Spinks was a big name before Holmes, man had a hall of fame career at Lt Heavyweight
Just shows how Great Mike Tyson was sparking the undefeated Spinks in a round.
I Tom I had to ponder over a few of the names, I knew Spinks had been a great light heavy but I think the wins over Holmes brought more fame and recognition than his hard fought wins and unification battles at light heavy.
Tyson was great that night, the body punch was horrible and the finishing punch was instinctive and showed how Tyson was a master of leverage - he picked the target and launched the punch automatically. I'd stayed up all night for a 90 second blowout when I was expecting Armageddon.
One of my all time favorite boxers was Vinny Pazienza. It all started with his fights with Greg Haugan. It was those three wars with Haugan that put Paz on the map and it really allowed him to go on to fight for some big purses against some all time great fighters. In reality, Paz didn't have the typical tools most legends had but his heart and determination was what i admired most and reason why I wouldn't miss one of his fights.
I ended up meeting him years later prior to his fight with Roy Jones Jr and he couldn't have been nicer to me and the other kids trying to get a minute with him. He showed up a Boys Club boxing night in NH out of nowhere and was a great memory for me.
caldo2025 wrote:One of my all time favorite boxers was Vinny Pazienza. It all started with his fights with Greg Haugan. It was those three wars with Haugan that put Paz on the map and it really allowed him to go on to fight for some big purses against some all time great fighters. In reality, Paz didn't have the typical tools most legends had but his heart and determination was what i admired most and reason why I wouldn't miss one of his fights.
I ended up meeting him years later prior to his fight with Roy Jones Jr and he couldn't have been nicer to me and the other kids trying to get a minute with him. He showed up a Boys Club boxing night in NH out of nowhere and was a great memory for me.
he was an excellent fighter and a very good sportsman; I remember after he lost to Herol Graham and how classy he was, I was very surprised at the time as I'd just heard his hype in the bouts with Haugen.
The greats Michael Spinks and Aaron Pryor were already known. Spinks was known first by winning a gold medal in '76 in perhaps as the member of the best Olympic boxing team in U.S. history.
Pryor was known when he defeated Antonio Cervantes in four rounds. Maybe known way before that.
The greats Michael Spinks and Aaron Pryor were already known. Spinks was known first by winning a gold medal in '76 in perhaps as the member of the best Olympic boxing team in U.S. history.
Pryor was known when he defeated Antonio Cervantes in four rounds. Maybe known way before that.
I know that they were known though they weren't famous, Spinks was unified champ though the light heavy division was not a prestige division, it wasn't until his wins over Holmes he became famous and wealthy. Pryor was a standout amateur and had beaten a top champ in Cervantes though he wasn't famous earning big money until Arguello.
When you think of Pryor, most people will automatically think of Arguello.
Spinks, maybe a lot of people think of Tyson but I'd imagine most would think of Holmes, that's essentially where the bulk of his fame came from and Holmes' comments about jock straps etc.
When you think of Pryor, most people will automatically think of Arguello.
Spinks, maybe a lot of people think of Tyson but I'd imagine most would think of Holmes, that's essentially where the bulk of his fame came from and Holmes' comments about jock straps etc.
it is a sad thing that both michael
moorer and michael spinks are
remembered rather for one loss
than for all their wins.
When you think of Pryor, most people will automatically think of Arguello.
Spinks, maybe a lot of people think of Tyson but I'd imagine most would think of Holmes, that's essentially where the bulk of his fame came from and Holmes' comments about jock straps etc.
it is a sad thing that both michael
moorer and michael spinks are
remembered rather for one loss
than for all their wins.
It is a shame, I like to remember Moored at light heavy and v Bert Cooper - that version was ferocious and very powerful. Spinks beat Cooney in very good style as well.
Ambling Alp II wrote:Obviously he is referring to Wepner losing to Liston in the Liston's last fight, and Galento's gutless performance against Max Baer.
man wrote:jake lamotta (sugar ray robinson)
gene tunny (jack dempsey)
buster douglas (mike tyson)
ross purrity (wlad klitschko)
leon spinks (muhammad ali)
max schmeling (jou louis)
hasim rahman (lennox louis)
oh sorry. just saw that now. my bad.
too hastily written.
Ken Burns probably wouldnt have much to say about Stanley Ketchel in his documentery,
had Ketchel have not "knocked down" the (then)infamous Jack Johnson as heavyweight champion.
Last edited by Caractacus on 08 Oct 2015, 12:53, edited 1 time in total.
Also do you think Henry Cooper had gotten so many invitations as a after dinner speaker long after his retirement from the sport of Boxing,
had he not knocked down(and almost out if not for the 3 minutes rest) of Cassius Clay
who would go on to be Muhammad Ali.
Caractacus wrote:Also do you think Henry Cooper had gotten so many invitations as a after dinner speaker long after his retirement from the sport of Boxing,
had he not knocked down(and almost out if not for the 3 minutes rest) of Cassius Clay
who would go on to be Muhammad Ali.
He certainly milked it for everything it was worth! Good old Henry.
I had to ponder over a few of the names, I knew Spinks had been a great light heavy but I think the wins over Holmes brought more fame and recognition than his hard fought wins and unification battles at light heavy.
