Cory Spinks welterweight titles in 1997. Spinks went 29-2 in his first 31 contests, only losing to Antonio Díaz (regarded as a controversial decision by some boxing analysts and ringside observers) and Michele Piccirillo, whom he defeated by decision in a re-match. However, Spinks rose to boxing stardom by unifying the WBC, WBA, IBF, and "The Ring" and lineal welterweight titles on December 13, 2003, when he defeated Ricardo Mayorga by majority decision. Spinks was a 5 to 1 underdog going into the fight with Mayorga. The judges scored the fight 114-112, 117-109, 114-114, favoring Spinks. Spink' first Welterweight title defense came
Michael Ponce de Leon Michael Ponce de Leon Michael Ponce de Leon (1922-2006; Mexico) He has exhibits in more than sixty museums in the United States and throughout Europe, as a painter and printmaker. He was given a one person-exhibition by Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and has been awarded over 65 purchase prices or medals. Ponce de Leon is the recipient of Guggenheim Fellowships; Two Tiffany Foundation Fellowships, and a Fulbright Grant for Scandinavia. He has taught at Art Students League; Pratt Graphics Center and Pratt Institute; New York University; University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University, NY, as well as directed