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Cory Spinks (36-5, 11 KO's, 152.75 pounds) vs. Deandre Latimore (19-1, 16 KO's, 153.5 pounds)

 

This title is currently vacant. It was last held by Verno Phillips who vacated the belt to face Paul Williams for another belt at 154 pounds.

 

Spinks had a solid amateur boxing career that culminated when he won the National Golden Gloves Championship at 147 pounds in 1997.

 

Spinks' last high profile match on premium television was literally and inarguably the worst match covered in the over 2 years these recaps have been done. On May 19, 2007, Spinks lost a narrow split decision challenging for Jermain Taylor's 160-pound titles at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. First Spinks, who was moving up to 160 pounds for the first time in his career, failed to make weight on his first attempt. Luckily after an hour of running, Spinks re-weighed in at the limit of 160 pounds. This may have contributed to the boxers combining to land the fewest punches recorded in a 12-round match on this website. Taylor won landing 101 total punches in the 12 rounds. That worked out to less then 9 total connects per round. It was the fewest punches landed by any boxer in a 12-round victory in these recaps. His performance was so bad, that Taylor's fans turned on him and people started throwing things at Taylor's friends and family in the grocery store. However, Taylor worked at a blistering pace compared to what Spinks did in the match. Spinks landed 85 total punches in the 12 rounds. That worked out to just over 7 total connects per round. That is the fewest punches landed on record in a 12-round match in the history of these recaps. Finally, after landing 4 total punches and dancing for much of round 12, Spinks had the temerity to celebrate in the ring. Larry Merchant described this abomination after round 5 as boxing's version of flag football. That comparison was completely unfair to flag football. In flag football, there is still contact between offensive and defensive linemen on every play and cornerbacks frequently jam wide receivers. This match did not have near that level of physicality. There are no appropriate words for print to describe how truly awful this match was. A full recap of that atrocity is available here: http://www.number1contender.net/the-latest/2008/11/14/recap-of-jermain-taylor-vs-cory-spinks.html?SSScrollPosition=0

 

Spinks lost this title to Phillips in his last match on March 27, 2008 in the building that is housing this event via split decision. Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward was cornering Taylor for the Taylor-Spinks monstrosity and started yelling at his charge during the match that a performance this bad would cost him money. Following that abysmal match, no network would pay to carry Spinks vs. Philips. Therefore, the match had to be broadcast on Don King's website. Networks are still so spooked to put Spinks on the air. This match was not going to be televised. Showtime was going to broadcast an event headlined by Celestine Caballero defending his 122-pound titles tonight instead. However, the government of Panama paid to move that match from Florida to Panama City, Panama. That left Showtime with nothing to televise tonight and as a fallback plan decided to televise this event.

 

Spinks is The Ring's number 4 contender to their vacant championship at 154 pounds.

 

Latimore is a St. Louis native that appears to have been brought in to help draw a decent gate and lose. He has never been in a scheduled 12-rounder before and only been in 2 scheduled 10-rounders. In Latimore's entire career, he has only defeated 1 boxer with more then 10 wins and a winning record. Latimore faced a boxer with more then 10 wins and a winning record 1 other time. On January 25, 2007, Latimore was knocked out by that boxer, Ian Gardner, at 2:50 of round 3 at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.

 

Latimore's last match was an upset technical knockout win over Sechew Powell at 2:11 of round 7 on June 11, 2008 at the Hard Rock Casino in New York City, New York. The match was even on all the judges scorecards after 6 rounds, 57-57. Somehow, all of this and over 10 months of inactivity have earned Latimore a title shot.

 

Latimore is unranked by The Ring, but ranked by boxrec.com as the 11 boxer in the world at 154 pounds.

 

At 23-years-old, Latimore is 8 years younger then the 31-year-old Spinks. Both boxers stand 5' 9" tall. Spinks has the reach advantage with a 71" wingspan, compared to the 69" wingspan of Latimore. Neither boxers' unofficial approaching match time is available. However, Spinks should be heavier in the ring, because he walks around at a much higher weight then Latimore. Latimore is naturally right-handed, but both boxers will employ the southpaw stance.

