How would prime Michael Spinks do in 2010

[GJC]

Wheras the K brothers might be quicker than Cooney they are certainly not as quick as Spinks or the only man who ever beat him Tyson.

[Jim Jeffries]

Wheras the K brothers might be quicker than Cooney they are certainly not as quick as Spinks or the only man who ever beat him Tyson.

Well a lot of people would argue that Holmes beat him, but I digress.

Do you think Spinks' prime was at LHW or at HW? And do you think a prime Holmes would have beaten him, or was Spinks just a bad style match up?

[GJC]

I think Holmes beat him myself in one of the fights actually.
Spinks prime was certainly at LHW, don't think you could really make a case for him as an ATG HW but you would be very mean not to have him in your top 5 all time LHW's.
I think a prime Holmes would have beaten Spinks but I think Spinks would have given him major problems.
Awkward customer Mr Spinks for anyone really I think unless you bomb him out quickly he is going to make you look bad.
I think using the inevitable but the Klitschkos's are soooo big line kind of underestimates Spinks and over estimates them, I would be interested to see how they would do against a quick fighter who uses lateral movement and angles, it might be a difficult night for them.
We have seen that they are effective against fighters who move slowly straight forward as if on rails, they look great but then who wouldn't?

[sonnyboyx2]

if size meant nothing there would be no need for weight classes.in boxing you cab be outpointed but i dont see spinks being able to stay outta harms way and still effectivly score.i couldnt imagine him going the 1 punch at a time route

the heavyweights are 200lb and over

Spinks stayed outta harms way as you call it, quite easily for 30 rounds against Larry Holmes who was far more mobile than the Klits, he stayed outta harms way against Cooney & Braxton who are both far more aggressive than the Klits.

[mickey malone]

explain how it would be a `size,power mismatch`?

Gerry Cooney was 6ft 7ins tall just like the Klitschko brothers and had a wrecking ball left-hook yet was taken apart by 6ft 3in Spinks

Hmmm, the Klits are a bit more dedicated than Cooney, and don't have an alcohol problem.. I'd also say both Klits are a bit better than an old Holmes too..
He may last the DC with Wlad, but i'd take a prime Vit to stop him around the 10th..

Haye, i believe would be a 50-50 fight.. Spinks was always very good at making his opponent work, and had a very underestimated defense.. Considering how high he held his chin, it was rarely connected with, Spinks was without doubt a very skilled operator in the lateral movement and counter punching departments, with great stamina too .. Haye would have the better offensive package and would be fast enough to catch Spinks if he lapsed at any time.. He'd also have the edge in power.. So, i'll go for Haye early or Spinks late.. I haven't seen Haye-Ruiz yet, so I'm undecided on his full potential.. Did he show any signs of gassing in that one?

Dawson would be interesting, purely for the fact he's a crafty southpaw, and Mike didn't fight too many of those.. Marvin Johnson comes to mind though, and he could **** a bit too.. If I remember rightly, Spinks KO'd him b4 the half way mark and I wouldn't class Dawson as a very assertive puncher at this stage, so i'll go for a Spinks stoppage on this one..

Hopkins would be an ugly clash of styles that wouldn't be at all good to watch, but I think he'd tame Hopkins's aggression with his stronger punching technique, and force a few hugs from Bernard as the fight progresses.. Spinks by UD

[sonnyboyx2]

Well a lot of people would argue that Holmes beat him, but I digress.

Do you think Spinks' prime was at LHW or at HW? And do you think a prime Holmes would have beaten him, or was Spinks just a bad style match up?

This Topic aint about did Holmes beat Spinks or not.... its about Spinks fighting todays champions at 175lb and 200+lb and the fact is that Spinks had no trouble whatso ever knocking out 6ft 7ins Gerry Cooney who measures up to todays champions... would the Klits beat Cooney.. i doubt it

[r.burgundy]

the heavyweights are 200lb and over

Spinks stayed outta harms way as you call it, quite easily for 30 rounds against Larry Holmes who was far more mobile than the Klits, he stayed outta harms way against Cooney & Braxton who are both far more aggressive than the Klits.

more mobile yes,but more skilled no.cooneys aggressiveness is often his undoing.he wings punches and brings that big left hook down from his knees.klitschos throw straiter punches and dont really gamble much meaning that spinks wouldve had to take some chances to get inside those strait punches

