Larry Holmes beated Leon Spinks Senseless

[psychod1986]

The ref did the right thing to stop the fight in the 3rd round because Holmes could have kill Spinks in the ring.Holmes was really t'ing off on him,i mean he really punish the guy.

[gilgamesh]

And we need a thread for this why?

[DannyMCR]

And we need a thread for this why?

[gilgamesh]

David Tua crusheded John Ruiz in 19 seconds I mean holy jeez. Did you seen the look on Ruiz's face? Him was almost in comatose....good thing he couldn't get up or else might've got killeder

[psychod1986]

And we need a thread for this why?

Because i want too any other question.

[sweetviolenturge]

And we need a thread for this why?

Because i want too any other question.

Well, by all means, ask away my friend. I never missed a single televised fight back in those days & have a near-eidetic memory ( at least for a few more years I hope. ), so I'd be happy to share.

[gilgamesh]

And we need a thread for this why?

Because i want too any other question.

Since it's only a 3 round demolition, and I got it on film I'll watch it tomorrow and make whatever comment there is to make about it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I gave spinks the first two rounds

[bollox]

Leon Spinks...how tall in standing was he?

[psychod1986]

And we need a thread for this why?

You right bruh

[Tony1244]

Some boxing writers such as Michael Katz predicted an upset.

What I remember from it is Spinks may have won round 1 and/or round 2 and was fighting with ultra high energy. (Cocaine?)

But yes at the end it was well stopped. When Holmes got a smaller opponent like Leon or Marvis hurt he teed off on them.

[Caractacus]

I remember Leon Spinks tried to kiss Larry Holmes's wife at a press conference a while before.
Maybe that is what made him mad.

[sweetviolenturge]

Some boxing writers such as Michael Katz predicted an upset.

What I remember from it is Spinks may have won round 1 and/or round 2 and was fighting with ultra high energy. (Cocaine?)

But yes at the end it was well stopped. When Holmes got a smaller opponent like Leon or Marvis hurt he teed off on them.

Yeah, oddly enough, there was, indeed, a bit of a contingent of "insiders" & the press who were somewhat vocal about their opinions. With Katz & Randy Gordon being the biggest names.
I'd grown up as a serious follower of the game reading both men's work & listening to their work as commentators for years, so I respected both men's opinions. But, "Neon" Leon over Larry Holmes? No bloody way!

[Kalan]

I knew exactly why the Holmes-Leon Fight was made... For the same reason the Holmes-Marvis Frazier Fight was made... They knew fans would pony up and buy them, that's why... For whatever reason Holmes never fought Page, Coetzee, Tubbs, or Dokes.

The thing I remember about Holmes-Leon was the punch-out in the 3rd---with Leon plastered against the ropes... A loaded left hook to the liver wizzed by Spinks' ribs. It drew a lot of OOOOHS because Leon would have been carried out if it landed.

[Tony1244]

I knew exactly why the Holmes-Leon Fight was made... For the same reason the Holmes-Marvis Frazier Fight was made... They knew fans would pony up and buy them, that's why... For whatever reason Holmes never fought Page, Coetzee, Tubbs, or Dokes.

The thing I remember about Holmes-Leon was the punch-out in the 3rd---with Leon plastered against the ropes... A loaded left hook to the liver wizzed by Spinks' ribs. It drew a lot of OOOOHS because Leon would have been carried out if it landed.

Page, Coetzee, Tubbs and Dokes didn't exactly have long winning streaks. Dokes was KOd by Coetzee who I believe was beaten by Weaver. Weaver and Dokes had a draw that Weaver deserved to win.

[sweetsci]

I knew exactly why the Holmes-Leon Fight was made... For the same reason the Holmes-Marvis Frazier Fight was made... They knew fans would pony up and buy them, that's why...

These were both broadcast on free network TV, so fans didn't have to literally buy them, say via a closed circuit showing or PPV. But I know what you're saying - both opponents had recognizable names so the networks bought the fights & sold advertising knowing that people would tune in.

[Kalan]

I knew exactly why the Holmes-Leon Fight was made... For the same reason the Holmes-Marvis Frazier Fight was made... They knew fans would pony up and buy them, that's why... For whatever reason Holmes never fought Page, Coetzee, Tubbs, or Dokes.

