A title fight between newly crowned International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes or Gerry Cooney is a definite possibility, says Spinks` manager, Butch Lewis.
Spinks` manager, Butch Lewis, said his boxer–stripped of his light-heavyweight title because World Boxing Council ruled he cannot hold two titles at the same time–will fight exclusively as a heavyweight. Spinks beat Holmes for the heavyweight title Sept. 21.
”We are going after the big bucks now,” Lewis said. ”Hell, the last time Michael fought as a light-heavy, we got $100,000–that`s chump change. We got $1.1 million for fighting Larry (Holmes), and now the bread is going to flow.”
Asked whether Spinks would give Holmes a rematch, Lewis said: ”Larry`s called me at least 17 times. He`s frothing at the mouth for a return shot. I just got off the phone with him now–and that makes it the 18th call I got from him.
”We don`t have a problem with either fight–Larry or Cooney. If the money is right, Michael will fight.” Nuggets drop Bulls
The Bulls are still 0-for-the-preseason. They succumbed to the Denver Nuggets 131-114 Saturday night for their third straight defeat in the exhibition season. The Nuggets (4-1) were led by forward Alex English, who scored a game-high 28 points, including 16 in the third quarter.
English made six of seven shots in the third quarter, equaling the entire third-quarter output of the Bulls, who shot a miserable 6-of-25 from the field. Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 18 points, and Rod Higgins and Billy McKinney had 16 points each. The Bulls committed 24 turnovers to Denver`s 17. Bruins blast Wings
Boston winger Charlie Simmer scored twice in a four-goal first period Saturday and later completed the sixth three-goal game of his career as the Bruins cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Red Wings in Detroit.
In other action, New Jersey knocked off the Washington Capitals 4-1, Hartford Whalers routed the New York Rangers 8-2, Philadelphia Flyers topped Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2, St. Louis Blues edged Vancouver Canucks 4-3, Buffalo Sabres beat Minnesota North Stars 6-2, Quebec Nordiques blanked Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 and New York Islanders beat Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in overtime.
Sting dumped
The Minnesota Strikers beat the Sting 7-4 in an exhibition at the Stadium, handing the Sting its first loss in three preseason matches.
”In the first half, I tried to look away most of the time,” said Sting coach Willy Roy. ”In the second half, we looked better.”
Not much could be salvaged by then. Minnesota, led by Ray Hudson`s two goals, roared out to a 6-2 lead in the first half. Karl-Heinz Granitza scored a pair of goals for the Sting, with Chico Moreira and Neill Roberts adding one goal each.
Now, Howard . . .
Sportscaster Howard Cosell told sports celebrities and casino high rollers Saturday night that comments in his recently published book have earned him the wrath of the nation`s sports print media.
He also told the audience at a roast in his honor at a casino-hotel in Atlantic City that he turned down the ABC network`s offer to host the World Series because he is not interested in broadcasting the event.
”I have been a victim of savagery you could never imagine,” Cosell said. ”People are writing about me as a person instead of what`s in the book. But I also understand the importance of the First Amendment.”
In his book ”I Never Played The Game,” Cosell is critical of his former colleagues–Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson and Frank Gifford–on the ABC television network`s ”Monday Night Football” telecast. He said he was not sorry for anything he had written and would do it again.
