Fantasy matches : Michael Spinks (1986) against current HWs ?

[ValMar]

Michael Spinks had defeated Lary Holmes in the rematch, it was very close fight, but Spinks deserved to win. What do you think about his chances against the best present day HW boxers (Klitschko, Ortiz, Joshua, Haye, Wilder, Fury, Povetkin, Parker) ?

[Enlightened-One]

Michael Spinks had defeated Lary Holmes in the rematch, it was very close fight, but Spinks deserved to win. What do you think about his chances against the best present day HW boxers (Klitschko, Ortiz, Joshua, Haye, Wilder, Fury, Povetkin, Parker) ?

Michael Spinks was the modern day equivalent of a cruiserweight when he defeated Larry Holmes and when he also defended his IBF world titles. Against Tyson, he looked fleshy and unathletic.

I think it’s a tad ambitious to expect a small light heavyweight, who could’ve been a super-middleweight had he fought today, to compete against men that are three inches taller and 50lbs+ heavier than himself.

Spinks may be capable of scoring an upset, but I expect him to lose against most of the men you mention.

[ValMar]

I am not sure, but I think that he had weighed about 200 lb in this match. Never forget that he was very, very skillful. OK, Tyson simply destroyed him , but beyond that, he was very successful, without a loss.

[Kalan]

Michael Spinks had defeated Lary Holmes in the rematch, it was very close fight, but Spinks deserved to win. What do you think about his chances against the best present day HW boxers (Klitschko, Ortiz, Joshua, Haye, Wilder, Fury, Povetkin, Parker) ?

Michael Spinks could conceivably out-box newcomer Parker, but all the rest would destroy him at their best.. They can all box and punch very well.. Fury is a light hitter for his size, but he could still cold cock a cruiserweight with 1 punch---a guy who nobody else ever stopped.. Gerry Cooney was mentally and emotionally destroyed when he fought Spinks.. It's very much like when Jimmy Young fought Cooney.. He wasn't nearly as mentally or emotionally prepared to fight as when he fought Foreman.. If you need to overcome size and strength with skills and mastery, confidence is everything... Larry Holmes was never a big puncher so Spinks could relax a bit.. But Holmes obviously won the rematch and was robbed blind.. When Spinks fought Mike Tyson he was scared to death.. One shot from a hard hitting heavyweight could kill a man his size and you can't fight scared.. It's like Patterson vs Liston and Frazier vs Foreman.. They didn't show up mentally. They couldn't throw a good punch.. Any boxer who believes in his heart that he's badly overmatched will never get going.. He's beaten before the bell rings.. This is why boxers always try to intimidate each other. They know it works.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He'd box circles around fury.

[Lackeos]

Klitschko IMO, there is no mystery here. Wlad is just way better.
Ortiz Spinks is surely better p4p, but Ortiz has skill too, he's somewhat tall and rangy, and he's extraordinarily heavy-handed. Spinks would struggle to outbox Ortiz given the size vs skill situation; but if Ortiz landed anything, it would rock Spinks to sleep. Gotta go with Ortiz.
Joshua No way of knowing yet whether Joshua is the next Wlad / Vitali / Lennox, but I'm expecting him to be similar in certain ways. I think Joshua has probably improved a bit since struggling with The Bodysnatcher. Odds are this is another fight where Spinks gets KO'd as soon as he gets touched with something.
Haye I respect Haye more than most people do. I think Spinks and Haye are both among the great cruiserweight-sized fighters. Good match-up, and I wouldn't pick a winner here.
Wilder Wilder has shown a proven capacity to befuddle smaller and less talented opponents, reminiscent of Wlad, but maybe I wouldn't go so far as to say he's the next Wlad. Either way, I think Wilder would probably outpoint Spinks, and with nearly 0 risk that Spinks could score an upset KO.
Fury IMO, Fury is the new man. If he can get his sh*t together, then he's gonna be the man for a while. If Fury can be the #1 heavyweight for the bulk of the next decade, there's no way I would pick Spinks over someone like that.
Povetkin Close fight. Povetkin has skill, and the substantial power and chin advantage. Spinks has the superior skill p4p. The height / reach situation is not too extreme. I think either fighter could win, but Spinks is a legendary LHW, I have to side with him.
Parker I have no doubt that Spinks has the greater skill than Parker and would outbox him. But Parker's power could turn the fight around really fast. If Tyson can KO Spinks so fast, and I mean SO FAST, I have no idea how Spinks would last 12 rounds with Parker.