyweight boxing championship he had held twice before.
Digging Deeper
Ali became the first three-time heavyweight champion, having previously won the crown in a fight against Sonny Liston in 1964, defending his title nine times successfully before losing his crown during a dispute with the US government over military conscription in 1967.
Ali returned to the ring in 1970, winning a pair of fights before challenging Joe Frazier for the title. Ali lost that first Frazier fight, but then won the crown back in 1974 when he beat Big George Foreman in Zaire.
Ali defended his second title 10 times before losing to Spinks in 1978. Only seven months later, Ali won his third major heavyweight championship when he defeated Leon Spinks, making boxing history.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Eig, Jonathan. Ali: A Life. Mariner Books, 2018.
Spinks, Betty. Leon Spinks and Me. AuthorHouse, 2008.
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