Michael Spinks vs Conteh, Galindez, Saad?

[Addie]

Some people argue that Spinks didn't really dominate a great era of Light Heavyweights, only that he came at a time when the best of the division were past their peak.

How do you see peak Spinks against prime versions of John Conteh, Matthew Saad Muhammad, and Galindez?

[Flea Man]

All close fights but you won't find many on here that would argue against Spinks winning all three fights. I'm a massive Saad fan, but he wouldn't be able to keep bouncing back after eating the Jinx constantly with his 'defence'.

Conteh would pose a challenge due to his all-round skillset and durability; I see Spinks edging out a very close decision.

Again, Galindez would pose Spinks a lot of problems. I think Galindez was too inconsistent though; Spinks wins a decision. It depends whether you think Spinks was prone to hooks; that's Galindez's best chance,to try and stop him, but I personally feel Spinks can outbox him AND take Galindez's offence if he tries to get him in the trenches.

[Addie]

All close fights but you won't find many on here that would argue against Spinks winning all three fights. I'm a massive Saad fan, but he wouldn't be able to keep bouncing back after eating the Jinx constantly with his 'defence'. I also think Saad is just to open to ever be that effective against a fighter of Spinks qualities. He'd land the Jinx with regularity.

Conteh would pose a challenge due to his all-round skillset and durability; I see Spinks edging out a very close decision. Not seen enough of Conteh, to be honest.

Again, Galindez would pose Spinks a lot of problems. I think Galindez was too inconsistent though; Spinks wins a decision. It depends whether you think Spinks was prone to hooks; that's Galindez's best chance,to try and stop him, but I personally feel Spinks can outbox him AND take Galindez's offence if he tries to get him in the trenches.The only time Spinks was really open for a hook seemed to be when he'd throw the right uppercut lead from the outside. I'd often wonder why he did this, a man of his intelligence and ability should know the risks of throwing that punch from so far out.

I think Spinks would probably lose the opening 2-3 rounds against all of them. He's one of the slowest starters I've ever seen, but soon as the 4th comes, he usually starts throwing his awkward combinations.

[Flea Man]

Not seen enough of Conteh, to be honest.

I would sugest watching the first Saad fight as it's on youtube. Conteh is nearing the end of his career by then but still shows off his skillset in a fantastic fight.

as always, Sweet Pea is the man to ask for info. I'm not sure whether the Ahmuda (spelling?) fight is online; that's when he won the WBC title and I'm reliably informed it's a stunning performance.

[Boro chris]

Conteh in fairly agressive mode.

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[Longhhorn71]

Spinks could beat all 3, but on an off-nite he could get out pointed also.

Spinks's power would probably cut & TKO Galindez & Saad......but the Conteh fight would be a boxing match.

[robert ungurean]

He beats Saad & Galendez. Conteh on the otherhand could go either way.

[mcvey]

Spinks takes close decisions off them ,although he might stop Galindez on cuts.
Spinks beat a 29 year old Lopez, a 27 year old Johnson ,a 29 year old Mustapha,and a 30 year old Qawi, he has a fine record imo.

[Titan1]

Spinks wins pretty good against Galindez and Saad, but Conteh would give him Eddie Davis type problems and Spinks would win a close decision.

[Boro chris]

I would sugest watching the first Saad fight as it's on youtube. Conteh is nearing the end of his career by then but still shows off his skillset in a fantastic fight.

as always, Sweet Pea is the man to ask for info. I'm not sure whether the Ahmuda (spelling?) fight is online; that's when he won the WBC title and I'm reliably informed it's a stunning performance.

I've never seen the Ahmuda fight online. Just a few minutes of highlights. Conteh was much more aggressive than usual.
Very few Spinks lh fights though. Just loads of diferent uploads of the Tyson fight.:patsch

[Clinton]

Spinks takes close decisions off them ,although he might stop Galindez on cuts.
Spinks beat a 29 year old Lopez, a 27 year old Johnson ,a 29 year old Mustapha,and a 30 year old Qawi, he has a fine record imo.
Plus both Davis brothers when they were youthful.Spinks' record is great at lightheavyweight as he beat those 6 excellent fighters and didn't lose until he moved up and fought Tyson(although I thought past it Larry beat him at heavyweight also).But as far as lightheavyweight is concerned,he never lost while beating those 6,easily out boxing Qawi,who hammered Saad,who hammered Conteh.Spinks was the best of a golden era of lightheavyweights.

[teeto]

I'd likely ultimately pick Spinks over the lot of them, but a great period of time this was for the light heavy division, just imagine if they all came off prime for prime.

[teeto]

But i agree he would beat Saad.

[JohnThomas1]

I think he'd murder Saad, beat Galindez handily and beat Conteh via decision, tho stylistically this would be his hardest bout of the three. He'd have to make sure he didn't doze at all as he could at times.

