European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday december 29. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 23 boxing 87 Tyson heaviest of Oil Leonard Sweet again . Al1 Rev stir writer Iron Mike Tyson became inc first undisputed heavyweight Champion in nine years. In 19h7 s other knockout development. Sugar Kay Leonard made his Mark on he hoping world for Llic last time he says. Leonard come oui of retirement fur the second time at age 30 and scored a can traversal decision Over Marvelou Marvin a slur for the world hoping Council middleweight title april 6. Thev Fiory made Leonard boxing s i Jill triple Champion. Leonard retired again Almos immediately. On Del. 29. Thomas i Arns knocked Oul Juan Domingo Suldan in the fourth round i Las vegas to win the vacated who title and become she finl lighter to hold four championships. Hearns weighed i59v3 pounds. 14 pounds less than he weighed when he won the Vic Light heavy weigh i title March 7 on a told round knockout of Dennis Andries. Hearns other titles were i he Aba welterweight and the wac super welterweight. Tyson 21. Won four fights and became inc first undisputed heavyweight Cham Pion since Leon Spinks on a 15-Rnund split decision in 1978. At year s end 38-year-old Larry Holmes the world s dominant heavy weight for seven years before losing twice to m Ichael Spinks was preparing to end his retirement with a Challenge to Tyson Jan. 22 at Atlantic City . I Don l need the Money i just have the desire again said Holmes inc for Mer wac and International boxing federation Champion who was at ringside to watch Tyson Knock out Tyroll Biggs in inc seventh round of his fourth title de sense of the year oct. In. Michael Spinks also desired a fight against Tyson. But the Champion s co managers Jim Jacobs and Bill cation said there would t be a bout unless Butch Lewis. Spinks adviser and Friend is nol invoked Wajih the promotion.  Nis 1m promo cd most of Spinks fights. The unbeaten Spinks the firs Light heavy Wrighi Champion lit win a heavy weigh Lilac. Appeared headed for a show Down for inc undisputed title in inc i Nak of inc Home Box office championship unification series against Tyson. Spinks left the series to fight Gerry Cooney whom he knocked out in the fifth round june 15. In february he Iff withdrew Lille a Fng Nilion from Spinks for refusing to agree to a mandatory defense against Tony Tucker who became Champion with a Iwuh round knockout of James Buster Douglas May 30. Tyson who won the wac title on a second round knockout of Trevor Ber Bick in 1986, added Llic world boxing association ii a wild a unanimous Deci Sion in a Dull 15-round bit March 7. It came against Bonecu Glicr Smith the for Mer  fighter who got his Start in a veer Hurt Germany. Tyson defended both lilies with fifth round knockout of i Ink Lon Thomas May 30 Al Las vegas. Tyson became undisputed Champion aug. I with a 15-round unanimous decision Over Tucker. Leonard had nol fought in 2 years 330 Days when he stepped into inc ring against Hagler for Only his third bout since feb. 14, 1982. A lot of medical an boxing people Dou Tuu the Wisdom of allowing the fight Noi is Leonard s Reid Nal surgery May 9,1981 i would t want to fight me if i was off for 2 years said Hauler who went into the match nol having lost in 37fights dating Mack to March 9, 1976. He s going to Gei a  Leonard a former undisputed Wal crw Cigil and Aba Junior middleweight Champion fit a in until spin decision. The Ere Ali. I  of my life Leonard called inc Victory. He also was undisputed welterweight Champion and Aba Junior Middle Sieight Champi on. Hagler called the derision n robbery. Hagler had been the Amdi Muil middleweight Champion since i pc but Only Mike Tyson nit i act toss Robin Gri ens. Became undisputed Champion aug. 1. Inc Wec recognised his match wit i Leonard a a title fight. The Aba with Drew championship recognition from Hagler before the fight and the if said it would declare the title vacant if Leon Ard won. At year s end there were three Middle weight champion1,. Tyson Wai the Only undisputed Cham Pion in any division. The Middow Cizl champions were hearn1, Ivan. T lie 1bf and Sumii  i Aba. Talc Virgil i till and Mark Breland joined l  holy old As 1984 olym Pian to win world pro titles. Talc won if a Caird wac Tille with a i one sided to round decision cd incl Olajide. Hill won the if Light  