Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi set for September 27 of 1984, but it was cancelled after Qawi was injured during training, three weeks before the fight. Spinks went on to become the first world light heavyweight champion in boxing history to go up in weight and win the world heavyweight title. Qawi, for his part, went up to the cruiserweight division, where he reigned as WBA world champion from 1985 to 1986. Both fighters are now members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Confirmed bouts: Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi, billed as "The Brawl for it All",
Michael Spinks by a knockout in four against Steffen Tangstad. In 1987 he was stripped of the crown by the IBF for refusing to fight their mandatory challenger, Tony Tucker, and accepting a higher offer to fight Gerry Cooney instead. Spinks knocked out Cooney in five rounds, and after Mike Tyson had unified the heavyweight belts, fans started clamoring for a fight between them as many still recognized Spinks as the legitimate lineal champion. The fight between Spinks and Mike Tyson took place in June 1988, with Tyson knocking Spinks down twice on his way to a first-round knockout. Tyson was the