BoxRec

keithmoonhangover wrote:If Spinks was drug free, entourage free, trained properly and actually enjoyed boxing, he could have achieved a lot more.

What, even more than becoming undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and defeating the "greatest" ?

Foreman in 3 round blow out

George Foreman would have ruined Leon Spinks if they fought during the 1970s. Spinks had a fighting style which was made to order for Foreman.

- Chuck Johnston

jaclem3 wrote:..foreman would have butchered spinks if george was IN his 70s.

Not far from the truth I'd say.

The first Ali fight was probably the only time in Spinks' career that he went into isolation, fully prepared for a fight and arrived ready to exploit his potent skillset. I don't think the partied out Spinks of Coetzee/Monaco is a fair representation of his ability.

I'm not trying to be a contrarian here, but I remember watching Spinks bullrush Bernardo Mercado and batter him into a TKO victory and look extremely sturdy and competent doing so on the Ali-Holmes undercard. Mercado, as I remember, couldn't make him blink and he was a reasonably respected puncher at the time. If Foreman shows up looking like he did in Toronto or San Juan, this might not be as one sided as we presume.

Bernardo Mercado has been cited by many chins as a phenomenal puncher. Spinks, on fire that night, got inside his power and wore down the hulking Columbian. The Leon Spinks who met Coetzee and the Leon Spinks who met Mercado are heterogeneous.

I still pick Foreman - of course - but to laugh off a Spinks fight, or to allude to Coetzee as scientific proof of how Spinks copes with punchers, is a bit hasty. He could pose Foreman a lot of problems if he makes it inside.

this fight would be over quickly poor old Leon sent to la la land sharpish

Tuan_Jim wrote:Bernardo Mercado has been cited by many chins as a phenomenal puncher. Spinks, on fire that night, got inside his power and wore down the hulking Columbian. The Leon Spinks who met Coetzee and the Leon Spinks who met Mercado are heterogeneous.

I still pick Foreman - of course - but to laugh off a Spinks fight, or to allude to Coetzee as scientific proof of how Spinks copes with punchers, is a bit hasty. He could pose Foreman a lot of problems if he makes it inside.

Mercado also completely shot his load in the first round and spent most of the rest of the fight mostly against the ropes. You really think Foreman would do that? Mercado also was a range puncher, whereas Foreman had a tremendous uppercut and was a killer body puncher.

Mercado was a very good puncher, but George in the 70s was a force of nature; his shots to your arms would break blood vessels.