[Sweet Pea]

Well, I was in the middle of writing one of my longest, most in-depth posts ever just a couple of days ago in this thread until my computer crashed. Now I'm back, but fuck attempting all that bullshit again. I wouldn't mind going off on this PC Office Space style right about now.

[ThinBlack]

Michael would have his share of problems against all three, but he would probably beat Saad the easiest, then Galindez, then Conteh in a nailbiter.All three would be by UD's.

[AREA 53]

Saad did make a habit of coming back from the brink....But spinks is the type that if he puts you to the brink...he is not going to let you recover, wounded prey gets dealt with..even Murray Sutherland "Ïnconvenianced" Saad , The Spinks Jinks probably finishes the Job the Left Hook Starts...

Galindez did rely on those closing bursts to scrap past Lopez, Kates and Gregory..Spinks i feel is too athletic and combative to Drift like Gregory, his pace and Venom will have Victor burning concentration energy..even in the quiter periods..looking for the Spinks strike, Barring cuts Spinks on points...too unwilling to be sucked into Victors "Cruise Ruse" !

Conteh, on form will undoubtedly present problems, his ability to switch from Boxing mode to Attack Mode, in an instant will present problems, but Mike has this "Sudden Impact" ability as well,, Mike has an "Herky-Jerky" style, but when he unleashes his shots a marvelous co-heision is employed, Mike did have trouble with Gregory and his skills when winning the title, also Eddie Davis, So Conteh, a Conteh not handicappred by hand or management problems, has every chance of making the fight a Chess-Match, and that would be his best option as trying to be too aggressive against Mike would probably lead to him getting caught by something nasty, with Conteh's Cobraésque head movement perhaps frustrating Mike at Boxing, i think at some stage Mike would land something of impact and Put Conteh into defensive boxing Mode, I can see Mike getting a close decision in a very entertainingboxing match. Mike brings two guns to this match, Conteh a Gun and a rapier, - he is foiled !

[jowcol]

Personally, I think Eddie G. is better than all of them if he'd had his head screwed on straight (a big if mind you)

IMO I think Michael may be a tad overrated among the ATG Lt. Heavies.
Maybe because of his bouts with Holmes who was IMO a bit complacent and approaching 'long in the tooth' status when he fought Spinks.

All that said, Spinks against all 3 would be great scraps.

Many on board don't appreciate Galindez having seeing only most of his late 70's efforts after his wars.

Eddie had to lose tons after his ridiculous heavyweight effort. Stepping into the ring looking like a shriveled pear against Mike he had a big early lead only to fade (obviously) and get nailed with the "Jinx" late and...still got up and finished the fight.
If you think Saad had a better set of whiskers than Eddie then perhaps a Saad-Spinks scrap wouldn't be the one-sided bout many are suggesting.

Conteh is an interesting discussion.
Boxer-puncher and, again, many on board saw him only after the repeated right-hand fractures and complacency.

I was around when the one and true champ in all divisions gave way to the alphabet titles.

The great, tho declining, Bob Foster defended against Jorge Ahumada in June 74 (my late friend and I were at a theater closed circuit to watch it after the Frazier-Quarry re-(mis)-match. Jorge managed a draw in Bob's hometown, not an easy task. After Foster's inactivity, both 'bodies' WBA/WBC set up elimination matches for the title. Victor vs. Len Hutchins and Conteh vs. Ahumada. If Ahumada had been born a few years later he would be right in the mix of the late-70's bad asses. Victor wore down the slick Hutchings stopping him on his stool at the end of the 13th.
My late friend and I wasted countless hours in late-74/75 debating a Conteh/Galindez matchup for the outright title. But it was never to be and that was sad.
I'm out...my $0.02

[Saintpat]

Spinks TKO 10 Saad

Matthew absorbs a ton of punishment, and gets waxed when he tries to turn it up for one of his patent comebacks. As noted, too easy to hit for a sharpshooter like Spinks.

Spinks W15 Galindez
Unless Michael cuts him up to get the stoppage, stubborn Galindez hangs in but doesn't win many rounds. Bad matchup stylistically for Victor.

Spinks W15 Conteh
Yes, Conteh gives people fits stylistically but he doesn't have the firepower and fades in the championship rounds. Maybe its even after 8 or 10, but Spinks all the way after that. Take a closer look at Conteh's record -- Yaqui Lopez is the only world-class fighter he ever beat.

[BUDW]

Some people argue that Spinks didn't really dominate a great era of Light Heavyweights, only that he came at a time when the best of the division were past their peak.

How do you see peak Spinks against prime versions of John Conteh, Matthew Saad Muhammad, and Galindez?
Some people say the world is flat