Michael Spinks in former HW era's

[uncle ben]

Personally, I think Spinks gets knocked too much for his loss to Mike Tyson. Now, just because he lost to Tyson, doesn't mean that he would not be competitive with other past heavies, even some ATG heavies (not saying Spinks would win). As for the loss to a prime Tyson, if you took a list of random top 10 heavies from 1900-1970 and put them against Tyson on June 27, 1988, they'd have suffered the same fate as Spinks.

Even past heavies that were competitive and top ranked in the past from that time period would've lost to Tyson the same way that Spinks lost on that night.

But the fact is that Spinks at 200-212 pounds and with his skill level would've been larger than most top heavies of the time. And I do think that Michael Spinks could've been very competitive in the HW division in the 1900-1970 time frame. The only reason Spinks would have more difficulty after 1970 would be that the heavies started to get increasingly bigger.

But I do think it's unfair to say that since Spinks lost (and in blow out fashion) to a prime Tyson, that therefore he'd have lost to Jack Sharkey the same way.

The irony is that Spinks would probably be higher rated at heavy if he fought say Muhammad Ali. True, I think Ali would've eventually stopped Spinks late or perhaps won a convincing UD, but I do think Spinks would've had his moments and been more competitive. But even in that scenario, if Spinks was stopped on his feet in the championship rounds, he'd be viewed as a better HW or had he fought Evander Holyfield at heavy and lost a competitive fight with Holyfield, he'd be viewed as a better heavy. It's just that the prime HW he was unlucky enough to run into was Tyson.

I say if you switched Billy Conn and had him fight Tyson on June 27, 1988 and had Spinks fight Louis on June 18, 1941, Spinks would be rated better at heavy than Conn.

[The Old LefHook]

First, I will tell you which champs he will not beat.

Jefferies, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Louis, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton, Terrel, Tyson, Holyfield and Douglas will stomp him.

Besides all those above, he is likely to get handled by Corbett, Braddock, Berbick, Sharkey, Moorer Willard and Johannson as well. Who did I forget?

[OctoberRed]

First, I will tell you which champs he will not beat.

Jefferies, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Louis, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton, Terrel, Tyson, Holyfield and Douglas will stomp him.

Besides all those above, he is likely to get handled by Corbett, Braddock, Berbick, Sharkey, Moorer Willard and Johannson as well. Who did I forget?

You think Buster Douglas would stomp him?

[Bundana]

Sure, many champs from the past would likely beat him - but I don't think Corbett would be one of them.

[NChristo-]

First, I will tell you which champs he will not beat.

Jefferies, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Louis, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton, Terrel, Tyson, Holyfield and Douglas will stomp him.

Besides all those above, he is likely to get handled by Corbett, Braddock, Berbick, Sharkey, Moorer Willard and Johannson as well. Who did I forget?

Not a fan of Spinks I take it ?.

[Dempsey-Louis]

Personally, I think Spinks gets knocked too much for his loss to Mike Tyson. Now, just because he lost to Tyson, doesn't mean that he would not be competitive with other past heavies, even some ATG heavies (not saying Spinks would win). As for the loss to a prime Tyson, if you took a list of random top 10 heavies from 1900-1970 and put them against Tyson on June 27, 1988, they'd have suffered the same fate as Spinks.

Even past heavies that were competitive and top ranked in the past from that time period would've lost to Tyson the same way that Spinks lost on that night.

But the fact is that Spinks at 200-212 pounds and with his skill level would've been larger than most top heavies of the time. And I do think that Michael Spinks could've been very competitive in the HW division in the 1900-1970 time frame. The only reason Spinks would have more difficulty after 1970 would be that the heavies started to get increasingly bigger.

But I do think it's unfair to say that since Spinks lost (and in blow out fashion) to a prime Tyson, that therefore he'd have lost to Jack Sharkey the same way.

The irony is that Spinks would probably be higher rated at heavy if he fought say Muhammad Ali. True, I think Ali would've eventually stopped Spinks late or perhaps won a convincing UD, but I do think Spinks would've had his moments and been more competitive. But even in that scenario, if Spinks was stopped on his feet in the championship rounds, he'd be viewed as a better HW or had he fought Evander Holyfield at heavy and lost a competitive fight with Holyfield, he'd be viewed as a better heavy. It's just that the prime HW he was unlucky enough to run into was Tyson.

