BoxRec

Mike Tysons defining performance to prove himself the undisputed heavyweight champion.

What a huge event it was due to Spinks having the lineal HW title. Although in reality he'd beaten an old Holmes, a drugged up Cooney coming off a long layoff and...Steffan Tangstad. Some actually picked Spinks to win which at the time wasn't totally preposterous but I think in hindsight it was absurd

Honestly. I saw it as nothing more than a formality. I never for a moment expected Spinks to get through the first 2 rounds. Spinks didn't really believe he could beat half of the guys in the top 20 let alone Tyson.

Ezzard wrote:Honestly. I saw it as nothing more than a formality. I never for a moment expected Spinks to get through the first 2 rounds. Spinks didn't really believe he could beat half of the guys in the top 20 let alone Tyson.

Very true. He never had much confidence at the best of times and he infact didn't particularly like fighting. Holmes was ripe and the other guys he fought were no real threat

I can't remember these days, who his mandatory was that he didn't fight in order to cash in on Tyson?

One thing that always got me as a kid, is that he came in with two knee braces on. That to me was always a bit odd.

Talk about a load of revisionist B.S. The experts were split almost down the middle on who would win this fight. It was the first time since Ali/Frazier that two undefeated heavyweight champions at or near the top of the P4P list would face off for the title in a highly anticipated bout. Everyone thought Spinks would be Tyson's foil setting up a great series. It was only after Spinks was destroyed that monday morning quarterbacks started saying "I knew it wouldnt be close" "Spinks was nothing and never fought anyone" What a joke. For a guy who never had any confidence, didnt like fighting, and never beat anyone he sure looked damn good and dominant until he ran into Tyson, while accomplishing several notable feats.

klompton wrote:Talk about a load of revisionist B.S. The experts were split almost down the middle on who would win this fight. It was the first time since Ali/Frazier that two undefeated heavyweight champions at or near the top of the P4P list would face off for the title in a highly anticipated bout. Everyone thought Spinks would be Tyson's foil setting up a great series. It was only after Spinks was destroyed that monday morning quarterbacks started saying "I knew it wouldnt be close" "Spinks was nothing and never fought anyone" What a joke. For a guy who never had any confidence, didnt like fighting, and never beat anyone he sure looked damn good and dominant until he ran into Tyson, while accomplishing several notable feats.

Klompton. I've always got a lot of time for your posts. You're a guy who has dedicated a lot to the sport. I appreciate that. And I respect your opinions.

I remember a while back you posting about how Mike Gibbons was the pick of the Gibbons brothers...the kind of thing I'd never have had perspective on without you.

But seriously, this was never a match. Not for me, anyway. Spinks almost went over from old fat Larry's right hands. He wouldn't face a live contender because he wanted to cash out against Tyson. He was too small and didn't have the right tool kit to fight Tyson.

Spinks was a great Lightheavy. One of the best. And beating Holmes twice (even if one was considered controversial) was a great feat. But I'd have backed pretty much anyone in the top 10 to have beaten him at that time.

I'm sure there were lots of top experts feeding the hype but I didn't buy any of it. That's just me.

is it true that spinks didn't want to come out and
the fight was delayed by quite some minutes? read
that somewhere and don't know if i would believe
that. after all, these are professional athletes and
not cowards.

my guess is that this kind of rumor spreads with
outcomes as weird as this one was. i really feel
for spinks every time i see it. building a life on
fighting and being remembered for your single loss.
probably took him many years to get over it.

I am surprised Saad isnt all over this thread talking up how great Spinks was, after the big tussle we had over Cooney-Spinks months before. Jesus bless.

25 years ,that makes me feel old ,but they were great days for boxing .tyson was like a hurricain destroying who ever was put in front of him . shame tyson fell into don king's clutches he should of been near on unbeatable but it wasn't to be

Ezzard wrote:

klompton wrote:Talk about a load of revisionist B.S. The experts were split almost down the middle on who would win this fight. It was the first time since Ali/Frazier that two undefeated heavyweight champions at or near the top of the P4P list would face off for the title in a highly anticipated bout. Everyone thought Spinks would be Tyson's foil setting up a great series. It was only after Spinks was destroyed that monday morning quarterbacks started saying "I knew it wouldnt be close" "Spinks was nothing and never fought anyone" What a joke. For a guy who never had any confidence, didnt like fighting, and never beat anyone he sure looked damn good and dominant until he ran into Tyson, while accomplishing several notable feats.

Klompton. I've always got a lot of time for your posts. You're a guy who has dedicated a lot to the sport. I appreciate that. And I respect your opinions.

I remember a while back you posting about how Mike Gibbons was the pick of the Gibbons brothers...the kind of thing I'd never have had perspective on without you.

But seriously, this was never a match. Not for me, anyway. Spinks almost went over from old fat Larry's right hands. He wouldn't face a live contender because he wanted to cash out against Tyson. He was too small and didn't have the right tool kit to fight Tyson.

Spinks was a great Lightheavy. One of the best. And beating Holmes twice (even if one was considered controversial) was a great feat. But I'd have backed pretty much anyone in the top 10 to have beaten him at that time.

I'm sure there were lots of top experts feeding the hype but I didn't buy any of it. That's just me.

This is my recollection, too. Most anyone who had a lick of sense knew Spinks wasn't going to be able to hold off a monster like that version of Tyson.

I expected Spinks to dazzle Tyson with blinding speed, avoid his attacks with footwork and the nimbleness of a featherweight.
I was totally in awe of the mystique of an unbeaten two-weight champion who was far too good to stoop to a unifying tournament, waiting on his throne like a king, waiting to vanquish the tournaments winner.

I was 10 years old.

25 years ago today...we saw the best heavyweight ever only matched by a fighter 22 years before him on a night in texas...

witherspoon wrote:I expected Spinks to dazzle Tyson with blinding speed, avoid his attacks with footwork and the nimbleness of a featherweight.
I was totally in awe of the mystique of an unbeaten two-weight champion who was far too good to stoop to a unifying tournament, waiting on his throne like a king, waiting to vanquish the tournaments winner.

I was 10 years old.

I think there was a lot of wishful and none too realistic thinking at the time, regarding Spinks' chances

I remember I had the TV on in my bedroom 'on the quiet' as I was still at school then and was risking a stern telling off from the folks as well as being massively tired the next day when I think I had exams. To say I was disappointed in Spinks dsplay is an understatement, I thought he just rolled over, which for the $15m or whatever he got was annoying to a 14 year old.

klompton wrote:Talk about a load of revisionist B.S. The experts were split almost down the middle on who would win this fight. It was the first time since Ali/Frazier that two undefeated heavyweight champions at or near the top of the P4P list would face off for the title in a highly anticipated bout. Everyone thought Spinks would be Tyson's foil setting up a great series. It was only after Spinks was destroyed that monday morning quarterbacks started saying "I knew it wouldnt be close" "Spinks was nothing and never fought anyone" What a joke. For a guy who never had any confidence, didnt like fighting, and never beat anyone he sure looked damn good and dominant until he ran into Tyson, while accomplishing several notable feats.

Actually I recall most prognosticators going heavily with Tyson. He was a 4-1 favorite in Las Vegas. (Frazier was only 6-5 over Ali at fight time).
Spinks was still considered a blownup heavyweight at the time. Excellent fighter, but too small to handle Tyson's speed and power.
I remember predicting Tyson in 4 rounds, but when I saw Spinks walking to the ring with an odd look on his face that said "What the hell am I doing here???" I immediately changed my pick to 1st round KO.
Not revisionist B.S. Just facts.