Michael Spinks Finally Shows Up for the Fight : Deposed Champion Says He Is Ready to Take On Tyson for Undisputed Title

LAS VEGAS —  All the right people were at the Hilton for boxing’s heavyweight unification fight: Mike Tyson in the ring and Michael Spinks in Row UU, Section 1, North side, top row.

Both stood throughout the fight.

It was a game where Michael Spinks’ people tried to one-up Mike Tyson’s people. They didn’t do lunch.

Some background is in order.

If all the grand and glorious schemes of Don King and Home Box Office had come off, Saturday night’s fight would have been between Spinks and Tyson.

But Spinks, some say looking for a good payday against Gerry Cooney, others say looking to duck Tyson, pulled put of the made-for-television tournament. Feelings were hurt. Lawsuits were filed. And everyone familiar with boxing, a sport that puts a higher premium on grandstanding than truth, smiled.

All of which brings us to Saturday night.

Spinks, equiped with full entourage, arrived at the fight 30 minutes early. They climbed to the top row and watched as ring announcer Chuck Hull introduced celebrities big and small, significant and insignificant, real insignificant.

There was no mention of Spinks.

“We’re in the Bob Uecker seats,” yelled promoter Butch Lewis, one of Spinks’ people. “They’ve got no class. They wouldn’t even introduce Michael. Don King (one of Tyson’s people) has no class. That’s (an obscenity that doesn’t deal with people).”

Lewis said they bought their $50 tickets, the cheapest and only ones available, because they couldn’t get any from King.

After the fight, Spinks signed autographs for 30 minutes, standing at his seat. When it was time to leave, Spinks and Lewis wandered quickly through the press room. Guess they got lost. They couldn’t possibly have been looking to promote their cause, could they?

But Spinks and Lewis couldn’t find many members of the press, since most were in another room talking to Tyson.

So, they left.

“Are you going to the coronation,” former basketball star Bob Lanier, representing a beer company that means the opposite of heavyweight, asked Lewis.

“A coronation for what?” responded Lewis. “We’re gonna have our own party. I don’t know where, but we’re gonna have one.”

And off went Michael Spinks and Butch Lewis, all dressed up with nowhere to go.

“I want to get the fight signed,” Spinks said. “He (Tyson) won the title and all. I mean, he’s got all the belts. But he hasn’t beat me. He’s the champion because he’s got the belt.”

Interestingly, when this unification tournament started, Spinks was in the power position. But now, the glove is on the other hand. Tyson, who quickly became part of the public perception, controls the division.

“We’re the only guy qualified to be in this fight,” Lewis said. “I think it was an interesting fight. Tucker, with more experience, would have given him (Tyson) much more trouble. He (Tucker) didn’t make him pay. Michael makes you pay when you make a mistake. But I don’t want to say no more. I don’t want to give our secrets away.”

Actually, Lewis did have more to say but most of it was a repeat of what already had been said.

It was Spinks’ turn to talk.

“It was a good match but nothing surprised me. He (Tucker) did pretty damn good to be where he was. He’s gotten a lot better the last seven years. He’s spent a lot of time underground, but he’s a lot better then when I saw him in 1980. “You know Bob Uecker got these seats for me,” Spinks continued, obviously liking the line, even if it’s originality is suspect.

“I really want this fight to come off,” Spinks said. “I want the fight as soon as I can get it. I don’t know what it will take. Ask Butch.”

OK, Butch, what will it take to put Tyson and Spinks together.

“The fight will make $100 million,” said Lewis, obviously having it figured to the penny.

Now it was Spinks’ turn to talk.

“Maybe there needs to be a lot of feedback from the public (to make the fight come off). But they (Tyson’s people) won’t even talk.”

But, of course, there will be talk. And there will be a fight. There always is.