Dream Matchup: Holyfield vs. Spinks @190

[Eric the Viking]

Instead of making the leap all the way to heavyweight, Mike Spinks puts on a modest amount of weight and faces a prime cruiserweight Evander Holyfield at 190. Who wins, and why?

[bollox]

Honestly couldn't with confidence choose a winner here but have to lean towards Spinks based on experience. Great fight it would have been, though

[Alister]

Holyfield by late TKO. No fighter clould ever beat Holyfield at 190, he was just too strong and determined.

Alister

[Grimm]

Holyfiel probably would've knocked spinks out even though he's real skilled and all. Holyfield was very strong.

Good matchup idea though.

[bollox]

A lot of opponents thought they could KO Michael Spinks yet most couldn't come remotely close. If a green Holyfield struggled somewhat against a Qawi then an improved Holyfield is competitive against Spinks

[Syntax Error]

Very tough to call, but I'd go with Holyfield on this one.

A close points win for me.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Spinks achievements have been somewhat overlooked, when you consider he campaigned when there was no cruiserweight division, beat Holmes in two controversial but tight fights and mullered dangerous Cooney, a very underrated performance.

By the time he got to Tyson, he was too old, out of condition and just plain terrified, which was a shame. I don't think he could ever have dealt with Tyson, as Tyson had the speed and power to take him down quick. Against Holmes and Cooney he was the faster man who could work them over in close, against Tyson, that spelt disaster.

He was pretty devastating at 175, and at 190 would have kept his speed, conditioning and punchpower better. Holyfield was of course the naturally bigger man, and probably had the better chin, but it would have been a very very close fight. In a 5 fight series, Holyfield wins 3.

[barry]

I think Vitali would win!

[Fist of Legend]

I think Vitali would win!

[barry]

Ok Fist of Legend, you must have a fetish for me, how about if I put a camera down my pants and take a picture and send it to you, will it make you happy?

P.S. My Kung-Fu is much stronger than yours!

[silkov]

I think Vitali would win!

I'd lean towards Viagra myself... through all the pain :x and punishment, blood and bruises Viagra would stay erect... 8) 8)

[silkov]

Seriously, I'd lean towards Holifield at 190... I think he'd be a touch too strong and busy for Spinks... Holifield was certainly at his best at 190 I think but Spinks wouldgive him a great bout and it would be a close decision with Evanders work rate being the deciding factor.
Spinks shouldn't be judged on the Tyson fight as his knees were totally gone for that fight and he knew it which was the reason why he was 'scared'. I still think the Spinks of '85 would have been able to give Tyson a good fight.

[barry]

Seriously, it's a tough fight to call. Holyfield was more powerful and all-around just more tough, but Spinks was a hell of a fighter as well...I don't know, a "Draw."

[Slapsie Maxie]

I always felt that Spinks could have given Tyson a decent fight. I had not heard about his knees apart from the fact they were knocking together so loudly they drowned out the announcements. Do you have a link to the stuff about his knees being shot? I would be intersted to read it.

his rep is tarnished by the Tyson fight. Unfairly, IMHO as at 175 he was brutal and he was not afraid to take it to the bigger fighters

The fight with Holy at 190 would be THE fight I wish I could have seen. I do think that the Holy of c1987 would have been just too much, but I don't think it would have been by much. UD Holyfield

Slapsie

[silkov]

I always felt that Spinks could have given Tyson a decent fight. I had not heard about his knees apart from the fact they were knocking together so loudly they drowned out the announcements. Do you have a link to the stuff about his knees being shot? I would be intersted to read it.

his rep is tarnished by the Tyson fight. Unfairly, IMHO as at 175 he was brutal and he was not afraid to take it to the bigger fighters

The fight with Holy at 190 would be THE fight I wish I could have seen. I do think that the Holy of c1987 would have been just too much, but I don't think it would have been by much. UD Holyfield

Slapsie

If I remember correctly Spinks fought with knee supports on both legs against Tyson... I also recall someone saying after the fight that Micheal couldn't move becaise his knees were gone... can't remember who it was though. I've always thought that Spinks was 'scared' because he knew that he wasn't physically ok for the fight. Had it been '85 he would have moved about and frustrated Tyson and could well have beaten him imo... had he been able to get into the later rounds Mike would have began to unravel and Spinks in or near his prime had the tools to do that, but Mikes camp made sure that they waited for the Spinks fight till Micheal was past his best.