 

The official judges keeping score of this match are from Nevada, Illinois and New Jersey. The Nevada judge is Adelaide Byrd and this match is probably headed to the scorecards. That is not good. The referee is Earl Morton, Jr.

 

Spinks was vociferously booed coming to the ring in his hometown. Apparently, the local fans think his matches are as terrible as most other people. This unexpected development has Spinks looking irate. Spinks has responded by starting very fast, in part because Latimore has come out at a frenetic pace. With 1:40 to go in round 1, Spinks goes stumbling to the canvas. That may have been from a push. Latimore landed a good left hand, but appeared to push Spinks after that as the veteran went to clinch. However, the referee is ruling this a knockdown. Spinks is shaking his head in frustration. The veteran said before the match, that he thought the young lion did not deserve a title match or to be in the ring with him. Latimore's inflated record versus soft opposition suggested both were true. However, Latimore is proving differently. Spinks made some codified motion to his corner, motioning like he wanted a drink of water as the referee was counting. Spinks is allowed to continue with 1:30 to go in the round. He was not legitimately knocked down, but he is hurt. Latimore wins round 1 huge, 10-8. The crowd was cheering the fast paced action throughout round 1. That is probably the most exciting round Spinks has been a part of in at least 2 years. Latimore lands numerous power punches to win a very good round 2, 10-9. Spinks has been drawn into a brawl. This has his corner incensed. They are using a huge ring for this match (20' x 20'). That is to the advantage of a boxer-counter-puncher. Spinks is supposed to be that style boxer. Instead, his corner is yelling at him for making rookie mistakes and abandoning his game plan. It seems unlikely that Latimore can maintain this fast pace. However, Spinks could be knocked out at any time if Latimore lands a clean combination. If Spinks can begin to box a disciplined match he will probably win. However, if Spinks continues to brawl Latimore will probably knock him out before gassing. Round 3 is contested at a much slower pace. Therefore, Spinks wins round 3, 10-9, but after 3 rounds Latimore leads on my scorecard, 29-27. Both Farhood and Showtime's play-by-play announcer for this event, Nick Charles, scorecards are identical to mine after 3 rounds.

 

Round 4 is very close, but Spinks appeared to win it by landing a few more clean punches, 10-9. In the corner after round 4, it is revealed that Spinks has been cut above his left eye. The cut is in a very bad spot. It is on the eyebrow, over the outside of his left eye. The cut is over 1" long, but very narrow. It does not appear to be bleeding or effecting Spinks' vision at this point. However, it could become problematic later in the match. The cut was probably the result of a head butt. Both Farhood and Charles scored round 4 for Latimore based on the younger boxer's superior work in the first half of the round. Round 5 is contested on the inside. Therefore, Latimore wins round 5, 10-9. In round 5, the cut above Spinks' left eye was bleeding into his eye and the boxer wiped at it several times during the round. Also in round 5, the look on Latimore's face has begun to change. Latimore is fatiguing badly. The doctor checked on Spinks' cut as the boxer returned to his corner after round 5. Spinks was ruled fine to continue, but the doctor may stop this match in a few rounds. That would send the match to the scorecards, which would likely be bad for Spinks. Charles and Farhood gave round 5 to Spinks, 10-9. With around 45 seconds to go in round 6, the fickle St. Louis crowd begins to chant "Cory". Spinks had Latimore hurt in round 6 and wins it solidly 10-9. The knockdown in round 1 still has Latimore ahead on my scorecard after 6 rounds, 57-56. Both Farhood and Charles scored round 6 for Spinks, 10-9, but have Latimore leading after 6 rounds, 57-56.

