I've always been intrigued as to how Bruno would have fared had he fought the IBF champ Michael Spinks in July '86 instead of WBA champ Tim Witherspoon.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 14 Feb 2024, 12:43
by SeanBrennan
this has made me check Spinks record. Anyone know why he retired after Tyson fight? Very sudden esp as his only loss.
Re who would have won, obviously Bruno much heavier, but Spinks beat Holmes which I can't imagine Bruno doing so.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 14 Feb 2024, 12:46
by SeanBrennan
another forum debated this in 2009 too it seems.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 14 Feb 2024, 13:38
by Frostieballs
He would have taken Wilders head off!
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 14 Feb 2024, 13:42
by paultom
Spinks for me,very clever fighter,skilled and fast,Bruno would have suffered a similar fate to Cooney
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 14 Feb 2024, 14:20
by Syntax Error
Spinks would have been too fast, clever and awkward for Bruno.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 04:46
by MightyWarrior
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑14 Feb 2024, 12:43
this has made me check Spinks record. Anyone know why he retired after Tyson fight? Very sudden esp as his only loss.
Re who would have won, obviously Bruno much heavier, but Spinks beat Holmes which I can't imagine Bruno doing so.
Well I think it was his cashing out fight. Mike was very careful with money a very smart guy.
And the whole world was horrified by how this supposed super fight was over inside two minutes. He barely threw a punch, and the one he did missed.
I remember watching on TV, and my friends who were convinced he was going to win, walking out the room in disgust at 5am
Big Frank nearly always blew the big ones, Spinks would’ve been too smart for him, biding this time and then detonating the Spinks jinx when the big man tired late on
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 05:16
by jwfg
No way Frank beats Mike Spinks. Very wide decision or late stoppage.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 05:32
by Controversial
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑14 Feb 2024, 12:43
this has made me check Spinks record. Anyone know why he retired after Tyson fight? Very sudden esp as his only loss.
Re who would have won, obviously Bruno much heavier, but Spinks beat Holmes which I can't imagine Bruno doing so.
He had a bad knee injury, I seem to recall one was heavily strapped in the Tyson fight.
I think Spinks beats him too, he done well against bigger fighters and Bruno not the quickest. Of course Bruno had a punchers chance but can’t see him landing enough for that to happen.
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑14 Feb 2024, 12:43
this has made me check Spinks record. Anyone know why he retired after Tyson fight? Very sudden esp as his only loss.
Re who would have won, obviously Bruno much heavier, but Spinks beat Holmes which I can't imagine Bruno doing so.
Well I think it was his cashing out fight. Mike was very careful with money a very smart guy.
And the whole world was horrified by how this supposed super fight was over inside two minutes. He barely threw a punch, and the one he did missed.
I remember watching on TV, and my friends who were convinced he was going to win, walking out the room in disgust at 5am
Big Frank nearly always blew the big ones, Spinks would’ve been too smart for him, biding this time and then detonating the Spinks jinx when the big man tired late on
fair play to him then, I ended up doing some reading and it said he spent bugger all and saved lots. Looks healthy now too. Good to see.
you must have been gutted watching it! Reminds me of staying up til the early hours to watch Hatton v Pacman, same feeling!
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 07:05
by MightyWarrior
It was massively disappointing. I mean, Spinks was pretty much untouchable during his light heavyweight reign. No one came close, even the fearsome Dwight Braxton was easily tamed.
I think Larry may have hurt him a couple of times, going by memory, but sometimes he seemed indestructible - always finding a way to win, bamboozling and flattening the huge Gerry Cooney….
He wasn’t himself that night, but that’s all about the terrifying Mike Tyson I guess
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 07:35
by SeanBrennan
definitely, and I read he got paid $13.5m dollars for that fight, that's big money now, equivalent to $38m. The zest for boxing is going to fade with that money.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 07:37
by jwfg
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 07:35
definitely, and I read he got paid $13.5m dollars for that fight, that's big money now, equivalent to $38m. The zest for boxing is going to fade with that money.
There was talk of a Spinks comeback when Larry came back after the Tyson loss.
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 07:35
definitely, and I read he got paid $13.5m dollars for that fight, that's big money now, equivalent to $38m. The zest for boxing is going to fade with that money.
There was talk of a Spinks comeback when Larry came back after the Tyson loss.
ah, he was admirably young and undamaged when he departed, rare but nice to see. I read he had some trouble with former management/investors but resisted the urge to return.
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 07:35
definitely, and I read he got paid $13.5m dollars for that fight, that's big money now, equivalent to $38m. The zest for boxing is going to fade with that money.
There was talk of a Spinks comeback when Larry came back after the Tyson loss.
ah, he was admirably young and undamaged when he departed, rare but nice to see. I read he had some trouble with former management/investors but resisted the urge to return.
Retired with most of his money and brains intact. Can't ask for more.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 07:43
by SeanBrennan
100%
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 12:43
by nobleart1978
How would Frank have done if he'd have fought WBC title holder Trevor Berbick ?
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 13:00
by jwfg
nobleart1978 wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 12:43
How would Frank have done if he'd have fought WBC title holder Trevor Berbick ?
Difficult to call for me. Berbick was a big strong guy, who more often than not found a way to win. The Bruno who was beating Lennox Lewis to the punch or the guy who beat McCall might take it, but a late stoppage loss is always there in the background. I think in 86, he would have either knocked Berbick in the first like Mercado or Trev stops him. I'll go Frank in the first.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 15:51
by SeanBrennan
just read how Berbick died, jesus
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 16:11
by The Gratest
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 15:51
just read how Berbick died, jesus
Flying kung fu kick from Larry Holmes? I know, shocking wasn't it?
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 15:51
just read how Berbick died, jesus
Flying kung fu kick from Larry Holmes? I know, shocking wasn't it?
Wasn't this something to do with (allegedly) Holmes having an affair with Berbick's wife? Could be wrong, obviously.
Yeah, I remember reading about his murder. Murdered by his nephew over property, money disputes. Sad.
Big Frank could have out boxed him with his thudding jab and powerful right but Berbick was rugged. Could have been another 'Bonecrusher' scenario, however.
Re: Big Frank in '86
Posted: 15 Feb 2024, 16:20
by The Gratest
I dunno why, but Berbick's comical tip-toe run to the neutral corner after KO'ing Big Frank Tate has always stuck in my mind. There have been many better KO's, but that image has always stuck.
SeanBrennan wrote: ↑15 Feb 2024, 15:51
just read how Berbick died, jesus
Flying kung fu kick from Larry Holmes? I know, shocking wasn't it?
Wasn't this something to do with (allegedly) Holmes having an affair with Berbick's wife? Could be wrong, obviously.
Yeah, I remember reading about his murder. Murdered by his nephew over property, money disputes. Sad.
Big Frank could have out boxed him with his thudding jab and powerful right but Berbeck was rugged. Could have been another 'Bonecrusher' scenario, however.
Not sure what the ins and outs of it were (pun intended), Berbick seemed a bit of a fruitcake, as were most of the 1980's heavies.
