Leon Spinks vs. Goerge Foreman in the 70s

[NewGuy]

If George Foreman had not left boxing after losing to Jimmy Young and had instead challenged Leon Spinks for the title after Spinks beat Ali, how would the match have gone?

[BoxBuzz]

I think this would be comical. So much so, I had never even pondered until I saw it in this thread.

Especially funny if George went into this fight in his discombobulated mental state post Jimmy Young.


Not that I'd hold much hope out for Leon. It could have proven to produce some one of a kind boxing moments.

[HomicideHenry]

Holy crap, you really must hate Leon Spinks I saw Coetzee poleaxe the poor bastard in one round. Foreman could of potentially of killed him.

[Caractacus]

Yeah,watching Leon Spinks try and "Bum Rush" Big George,probably wouldnt end up a pretty sight.

[Crease]

Holy crap, you really must hate Leon Spinks I saw Coetzee poleaxe the poor bastard in one round. Foreman could of potentially of killed him.

I was thinking the same thing.

[jaclem3]

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

[Seamus]

This is the kind of fight where I could bet the farm that Foreman stops Leon in the 1st, and he'd make into the 2nd.

[Syntax Error]

If George Foreman had not left boxing after losing to Jimmy Young and had instead challenged Leon Spinks for the title after Spinks beat Ali, how would the match have gone?

Foreman would have been locked up after the bout for manslaughter!

I can't think of a more one-sided hypothetical HW matchup.

[Broomhall]

Easy to slate Spinks but he was an Olympic Gold medalist and represented the USA with pride and distinction. He was a very small heavyweight who beat Ali in only his 8th fight and only 2 years out from winning the light heavyweight gold medal. This projected Spinks into a level that he just wasnt ready for either physically or mentally.

I get that he wouldnt have beat Foreman or even got close to him, but I dont think he deserves the mockery.

[Tony1244]

After Leon decisioned Ali, I remember Foreman said he was thinking of coming back. After Ali regained the title Foreman found God again.

[DaveyMac]

Easy to slate Spinks but he was an Olympic Gold medalist and represented the USA with pride and distinction. He was a very small heavyweight who beat Ali in only his 8th fight and only 2 years out from winning the light heavyweight gold medal. This projected Spinks into a level that he just wasnt ready for either physically or mentally.

I get that he wouldnt have beat Foreman or even got close to him, but I dont think he deserves the mockery.

Excellent points.

[knockouts67]

Foreman in 1 or 2!!! He ran in like a crazy man and had no power--he should have been a cruiserweight! Had wars with average fighters on the way up and forget the old Ali he fought----Look at Coetzee and Holmes knocking him out---This fight would be frightening to see!!

[Syntax Error]

Foreman in 1 or 2!!! He ran in like a crazy man and had no power--he should have been a cruiserweight! Had wars with average fighters on the way up and forget the old Ali he fought----Look at Coetzee and Holmes knocking him out---This fight would be frightening to see!!

Two rounds?

Leon would be lucky to last more than 90 seconds with Big George, at any time in George's career.

[misterpunch]

any advance on 90 seconds??

[drunkenpiper36]

All you have to do is watch Leon's fight with Coetzee.. There's your answer.

[Ambling Alp II]

I obviously would pick Foreman as well. However, just to play the devil's advocate, take a look at Foreman's performance vs Young and Spinks performance in the first Ali fight. If this happens in the middle of 1978, this may have been more interesting than what it looks like at first glance.

[Seamus]

But Young was way better than Spinks, and Ali practically gave away the 1st fight with Leon.

[Syntax Error]

I obviously would pick Foreman as well. However, just to play the devil's advocate, take a look at Foreman's performance vs Young and Spinks performance in the first Ali fight. If this happens in the middle of 1978, this may have been more interesting than what it looks like at first glance.

I don't think that would have mattered,

Even a George Foreman hearing voices & seeing angels would have splattered Leon Spinks all over the canvass like he was stepping on a ladybird.

L Spinks -v- Foreman: the film equivalent would be Bambi -v- Godzilla. :P

[Broomhall]

I obviously would pick Foreman as well. However, just to play the devil's advocate, take a look at Foreman's performance vs Young and Spinks performance in the first Ali fight. If this happens in the middle of 1978, this may have been more interesting than what it looks like at first glance.

I don't think that would have mattered,

Even a George Foreman hearing voices & seeing angels would have splattered Leon Spinks all over the canvass like he was stepping on a ladybird.

L Spinks -v- Foreman: the film equivalent would be Bambi -v- Godzilla. :P

Why cant you just say you think Foreman would win? and win easily why mock the man?

[Nile4000]

Leon Spinks was megatough, and being an ex-Marine, and with the timing, He would take George on an upset unanimous decision.

[Syntax Error]

I obviously would pick Foreman as well. However, just to play the devil's advocate, take a look at Foreman's performance vs Young and Spinks performance in the first Ali fight. If this happens in the middle of 1978, this may have been more interesting than what it looks like at first glance.

I don't think that would have mattered,

Even a George Foreman hearing voices & seeing angels would have splattered Leon Spinks all over the canvass like he was stepping on a ladybird.

L Spinks -v- Foreman: the film equivalent would be Bambi -v- Godzilla. :P

Why cant you just say you think Foreman would win? and win easily why mock the man?

What has it got to do with you?

I've never told you what you should post on here, so I don't see why you should do that to me.

If I want to mock Leon Spinks, that's my prerogative; it's not against forum rules.

Besides, I'm not even mocking Spinks as such, more the notion of him fighting George Foreman.

[Datsue]

I obviously would pick Foreman as well. However, just to play the devil's advocate, take a look at Foreman's performance vs Young and Spinks performance in the first Ali fight. If this happens in the middle of 1978, this may have been more interesting than what it looks like at first glance.

I don't think that would have mattered,

Even a George Foreman hearing voices & seeing angels would have splattered Leon Spinks all over the canvass like he was stepping on a ladybird.

L Spinks -v- Foreman: the film equivalent would be Bambi -v- Godzilla. :P

Why cant you just say you think Foreman would win? and win easily why mock the man?

I think he was using humour to emphasise how much he believes Spinks would be out-matched, mate.
& he'd already given a less-hyperbolic answer a couple of posts above, so he's already just said he thinks "Foreman would win [?] and win easily".

Also, I didn't think it was too cruel, myself. Now, some of the stuff that gets written about, say, Leon's teeth... That's personal & IMO off-limits. But criticism for something you do or don't do... I say fair game.

Your mileage may vary, of course.

[Rexob]

Foreman would have knocked the rest of Spinks's teeth out and retired him!

[Bricks]

Easy to slate Spinks but he was an Olympic Gold medalist and represented the USA with pride and distinction. He was a very small heavyweight who beat Ali in only his 8th fight and only 2 years out from winning the light heavyweight gold medal. This projected Spinks into a level that he just wasnt ready for either physically or mentally.

I get that he wouldnt have beat Foreman or even got close to him, but I dont think he deserves the mockery.

Well say whose the serious horace?

[keithmoonhangover]

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