 

Spinks landed a combination at the end of round 7 to take the very close round, 10-9. Latimore's punches are very wide and that is allowing Spinks to land straight punches up the center. That was not happening in the early round, when Latimore's energy allowed his wide punches to be faster then the aging Spinks' straight ones. However, as Latimore has gassed his punches have gotten slower and had progressively less power. At this point, Spinks is throwing the faster harder punches. It appears that if a knockout happens in the remaining rounds, Spinks will be the boxer that scores it. At the end of round 7, there is some significant swelling underneath the left eye of Latimore. It is not effecting his vision and appears unlikely to effect his vision for the remainder of the match. Spinks wins round 8, 10-9. The veteran appears to spend the first 1:30 of round 9 resting, but lands several clean punches in the last 1:30 of the round to win it. Spinks wins round 9, 10-9, and leads on my scorecard after 9 rounds, 86-84. Farhood and Charles scorecard for the last 3 rounds matches mine and so does their scorecard after 9 rounds with Spinks ahead, 86-84. After round 9, the camera reveals Latimore has been cut above his left eye. The referee is ruling the cut was caused by a punch. An exhausted Latimore tries to argue the call with the referee from his stool. The referee is sticking with the ruling that the cut was caused by a punch. This cut is under Latimore's eyebrow directly above the eye. At this same time, Spinks, cutman has done a great job and his cut has stopped bleeding.

 

Latimore is still bleeding as round 10 begins. With 1:00 to go in round 10, the cut above Spinks' left eye has begun to bleed, again. Latimore is much busier in round 10 and wins it, 10-9. Farhood and Charles score round 10 the same. Spinks went down as the bell sounded to end round 11. It was correctly ruled a slip and there was no time left in the round after Spinks was back on his feet. Round 11 is probably the closest round of the match. Latimore may have barely won it, 10-9. That makes the match even going into the final round, 104-104. Farhood and Charles score round 11 for Spinks, 10-9, and have him ahead going into the final round, 105-103. With 2:20 to go in round 12, Latimore gets caught with a right hand and sent to the canvas. That should clinch the match for Spinks. The referee is ruling that a slip. The referee appears to have blown that call. Latimore had his feet spread very wide and Spinks took advantage by hitting him with a clean punch to the jaw. The sloppy stance of Latimore allowed Spinks to score a knockdown with a less then perfect punch, but that was clearly a knockdown. Spinks had Latimore hurt several times in the remainder of round 12, but the blown knockdown call means the veteran only wins the round, 10-9, and wins the match on my scorecard, 114-113. Farhood and Charles both scored round 12 for Spinks, 10-9, and have him winning the match, 115-112.

 

It is taking a very long time to add up the scorecards. Again, that usually means something bad is about to happen. The final decision courtesy of Marc Lichtenfeld is that the judges have scored this match: 115-112 (Spinks), 115-112 (Latimore), 114-113 for the winner by split decision and new IBF Junior Middleweight Champion of the World, Cory "Next Generation" Spinks. (Byrd was the 115-112 Spinks.) The win moves Spinks to 37-5 with 11 wins coming by way of knockout.

 

Latimore said very little in his post mach interview other then he was upset with the decision.

 

It was difficult to hear what Spinks said in his post match interview as Don King yelled for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to get ready in the background. King then said he hoped Pacquiao won. That way Mayweather could face Pacquiao than face Spinks, so Spinks could become win the title of best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

 

This is the third straight split decision Spinks has been involved in, but the first that he has won. This was by far the most exciting match Spinks has been involved in over the last few years. However, that is not necessarily a good thing. This was exciting for the same reason many of Muhammad Ali's later matches were exciting. Spinks' trademark speed is fading. He was very available to be hit against an opponent he would have greatly outclassed a few years ago. Spinks has boxed too many rounds and probably only has a few matches left in him. It may be in his best interest for his health to retire as his skills appear to be in serious decline. Spinks may be able to compete at the top level for a few more years, but he risks serious injury by doing that. The veteran boxer would be best off defending his title against soft opposition that will not expose his declining skills for the remainder of his career. There is no chance Mayweather is ever going to waste his time facing Spinks. Spinks does not offer anything that Mayweather looks for in an opponent.

 

Latimore is still very green and very flawed. He still throws very wide punches and has numerous technique problems. Latimore showed serious conditioning problems in this match. He is young and showed tremendous potential in this match, but still needs time to develop. Latimore is probably going to return in scheduled 8 or 10-rounder's on the undercard of ShoBox events as he refines his skills.

 

 

 

This match alternated between exciting and sloppy. It is a marginal watch. This event is going to be replayed numerous times, but the odds are there is always going to be something better on at the time for people who get Showtime.