championship with a of nun inuit a knockout of Leslie Stewart. By Jand became the wha welterweight chit Pion with a seventh round knockout of Harold . It hut lost the title in a Hig Upsel when he was knocked out in Ibe Lith round by Marlon Starling aug. 22. Holyfield began he year As the wha Junior head weight Champion then added the if 190-Pound title by  out Ricky Parky in the third round May 1 5.he defended both titles wills a third round knockout of Ossie Ocomo aug. 15 and a fourth round knockout of f night Muhammad Qadi dec. 5. Pro teams keep finding cover at Home by a i. Bock a sports writer during their lean years the new York g a s cared Only about making the nil playoffs. A wildcard berth away from Home would be just Fine thank you. Then after a couple of years of losing Early round games on the Road linebacker Lawrence Taylor sidled up to coach Bill pure cells and suggested that making the super bowl might be easier if those playoff games were at Home. The Man knew what he was talking about. The last six pfc teams to have inc Home Field advantage throughout the playoffs including the i a cols Taylor giants of 1986 made in to the super bowl five of those teams won the big game. Nil teams earn inc right to slay Home for the Plai Olfs during the regular season. The tiebreak formula had no decided Home Fields through 14 games making this final weekend s games vital even for teams that had already secured Pla off berths. Making the Pla Olts is Nice but making them at Home is much Niter. Tin nil is proud of its a warily. Lining into the Las weekend of the regular season visiting teams had a re spec table w-Ioj-1 record. In Chepla offi the Home Field Edge grows substantially. Over the ugh four years playoff visitors arc 10-22. Perhaps the starkest example of inc Home Road differ ent i was provided by baseball s world series Champion Minnesota twins. They struggled with a Road re Cord during in regular season but won their division because of a 56-25 record Al Home. In the series the twins lost i rec Gam a in St. Louis but won Al four and the  in Minnesota. It marked the first Lime in series history thai even game Wasson by the Home Tram. Hockey and basketball have always Hein kind to the Home clubs but some teams have carried inc contrast loan extreme this season. Of the 23 Aba teams Only five were Al or above .500 on the Road on Christmas eve and Only two of those were More than a game Over .500 on the Road. Thai s not unusual either. The league s Best cumulative Road record in recent years came in the Iykl-k2 season when visors were 37s-565 for a .405 percent age. That was the first and Only time since 1973 that Road learns won More than 40 percent of games. The Best Road record in league history was achieved Way Hack in 9-17.48. The Aba s second Sij a. Uhf Visi tors won 44.1 Percini of their games. The Star Kobl contrast Between Nha Home acid away records  in the Midwest division. Going into in weekend Utah was 10-2 and san Antonio 9-1 at Home. Awa from hortx1, both learns were struggling with 3-11 Marks and thai was Only after performing a remarkable Dacia wednesday when Boih won Road games. Before that both lost embark aging Road enl is in Elmr last games Tow spurs beaten b Sacramento and the jazz bowing to new Jersey. The results might have been different if lie games had been played in san an Lenici and Utah Iho ngh because1 the Kings Are 0-9 and ilu1 nets 0-t on the Roii. Golden site went into the weekend with an0-11 Road log. Making the combined i filing record of those three learns a Wuel u10-29, in the nil. The new Jersey Devil won ii of their first 16 games Al Home but were 5-11-3 out thi1 unit1span on the Road. Montreal was a Gaud 14-3-4 in the historic forum on sic. Catherine Street Hist an Ordi nary 6-5-5 on in mad. And the Chicago Hale Hawks were 10-3-1 at Home but 4-15-1  pm Ajces. Same coach. Strikingly different mulls. The reason can he Subtle. We had two Lone Ruad trips Carls and did i do wiil on either  said hic Liau is general manager sur i Ufford. When think ". Go had on the Road in v hard to straighten them out there s no practice time when you re  Home Trio Croick Are a Factor. The Chicago Madi us crowd is very Nuis a id i hot can motivate i u. Alnio lion and Manuil Altitude is invoked. Mut Ivalinn is As important As of Pla 5tio on the Road you la pro Hub end up in sin Ilax. That s a  thing in do.