[MightyWarrior]

I'd go Holyfield by 15 round decision. Too much of an all round fighter for Spinks.
While Mike was a great fighter, you got the impression his heart was never really in the sport 100% - it was just a business as far as he was concerned.

Whereas Holyfield is just all warrior, a guy who lives and breathes it. He'd take Spinks deep into 15 rounds of hell and grind out a win. Might have to haul himself off the canvas if he forgets to duck though..

[jamesmcdonnell]

I always felt that Spinks could have given Tyson a decent fight. I had not heard about his knees apart from the fact they were knocking together so loudly they drowned out the announcements. Do you have a link to the stuff about his knees being shot? I would be intersted to read it.

his rep is tarnished by the Tyson fight. Unfairly, IMHO as at 175 he was brutal and he was not afraid to take it to the bigger fighters

The fight with Holy at 190 would be THE fight I wish I could have seen. I do think that the Holy of c1987 would have been just too much, but I don't think it would have been by much. UD Holyfield

Slapsie

I don't think Spinks could have beaten Tyson at any time, he just didn't have the firepower to stop Tyson, who despite his flaws had a fantastic chin, and only ever went down from serious poundings from big strong heavyweights. Spinks may have been able to frustrate Tyson for a while, but Tyson's handspeed and ability to close the gap would have gotten to him. Once Spinks turned negative, game over.

Spinks wore knee braces for years, he'd wrecked his knees from running in heavy construction boots doing his roadwork.

It's clear that the fight came a bit too late for spinks though, he turned up a beaten man in poor shape, I don't know if that was his knees or what, but he looked terrified and glad when it was all over.


If I remember correctly Spinks fought with knee supports on both legs against Tyson... I also recall someone saying after the fight that Micheal couldn't move becaise his knees were gone... can't remember who it was though. I've always thought that Spinks was 'scared' because he knew that he wasn't physically ok for the fight. Had it been '85 he would have moved about and frustrated Tyson and could well have beaten him imo... had he been able to get into the later rounds Mike would have began to unravel and Spinks in or near his prime had the tools to do that, but Mikes camp made sure that they waited for the Spinks fight till Micheal was past his best.

[bollox]

Some seem to be underestimating Michael Spinks here and the last memory people have of him is on the canvas against Tyson, as a blown up lightheavy

Spinks tamed more than a couple of lightheavy absolute beasts in his day and his extreme awkwardness would have been more a handful for Holyfield

Spinks' experience to take him to a split decision over a Holyfield yet to come up against such an awkward fighter

[KOJOE90]

Well to be honest guys it would not shock me if Michael Spinks won this one.

Although I admit it is a real tough one to call, but Spinks was one hell of a fighter to, and he had that strange 'herky jerky' rythym that may well have given Holyfield a lot of problems at 190lbs.

I go for Spinks taking a razor tight 15 decision with Holyfield and half the crowd screaming robbery and demanding a rematch.

As for the rematch? The 'real' Holyfield was a good rematch fighter and he reverses the decision, just.

Tough one.

[Grimm]

I'd go Holyfield by 15 round decision. Too much of an all round fighter for Spinks.
While Mike was a great fighter, you got the impression his heart was never really in the sport 100% - it was just a business as far as he was concerned.

That is not right at all,before Mike started getting all this publicity and biting and raping people the only thing he had to live for was boxing. Then it happened, a crazy man found out he could do crazy things and get away with them thats when he lost his mind.

The Tyson that fought the old cowardly Spinks would definitely have his mind set on beating the shit out of the young Spinks.

[bollox]

Spinks? Cowardly? Don't know much about much do you?

[KOJOE90]

Spinks was no coward.

[Grimm]

He was scared as shit of a mere man, yes I say that is cowardly.

[bollox]

He was scared as shit of a mere man, yes I say that is cowardly.

Have you ever seen Michael Spinks fight as a Lightheavyweight? Have you ever faced a man naturally 30 pounds heavier

All fighters feel fear at some point. Anyone that says otherwise is talking rubbish

The only coward in this thread is perhaps you?

[Grimm]

He was scared as shit of a mere man, yes I say that is cowardly.

Have you ever seen Michael Spinks fight as a Lightheavyweight? Have you ever faced a man naturally 30 pounds heavier

As a matter of fact I have faced A fighter that was not 30 pounds heavier than me but that was 50 pounds heavier than me and he was also 8 years older than me (23). He wasn't a fat out of shape guy either. I went the 5 rounds to get the decision. So don't come up with some bullshit about why he was scared or how I'm a coward because you have no idea what the fornicate you are talking about.