Hilton fight veteran recalls his favorites

Las Vegas Sun

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Jim Hunter coordinated boxing events for the Las Vegas Hilton from 1985 to 1989, when that hotel hosted the majority of the major bouts held in Las Vegas.

During his more than 25 years in boxing, Hunter has seen a lot of fights. Here’s his list of memorable ones at the Hilton:

1969 — Leotis Martin KO 9 of Sonny Liston: Martin rallied for a shocking win over perhaps one of the top five heavyweights of all time while Howard Cosell spread the word. Martin retired the next week because of a detached retina supplied by Liston. Liston retired one fight and seven months later. Martin was the only man, other than Muhammad Ali, to beat Liston after 1954.

1978 — Leon Spinks split decision over Muhammad Ali: If you’re going to lose, you might as well lose to someone you can beat nine out of 10 times. Or 99 out of 100. Spinks, with a record of 6-0-1, was grossly overrated while Ali appeared grossly uninterested.

1979 — Earnie Shavers KO 1 of Ken Norton: One sudden and successful launching of the best left hook ever possessed by a heavyweight.

1986 — Michael Spinks split decision over Larry Holmes: The second time Holmes was robbed in a bout with Spinks. I was glad I’d watched the second half of this one in the TV truck instead of at ringside.

1986 — Mike Tyson KO 2 of Trevor Berbick: Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion ever, and did so with ease. Easy, too, was Tyson’s care and handling in those early days. It got tougher later.

1987 — Mike Tyson unanimous decision over James “Bonecrusher” Smith: We knew the fight wasn’t going to be an artistic success, and it wasn’t, with Tyson winning by 12, 12 and 14 points. But when two inches of snow covered the Hilton’s first outdoor arena three days before the card, we were wondering whether it would be a financial success.

1988 — Iran Barkley TKO 3 of Thomas Hearns: An upset only in the minds of those who judged Hearns on his bouts against Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. By 1988 Hearns was falling victim of a direct line from his chin to his legs. The first gets cracked and the second wobble uncontrollably.

1988 — Julio Cesar Chavez technical decision 11 over Jose Luis Ramirez: The first time you began to think, maybe, Chavez could be had. Ramirez was trailing by only two points when it ended.

1990 — Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 12 of Meldrick Taylor: If Richard Steele’s stoppage had come any time earlier, nobody would have said one word in protest.

1998 — Ricardo Lopez split decision over Rosendo Alvarez: Lopez was and remains one of the most unappreciated champions, retiring with a record of 51-0, 26 of those wins coming in world title bouts. Alvarez came close to wrecking that mark and was the only boxer to not lose to Lopez by KO, TKO or unanimous decision.