I say if you switched Billy Conn and had him fight Tyson on June 27, 1988 and had Spinks fight Louis on June 18, 1941, Spinks would be rated better at heavy than Conn.

The limited Bone Crusher Smith extended that same Tyson over 15 rounds (in a snoozer). I doubt that, 'that Tyson' takes out other ATG as easily as he took out Spinks. That was just a very bad night for Spinks.

But also, as you think, I think Spinks was a much better fighter than his performance that night contests to.

If his style could befuddle an experienced Holmes, he woud prove a difficult fight for almost every former champion.

[uncle ben]

First, I will tell you which champs he will not beat.

Jefferies, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Louis, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton, Terrel, Tyson, Holyfield and Douglas will stomp him.

Besides all those above, he is likely to get handled by Corbett, Braddock, Berbick, Sharkey, Moorer Willard and Johannson as well. Who did I forget?

The only one's listed who Spinks likely couldn't be competitive with is of course Tyson and probably Foreman. All the others, Spinks, even in losing could be competitive with. And I highly, highly doubt that anyone you mentioned under 200 pounds would just have their way with a HW sized Spinks. If Spinks came in at 175, he still would potentially be a handful. Patterson was 182 pounds when he won the title. You really believe that a 182 Patterson just walks through a 175 pound Michael Spinks, say the Spinks that beat Qawi? Now imagine a 182 pound Patterson against the 212 pound Spinks who stepped in the ring with Tyson?

The same goes for Charles, Walcott, Marciano, Tunney, Schmeling and Dempsey. Spinks at 200+ pounds would be one of the most formidable and largest opponents they ever faced. Not saying they couldn't or wouldn't win, but it doesn't go without saying. I mean, if Charles and Spinks fought at LHW, that would promise to be a classic fight. But at heavy, he would out size Charles by quite a bit, so while I may pick Charles, it wouldn't be a blowout. Marciano and Dempsey have the best shot but Dempsey struggled with boxers smaller and not as good as a HW Spinks. I'd give Marciano a better chance than Dempsey. Tunney and Spinks at LHW isn't a foregone conclusion and at HW, he outsized Tunney, probably hit harder and had similar skill.

And I think Joe Louis would KO Spinks, but Billy Conn nearly pulled an upset and he was 174 pounds and similar in skill level to Spinks. At HW, Spinks would've been big compared to the average HW of that era and I'd wager that since even a 175 pound Spinks hit harder than a 174 pound Conn, a 200+ pound Spinks hit that much harder than Conn. Louis likely gets a late round KO, but he gets shaken up and may lose some rounds in doing so.

Especially the bunch from the 1800's who never fought anyone as advanced and big as a HW Michael Spinks.

[uncle ben]

The limited Bone Crusher Smith extended that same Tyson over 15 rounds (in a snoozer). I doubt that, 'that Tyson' takes out other ATG as easily as he took out Spinks. That was just a very bad night for Spinks.

But also, as you think, I think Spinks was a much better fighter than his performance that night contests to.

If his style could befuddle an experienced Holmes, he woud prove a difficult fight for almost every former champion.

Didn't say "other ATGs" but he'd have taken out many top rated HW contenders from 1900-1970 in a similar fashion. And even men like Charles, Walcott, Patterson and Tunney who I rate highly and would pick them against other bigger men, it's likely that if they were in the ring with Tyson on that night, they'd have been taken out just as quickly. I mean, perhaps they make it out of round 1, but that would only be because of their movement. I doubt any would see past round 3.

[uncle ben]

First, I will tell you which champs he will not beat.

Jefferies, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Louis, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton, Terrel, Tyson, Holyfield and Douglas will stomp him.

Besides all those above, he is likely to get handled by Corbett, Braddock, Berbick, Sharkey, Moorer Willard and Johannson as well. Who did I forget?

Also quite a few on this list would have likely lost to a prime Tyson the way Spinks did as well. Namely all of your under 200's, maybe except Marciano and Dempsey, but they'd be taken out eventually. Even Norton would probably lose the same way. We saw him against Berbick.

[Ben Bolt]

Most often, I’ll find these comparisons incomparable.

What if Spinks had lived in the 1910s, training and believing in the techniques that was up-to-date back then.
Or if Jack Johnson had been active today, being a lot more wiser about nutrion.

“You can’t separate a champion from his time” Sonny Liston said.
I’m satisfied with that.