[Jim Jeffries]

I think Holmes beat him myself in one of the fights actually.
Spinks prime was certainly at LHW, don't think you could really make a case for him as an ATG HW but you would be very mean not to have him in your top 5 all time LHW's.
I think a prime Holmes would have beaten Spinks but I think Spinks would have given him major problems.
Awkward customer Mr Spinks for anyone really I think unless you bomb him out quickly he is going to make you look bad.
I think using the inevitable but the Klitschkos's are soooo big line kind of underestimates Spinks and over estimates them, I would be interested to see how they would do against a quick fighter who uses lateral movement and angles, it might be a difficult night for them.
We have seen that they are effective against fighters who move slowly straight forward as if on rails, they look great but then who wouldn't?

Cool. I think it's a little odd that some people have Tunney cracking their top 20 ATG HW list for beating Dempsey twice, and Spinks gets no love for beating a better HW twice (twice at least on paper.)
Herbie Hide and Eddie Chambers were both pretty quick and at times showed some pretty good movement.
I don't know, I guess I'd just need to see more of Spinks against HWs and ignore his abysmal performance against Tyson. He doesn't have the Foster type power that I would see giving Wlad problems and I don't see his chin holding up for 12 against either Klit.

[Jim Jeffries]

This Topic aint about did Holmes beat Spinks or not.... its about Spinks fighting todays champions at 175lb and 200+lb and the fact is that Spinks had no trouble whatso ever knocking out 6ft 7ins Gerry Cooney who measures up to todays champions... would the Klits beat Cooney.. i doubt it

Personally I think Cooney was extremely overrated and don't think the essentially one handed fighter has a chance in hell against either Klitschko. But one quick question: Do you think the 7 total rounds that Cooney had fought in the 5 years since the Holmes fight affected him at all against Spinks?

[sonnyboyx2]

Hmmm, the Klits are a bit more dedicated than Cooney, and don't have an alcohol problem.. I'd also say both Klits are a bit better than an old Holmes too..
He may last the DC with Wlad, but i'd take a prime Vit to stop him around the 10th..

Haye, i believe would be a 50-50 fight.. Spinks was always very good at making his opponent work, and had a very underestimated defense.. Considering how high he held his chin, it was rarely connected with, Spinks was without doubt a very skilled operator in the lateral movement and counter punching departments, with great stamina too .. Haye would have the better offensive package and would be fast enough to catch Spinks if he lapsed at any time.. He'd also have the edge in power.. So, i'll go for Haye early or Spinks late.. I haven't seen Haye-Ruiz yet, so I'm undecided on his full potential.. Did he show any signs of gassing in that one?

Dawson would be interesting, purely for the fact he's a crafty southpaw, and Mike didn't fight too many of those.. Marvin Johnson comes to mind though, and he could **** a bit too.. If I remember rightly, Spinks KO'd him b4 the half way mark and I wouldn't class Dawson as a very assertive puncher at this stage, so i'll go for a Spinks stoppage on this one..

Hopkins would be an ugly clash of styles that wouldn't be at all good to watch, but I think he'd tame Hopkins's aggression with his stronger punching technique, and force a few hugs from Bernard as the fight progresses.. Spinks by UD

Micky you would have to say Haye is a 50/50 fight because you do that with all British fighters... Haye`s offence is not in the same league as Braxton, Cooney, Gregory, Johnson or Holmes offence was yet Spinks had no problem dealing with them.. i dont think Haye has the edge in power like you say, Spinks poleaxed Marvin Johnson with one of the most savage hook-uppercuts in history..Spinks would `crucify` Dawson & Hopkins.. it is very debatable weather any fighter in history under 200lbs would beat Michael Spinks... David Haye`s performance against Ruiz is meaningless as Spinks woulda hammered Ruiz just as easily... How would Spinks do against The Klits, well i put up Gerry Cooney as an example and most are shooting him down in flames yet he KOd Norton, Lyle & Jimmy Young yes they was old but so was Lewis when Vitali nearly beat him, take away that fight and who has Vitali beat?... Wladimir has the worst record of any heavyweight champion in history, he has beaten not a single fighter who was above Class C level.. yet Michael Spinks was Class A level