Great interview with Michael Spinks, underrated boxer

[CJG]

[Controversial]

So Spinks lost to Tyson because he hadn’t fought for a year. Ok.

[Ambling Alp II]

that was pretty cool. Spinks was always such a class act, one of the good guys of the sport. Thanks for posting this!

[elmersalsa]

So Spinks lost to Tyson because he hadn’t fought for a year. Ok.

Even if he would have fought 100 times in 1987, he would not beat that young beast named "Iron" Mike Tyson. Tyson at 22, was too much for the great Michael Spinks.

[Ambling Alp II]

It is too bad that too many people focus on the Tyson fight when talking about Spinks. He has as good of a case as anyone as to being the greatest light heavyweight of all time. He came along during a very strong period in the division, and beat all of the top guys without losing to any of them.

[Joson]

Two Spinks fights I've been trying to find are his 1977 wins over Ray Elson and Gary Summerhayes. Both opponents had far more professional experience than Mike, yet he beat them with less than five bouts under this belt. The fights were televised live on network TV.

Elson (15-1-1) had once gone eight hard rounds with Victor Galindez, but Spinks stopped him within 30 seconds of the opening bell. Summerhays (28-12-3), had lasted the distance with many world ranked light-heavyweights, including a narrow loss to Mike Rossman in his last outing. But Spinks easily outpointed Summerhays.

After these victories, the boxing world realized Spinks was moving quickly to the top. But then came brother Leon's wild reign as heavyweight champ, which sidetracked Michael's career for nearly two years.

An interesting footnote is that three months after losing to Spinks, Summerhays KO'd Tony Mundine to take the British Commonwealth 175 lbs title.

[Ambling Alp II]

I don't recall either the Elson or Summerhays fights. I do remember the Bethea fight, which was broadcast before the Spinks-Ali fight that night. Spinks did fight some tough competition on his way up though. He beat Murray Sutherland, Yaqui Lopez, and Marvin Johnson before he got a title shot!

[Ezzard]

A great LHW. Not a great HW.

I don't think he is underrated. Most people would have him in a 175 top 10.

[Ambling Alp II]

That statement alone underrates him.

Well, he is clearly Top 10. You can make a serious case that he is number one. He dominated in a tough era. Who else has done that? What more could he really have done at light heavyweight?