Is Leon Spinks a top 50 or even 100 fighter?

[mr. magoo]

I suspect this thread probably won't get more than maybe 2 or 3 responses but at anyrate, what do you think?

Leon retired with a rather atrocious record, and tainted legacy if any at all. He did however, win a gold medal in the amateurs, and for whatever it's worth boxed 30 rounds with a past prime Ali, in which he did manage to win a lineal title. Just for shits and giggles, I may as well add that he also had wins over a few fringe contenders such as Alfio Righetti, Bernardo Mercado and Alfredo Evangelista. For a brief period, he also held the WBC's continental regional title, which he took from a prospect named Kip Kane.

Does Leon's career hold any substance?

[McGrain]

He wouldn't rate in my top 100.

I don't actually have a top 100 though...as a rule of thumb i say that anyone who I can't rate above Jack Chase is not a top 100 fighter.

Leon doesn't make it.

[GazOC]

No, nowhere near top 50 and doubtful for top 100 in my book.

[Amsterdam]

He wouldn't rate in my top 100.

I don't actually have a top 100 though...as a rule of thumb i say that anyone who I can't rate above Jack Chase is not a top 100 fighter.

Leon doesn't make it.

Is Kostya Tszyu in your top 100?:think

[McGrain]

Is Kostya Tszyu in your top 100?:think


...I would put him above Jack Chase so yes.


You?

[Amsterdam]

...I would put him above Jack Chase so yes.


You?

Yes, I'd rank him in the 90's. He's my 2nd favourite fighter all time...

[McGrain]

Yes, I'd rank him in the 90's. He's my 2nd favourite fighter all time...


Really? What are his three best wins in your opinion?

Is Cal first?

[mr. magoo]

I should have specified top 100 heavyweights, and not pound for pound. If this were a pound for pound question, then Leon wouldn't even make the top 1000 in my book

[McGrain]

I should have specified top 100 heavyweights, and not pound for pound. If this were a pound for pound question, then Leon wouldn't even make the top 1000 in my book


I would think it's still not likely. Looking at the top 20 you have to say there are some extraordinary fighters don't make it. Floyd Patterson isn't in my top 20 every week for Christ sake. So I don't think he would creep in.

Is he still in bar work?

[Amsterdam]

Really? What are his three best wins in your opinion?

His wins are similiar to Cal's in the sense that he brutally dominated a bunch of B level fighters and then sniped a few A's in there as well...

Overall a very solid resume...

But his best:

1. Judah
2. Mitchell
3. Miguel Angel Gonzalez


Is Cal first?


Yes, can you tell division dominators appeal to me more than weight class jumpers? Hopkins is in my favourites also...

Magoo - Sorry for hijacking the thread.:-(

[GazOC]

I should have specified top 100 heavyweights, and not pound for pound. If this were a pound for pound question, then Leon wouldn't even make the top 1000 in my book#

Yep, I agree. I assumed HW and he still doesn't get top 100.

[Amsterdam]

I should have specified top 100 heavyweights, and not pound for pound. If this were a pound for pound question, then Leon wouldn't even make the top 1000 in my book

Yes, top 100 Heavyweights definitley. If not, then name 100 Heavyweights over the man, anybody?

Not going to happen.

It's difficult to name a well thought out top 100 list, much less a top 100 Heavyweights list, but if needed, Janitor can definitley do it if anybody can and I still feel that he will add Spinks in the top 100.

[McGrain]

His wins are similiar to Cal's in the sense that he brutally dominated a bunch of B level fighters and then sniped a few A's in there as well...

Overall a very solid resume...

But his best:

1. Judah
2. Mitchell
3. Miguel Angel Gonzalez

I think he edges Cal out for resume. Probably.


Magoo - Sorry for hijacking the thread.:-(

Your man knows this one is going to sink...he'll be happy with the exposure :lol:

[janitor]

Top 100 heavyweight of all time?

Absolutely not.

Let him stand in line behind Johns Ruiz for such recognition.

It is not a minor thing to get among the top 100 heavyweights of all time.

[Amsterdam]

I think he edges Cal out for resume. Probably.

It's even for me. Kessler seals Calzaghe. However, Calzaghe also doesn't have two brutal losses, or a truly close fight for that matter. It's not always just wins that rank a guy, it's how they won.

Tszyu and Calzaghe are even until the Kessler bout, which is definitley going to be a Calzaghe victory, then Joe jumps up bigtime.





Your man knows this one is going to sink...he'll be happy with the exposure :lol:


But still, I have a bad habit of entering in a thread with a poster that I get along with well and then just starting a conversation that has nothing to do with the subject matter that the original poster was wanting to discuss.:lol:

[Amsterdam]

Top 100 heavyweight of all time?

Absolutely not.

Let him stand in line behind Johns Ruiz for such recognition.

It is not a minor thing to get among the top 100 heavyweights of all time.

Can you make a top 100 list then Janny? I'm really interested in it.

[McGrain]

Can you make a top 100 list then Janny? I'm really interested in it.

Me too, be a sight to behold.

But if you did one, you would spend a year defending it.

[Amsterdam]

Me too, be a sight to behold.

But if you did one, you would spend a year defending it.

You could make one, but it'd be hard to do it in good judgement without immense research. I have a top 25, I feel it's very good and most people agreed and that took some research and consideration.

If anyone can do a top 100, it would be Janitor.

[McGrain]

If anyone can do a top 100, it would be Janitor.

TBooze and SS might also be able to do it.

[GazOC]

Give us a look then!

;O)

[mr. magoo]

I don't know. I suppose any career with a title win over even a washed up Ali has a reasonable degree of substance. Tack on his gold medal and wins over at least 3 or 4 fringe ranked contenders, and I'd say you have if nothing else a candidate for a #95-100 spot. That said, I guess I'll concur with the majority by saying that he definately is not top 50 nor 75.

[Drew101]

It's not out of the question.

He did defeat a number of contenders, some of whom were fairly respectable. He also drew with Scott Ledoux in only his sixth pro bout (LeDoux, of course would also hold Ken Norton to a draw two years later.)

So, he did have talent. He wasn't amazing, but he did better work than a lot of people are willing to give him credit for doing during the course of his best years.

[GazOC]

You're talking about Heavyweights right, and not pound for pound?

Yep, Heavyweights.:D

[Titan1]

No, but if he had developed, I could see him in the top 25.

[good right hand]

as far as accomplishments, i deffinetly place leon among the top 100 heavy weights of all time.

leon was never great... i dont even know if he was very good, but he did what did with alot of heart. beat very very very very old but still tough champion and beat a cuban amature to get the gold in the olympics.


im sure the arugment is alot closer then i would like to admit but as far as accomplishments go, i think he deserves to be in... he did win the title in around his 8th fight.

[mr. magoo]

he did win the title in around his 8th fight.


This is actually a very good point. I'm not sure if there was ever a fighter who won the crown with fewer bouts. What's more, is that even though Ali was well past his prime at 36, I can't help but think that other contenders took titles away from lesser champions than even an aging Ali. Christ, Louis won the belt against James Braddock who hadn't fought in over two years, and wasn't even remotely in Ali's league. Floyd Patterson won his first title in vacant fashion by decisioning 40 year old ex-lightheavy Archie Moore. Frazier won the vacant WBC title by beating ex-middleweight Jimmy Ellis, who hadn't fought in 17 months. The list continues. I think Leon's career may be a little bit better than we are giving it credit for.