mr. magoo
02-27-2009, 12:00 PM
Similar topics have been done on this subject, and we have seen matchups on here such as Spinks vs Tucker, Witherspoon, Williams, etc.
This time I would like people's honest opinion as to what kind of a chance they feel he'd have against the estimated top 10 from 1985-1987.
Without looking at actual organizational ratings nor even the ring's for that matter, here is my guess from memory as to who the best fighters were during that 2-3 year period. People can revise it however they want, and pick who Spinks would beat or not beat.
MAGOO's BEST HEAVY's 1985 -1987
Not necessarily in ranking order from best to worst.
1. Larry Holmes
2. Mike Tyson
3. Tim Witherspoon
4. Pinklon Thomas
5. Trevor Berbick
6. Tony Tubbs
7. Tony Tucker
8. Carl Williams
9. James Smith
10. Marvis Frazier
Honorable mention - Frank Bruno, James Douglas, Tyrell Biggs.
Here is what I think,
Blue - Men that he actually beat or could have beaten during that time.
Green - Men that he might have beaten but I am undecided about
Red - Men that he actually lost to, or would not have my confidence to beat.
1. Larry Holmes
2. Mike Tyson
3. Tim Witherspoon
4. Pinklon Thomas
5. Trevor Berbick
6. Tony Tubbs
7. Tony Tucker
8. Carl Williams
9. James Smith
10. Marvis Frazier
Explanation:
BLUE FIGHTERS - Its obvious that he defeated Holmes already, even though the rematch was a robbery, but still. The first fight was legit, and Holmes was basically done after 1986. Berbick, Williams, Smith and Frazier were all men who could have given Spinks a good fight, but I'm going with the Jinx. Williams didn't have that many fights during these years, and a close fight with the same version of Holmes who Spinks actually defeated isn't enough to tell me that he'd beat the more experienced Spinks. He also fell pretty hard in his 1986 match with an aging Weaver. Smith was too crude and I think Spinks would outbox him handely. Frazier was a good fighter who was quietly beating a lot of respectable heavys during that time, but I think Spinks right hand would have gotten him eventually. Simply put, Marvis just couldn't take it.
Green Fighters - The two fighters who I placed in this category were Tucker and Tubbs. Spinks was originally supposed to face Tucker in 1987 but forfeited his IBF title to fight Gerry Cooney for more money. I often wonder who would have taken this one. On paper, its easy to say that Tucker would have had a good chance. He was 6'5", 228 Lbs, 28 years old, and undefeated 34-0. He was also ducked by Spinks and was one of the few men to take a peak Tyson 12 rounds. When we look closer at his resume however, we will see that the best man he ever defeated was James Douglas who in 1987 was basically viewed as a B level fighter and who was beating Tucker for much of that match before gassing and quitting late. He was also non-aggressive in most of his fights and fought a style that might not have been best suited to beat Spinks. I remain undecided however. Tony Tubbs had both the boxing ability and size to overwhelm michael, but his tendency to show up deconditioned would have been a problem as was his lack of power. In 1987, Tubbs fought three journeyman - two of which took him the distance and one of whom dropped him.. I am also not sure that even a prime Tubbs had much greater boxing ability than even a declining Holmes had in the mid 80's.
Red Fighters- I'll be brief on this one. There are three men who I placed in this category and one of whom dispatched Michael in 91 seconds. While I feel that this was not the best version of Spinks, I don't think that there was anything he could have done at any stage in his career to change the outcome. Tyson had his number and that's all there is to it.. Witherspoon was very awkward and had both the style, power, guts, chin, etc to give Spinks hell. The fight might have gone the distance, but Spoon is just too much for him.. Thomas's power and jab beat Spinks circa 1986.
This time I would like people's honest opinion as to what kind of a chance they feel he'd have against the estimated top 10 from 1985-1987.
Without looking at actual organizational ratings nor even the ring's for that matter, here is my guess from memory as to who the best fighters were during that 2-3 year period. People can revise it however they want, and pick who Spinks would beat or not beat.
MAGOO's BEST HEAVY's 1985 -1987
Not necessarily in ranking order from best to worst.
1. Larry Holmes
2. Mike Tyson
3. Tim Witherspoon
4. Pinklon Thomas
5. Trevor Berbick
6. Tony Tubbs
7. Tony Tucker
8. Carl Williams
9. James Smith
10. Marvis Frazier
Honorable mention - Frank Bruno, James Douglas, Tyrell Biggs.
Here is what I think,
Blue - Men that he actually beat or could have beaten during that time.
Green - Men that he might have beaten but I am undecided about
Red - Men that he actually lost to, or would not have my confidence to beat.
1. Larry Holmes
2. Mike Tyson
3. Tim Witherspoon
4. Pinklon Thomas
5. Trevor Berbick
6. Tony Tubbs
7. Tony Tucker
8. Carl Williams
9. James Smith
10. Marvis Frazier
Explanation:
BLUE FIGHTERS - Its obvious that he defeated Holmes already, even though the rematch was a robbery, but still. The first fight was legit, and Holmes was basically done after 1986. Berbick, Williams, Smith and Frazier were all men who could have given Spinks a good fight, but I'm going with the Jinx. Williams didn't have that many fights during these years, and a close fight with the same version of Holmes who Spinks actually defeated isn't enough to tell me that he'd beat the more experienced Spinks. He also fell pretty hard in his 1986 match with an aging Weaver. Smith was too crude and I think Spinks would outbox him handely. Frazier was a good fighter who was quietly beating a lot of respectable heavys during that time, but I think Spinks right hand would have gotten him eventually. Simply put, Marvis just couldn't take it.
Green Fighters - The two fighters who I placed in this category were Tucker and Tubbs. Spinks was originally supposed to face Tucker in 1987 but forfeited his IBF title to fight Gerry Cooney for more money. I often wonder who would have taken this one. On paper, its easy to say that Tucker would have had a good chance. He was 6'5", 228 Lbs, 28 years old, and undefeated 34-0. He was also ducked by Spinks and was one of the few men to take a peak Tyson 12 rounds. When we look closer at his resume however, we will see that the best man he ever defeated was James Douglas who in 1987 was basically viewed as a B level fighter and who was beating Tucker for much of that match before gassing and quitting late. He was also non-aggressive in most of his fights and fought a style that might not have been best suited to beat Spinks. I remain undecided however. Tony Tubbs had both the boxing ability and size to overwhelm michael, but his tendency to show up deconditioned would have been a problem as was his lack of power. In 1987, Tubbs fought three journeyman - two of which took him the distance and one of whom dropped him.. I am also not sure that even a prime Tubbs had much greater boxing ability than even a declining Holmes had in the mid 80's.
Red Fighters- I'll be brief on this one. There are three men who I placed in this category and one of whom dispatched Michael in 91 seconds. While I feel that this was not the best version of Spinks, I don't think that there was anything he could have done at any stage in his career to change the outcome. Tyson had his number and that's all there is to it.. Witherspoon was very awkward and had both the style, power, guts, chin, etc to give Spinks hell. The fight might have gone the distance, but Spoon is just too much for him.. Thomas's power and jab beat Spinks circa 1986.