After his controversial win over Larry Holmes in April, Michael Spinks signed to fight Norwegian Steffen Tangsgtad on September 6, 1986 at the Hilton in Las Vegas. I had moved to Las Vegas in May, and recall seeing billboards all over town advertising the fight. It figured to be an easy defense for Michael after the two tough fights with Holmes. A luxury most champions take advantage of.
A friend of mine went to the fight in person, and he told me the results when I ran into him at the Dunes. He said me that the young phenom Mike Tyson had destroyed Alonzo Ratliff on the undercard fight. I asked him about Spinks, and he said he looked good, and knocked Tangstad out rather easily in the 4th round. He had been sitting ringside, so he had a pretty good view of the action.
I was certainly happy Michael had won his fight, and wondered what his future held. I didn’t see him as a real heavyweight, and figured many top contenders could beat him. Both he and his promoter Butch Lewis figured the move up could make the most money possible, and they had been right up until September of 1986.
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