Was Berbick given the decision in the Ali vs Berbick fight?

A very close and ugly fight. Berbick was swinging like a wild man in there, but he did enough to earn the decision. In the post-fight interview he said he did just enough to win so to not hurt Ali.

 

I read that Larry said he was more proud of sparring with Ali when he was younger than beating him when he was shot.

 

It might sound like 20 x 20 hindsight but I did find it noticeable at the time on several occasions how, in the rematch, Spinks was able to shove Ali away with “relative” ease, even causing Ali to stutter back a few times, as if Ali’s balance or his ability to correct himself was completely there.

I figured an older Ali might’ve just lost some strength but then he seemed somewhat stronger even when fought Shavers which wasn’t long ago prior to - pretty close to exactly 1 year before the Spinks rematch.