Holmes-Spinks II.

[Sugarj]

if you tell me which rounds Larry Holmes won after the 6th round (in your opinion), I will gladly re-watch them. Cause after the 6th round Holmes only won 1 round or 2 at the most.

Hi Hall of Fame,

Most people in this section know that I'm one of Larry Holmes's biggest fans, and like you I did think that Spinks caught Holmes up after Holmes's more than dominant first 6 rounds.

The thing is, mathematically Holmes only needed 2 rounds out of the remaining 9; or just 1 round and 2 even to reclaim his titles. As many of those 9 rounds were quite close most Holmes fans found him shading at least a couple, which is all he needed.

Since 1986 I've not come across many folks who felt that Spinks deserved the decision in the second Holmes fight. But I scored it very close.

Michael Spinks was a damned good heavyweight at that point with excellent pacing and some solid skills. The Tyson fight near as dammit destroyed his reputation at heavyweight, but I'd wager that other than prime Holmes, Tyson or Holyfield; Spinks might have beaten everyone else in the 80s on the form he brought into the Holmes fights.

[Mintcar923]

Hi Hall of Fame,

Most people in this section know that I'm one of Larry Holmes's biggest fans, and like you I did think that Spinks caught Holmes up after Holmes's more than dominant first 6 rounds.

The thing is, mathematically Holmes only needed 2 rounds out of the remaining 9; or just 1 round and 2 even to reclaim his titles. As many of those 9 rounds were quite close most Holmes fans found him shading at least a couple, which is all he needed.

Since 1986 I've not come across many folks who felt that Spinks deserved the decision in the second Holmes fight. But I scored it very close.

Michael Spinks was a damned good heavyweight at that point with excellent pacing and some solid skills. The Tyson fight near as dammit destroyed his reputation at heavyweight, but I'd wager that other than prime Holmes, Tyson or Holyfield; Spinks might have beaten everyone else in the 80s on the form he brought into the Holmes fights.

It's kind of hard to tell who won the second fight. I'd say it'd be based on the style you prefer. As George Foreman always says it's like a beauty pageant! I think Spinks just had the kind of style to trouble Holmes. Larry just didn't have the speed & agility at age 36 to come even remotely close to what prime Tyson did to Spinks in June of '88. As far as Spinks vs Holyfield taking place in the '80's? Well, it would have been a hell of a fight. I could see it going either way...

[Sugarj]

It's kind of hard to tell who won the second fight. I'd say it'd be based on the style you prefer. As George Foreman always says it's like a beauty pageant! I think Spinks just had the kind of style to trouble Holmes. Larry just didn't have the speed & agility at age 36 to come even remotely close to what prime Tyson did to Spinks in June of '88. As far as Spinks vs Holyfield taking place in the '80's? Well, it would have been a hell of a fight. I could see it going either way...

True, even a prime Holmes wouldn't have been able to do a 'Tyson' to Spinks. Not enough power.

[tenPt]

I always thought Holmes-Spinks 2, Gomez-Lockridge and Ramirez-Whitaker were the worse decisions of the 80's.

[Panthershock]

Hi Hall of Fame,

Most people in this section know that I'm one of Larry Holmes's biggest fans, and like you I did think that Spinks caught Holmes up after Holmes's more than dominant first 6 rounds.

The thing is, mathematically Holmes only needed 2 rounds out of the remaining 9; or just 1 round and 2 even to reclaim his titles. As many of those 9 rounds were quite close most Holmes fans found him shading at least a couple, which is all he needed.

Since 1986 I've not come across many folks who felt that Spinks deserved the decision in the second Holmes fight. But I scored it very close.

Michael Spinks was a damned good heavyweight at that point with excellent pacing and some solid skills. The Tyson fight near as dammit destroyed his reputation at heavyweight, but I'd wager that other than prime Holmes, Tyson or Holyfield; Spinks might have beaten everyone else in the 80s on the form he brought into the Holmes fights.

My problem with the fight was that Spinks seemingly was awarded every single close round. Roth and Brunette gave Holmes 2 rounds from 5-15, Roth also gave 1 round even. That's terrible scoring. It was a close fight though, I had it 8-6-1 Holmes, and its the type of fight that I'd expect a majority decision. There's always a judge who seemingly gives the nod to the aggressor

[Anthony342]

True, even a prime Holmes wouldn't have been able to do a 'Tyson' to Spinks. Not enough power.

Yeah, but he'd stopped opponents before with an accumulation of punches, so Holmes probably thought he could do that to Spinks. I guess Spinks was too elusive.

[Sugarj]

Yeah, but he'd stopped opponents before with an accumulation of punches, so Holmes probably thought he could do that to Spinks. I guess Spinks was too elusive.

Yea, Spinks was quite canny.

But very early round stoppages weren't Holmes's thing in the 80s; Marvis Frazier and a faded Leon Spinks were the only two that jump to mind since the late 70s.....and this was 1986.

Holmes could have really done a number on Spinks if he hadn't thrown so much into the first 6 rounds; early on Spinks was pretty outclassed.

[TBear]

Keep in mind that Holmes was not the same fighter he was 7-8 years earlier. I do believe that a younger Holmes would have done far better against Spinks.

48 bouts and 18 title bouts wears on a fighter.

[Scott9945]

Keep in mind that Holmes was not the same fighter he was 7-8 years earlier. I do believe that a younger Holmes would have done far better against Spinks.

48 bouts and 18 title bouts wears on a fighter.

It was easy to see that Holmes was rapidly declining in the Williams and Bey fights. You could tell that the end of the road for him was near. The Holmes who fought Cooney handles Spinks with relative ease.

[TBear]

It was easy to see that Holmes was rapidly declining in the Williams and Bey fights. You could tell that the end of the road for him was near. The Holmes who fought Cooney handles Spinks with relative ease.

Agreed......