Spinks, who had taken the heavyweight championship from Larry Holmes via fifteen round decision in 1985, had not lost his title in the ring but was not recognized as champion by the major boxing organizations.
Spinks, care a luat campionatul la categoria grea de la Larry Holmes printr-o decizie de 15 runde în 1985, nu și-a pierdut titlul în ring, dar nu a fost recunoscut drept campion al marilor organizații de box.