Quote Originally Posted by X
I'm only quoting what I read - though I am pretty sure it was sometime around then that they stopped?


You might be right though, because you piqued my interest and I found this "Not since the rematch between Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks in April of 1986 has a heavyweight title fight gone or been scheduled for 15 rounds. "

Does anyone definitively know the answer?
Yes the answer is that the WBC started mandating 12 round title fights in 1983. The WBA and IBF still mandated 15 rounders until around 1987 when Tyson started unifying the heavyweight titles. Holmes fought a couple of 12 round WBC title fights in 1983 before ditching that title in a dispute over challenger Greg Page. Holmes then assumed the IBF title and fought 15 rounders again in 1984 and 85 (stopping James Smith in 12 in 1984, decisioning Carl Williams in 15 in 1985, and then losing to Spinks in 1985 and 86 in 15 round fights.) Look up Holmes record at Boxrec and you'll this.

Jody