The thing I remember about Holmes-Leon was the punch-out in the 3rd---with Leon plastered against the ropes... A loaded left hook to the liver wizzed by Spinks' ribs. It drew a lot of OOOOHS because Leon would have been carried out if it landed.

Page, Coetzee, Tubbs and Dokes didn't exactly have long winning streaks. Dokes was KOd by Coetzee who I believe was beaten by Weaver. Weaver and Dokes had a draw that Weaver deserved to win.

They ALL had good wining streaks and significant victories... Of course they got beaten at times. How many guys go undefeated for their career??? ... The thing is you don't fight anybody right after they lose because it makes no sense... But after Coetzee knocked out Dokes a Holmes fight made sense... After Weaver knocked out Tate a Holmes fight made sense... After Tubbs beat Page a Holmes fight made sense... After Page knocked out Coetzee a Holmes fight made sense. That's when those fights would have been good matchups ... I like to see World title holders fight top contenders with a good records when they're hot ... after they scored significant victories. It's frustrating when you don't see logical matchups with significant risk involved.

And it wasn't that much fun watching Larry Holmes, 44-0 versus Marvis Frazier, 10-0... Or Larry Holmes 37-0 versus Leon Spinks, 10-2-2...

[gp.]

Leon Spinks...how tall in standing was he?

Much taller than he was in lying down.

[Caractacus]

also Leon Spinks had embarressed Larry Holmes earlier in 1980 at a dinner to honour Joe Louis.
Spinks came to Holmes's table and tried to take a boxing glove from it but Holme's wife wouldnt let him,
Larry Holmes came over and told him to leave,he wouldnt so Holmes pushed him,
then Spink's bodyguard Mr. T came to back up Spinks,but Holmes didnt want to ruin Joe Louis's dinner.

[Caractacus]

a few weeks before the fight,Larry Holmes was asked why he seemed bent on defeating Leon Spinks.
Here is his quote.

"Leon Spinks ain't got no money,
aint got no teeth,
aint got anything to loose.
I have everything to loose".

[Nile4000]

If Leon could have taken away Holmles' jab, and if this was a '78 fight, he might have scored an upset.

[Dart340]

Coming off an impressive TKO over imposing Bernardo Mercado where Spinks seemed to take flush shots with zero effect and appeared to be in excellent shape and capable of fighting at a fast pace, the fight looked to be a lot more competitive than it looks in retrospect.

I think Holmes is overrated in terms of actual skill, but probably underappreciated as to just how focused and disciplined he was. No one performed at maximum potential time after time like Holmes and this is underscored by how all of his peers in the 80's all self-destructed both psychologically and physically. He truly lived fully up to his potential and maybe exceeded it.

[Kalan]

I think Holmes is overrated in terms of actual skill, but probably underappreciated as to just how focused and disciplined he was. No one performed at maximum potential time after time like Holmes and this is underscored by how all of his peers in the 80's all self-destructed both psychologically and physically. He truly lived fully up to his potential and maybe exceeded it

I don't think he did.. I don't think Larry Holmes was in the greatest of shape for all his fights...

Conditioning wise he was generally on top of it, but I don't think Holmes did a lot of strength training, sit-ups, chin ups, weight work, and things of that nature.. He did all the bag work, mitt work, and sparring.. rope skipping, running, shadow boxing and traditional stuff like that.. but as he got into his 40's against guys like Ray Mercer you saw that big, fat, pot belly sticking out.. It was basically his skills that got him through those fights in his 40's and 50's.

When he was matched against Oliver McCall, it looked like a super strong and super fit athlete versus a guy who did his training on the golf course... I thought Larry looked real soft for that one -- and you worried that if he got hit with that shot that took Lennox Lewis out, it wasn't going to work for him.. He was 45.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Leon Spinks...how tall in standing was he?

Much taller than he was in lying down.

He was even taller in jumping!!

[Kalan]

He was the same height in all circumstances... Ali looked like a pansy trying to put Spinks away... Any top Heavyweight who can hit flattens this guy.

Larry to Leon... "I'm bigger than you. I'm stronger than you. You've been knocked out before so you know what it feels like. This will be Deja Vu for you."