How would L. Spinks do against a peak Ali?

[Bokaj]

The easy answer here is that he would be badly outclassed, but I don't think this is necessarily true.

The very motivated "Neon Leon" that beat Ali had very quick hands and feet, good upperbody movement, and great stamina and workrate. This was the kind of fighter that caused Ali the most problems in his career, not the big, strong punchers.

What do you think, could he last the distance and nab a couple of rounds? Could he even make it close?

[Robbi]

Ali would probably stop Spinks inside 8 rounds. His aggressive style and workrate would play into Ali's hands. I can see Ali opening up at mid-range with flurries. He'd move, create distance, and drop right hand leads on Spinks. A prime Ali is far too quick for him.

[Titan1]

Leon would lose in a 3rd to 5th round stoppage.Ali would be too much at that stage for Leon.

[TommyV]

Considering he lost to a shot Ali I don't think there's much debate. Ali inside 6.

[Muchmoore]

Ali would probably stop Spinks inside 8 rounds. His aggressive style and workrate would play into Ali's hands. I can see Ali opening up at mid-range with flurries. He'd move, create distance, and drop right hand leads on Spinks. A prime Ali is far too quick for him.

:good

[mr. magoo]

Although he had undeveloped potential, Leon was never ready for world class opposition, outside of his one performance against an aging,deconditioned and complacent Ali.

Spinks was defeated by Ali at the near age of 37 in their rematch. In 1979, he was dusted in one round by Coetzee, and later destroyed within 3 by Holmes. Spinks just would not have the tools or talent to compete with a peak version of Muhammad. This would be a mismatch.

[natonic]

I'd reference the Cleveland Williams or Ernie Terrell matches. Ali in 66-68 was far superior to the Ali of 78. I think the outcome would depend on if Leon called him Clay or Ali. The former, a late, brutal humiliating stoppage. The latter, a merciful early stoppage.

[the cobra]

It doesn't matter how motivated Leon is, he gets outclassed and punished badly before the fight ends inside of 8 at most.

Prime Ali is simply on another planet than Spinks, there not even close.

[dmille]

How would Leon Spinks do against a peak Ali? He'd get his @ss whipped.

[Russell]

I'm not going to say Leon would even look great, but the guy is underrated to some degree.

When he was 5-0, he beat 27-0 Alfio Righetti, who wasn't a bad fighter in any way shape or form.

Shortly after being psyched out by Coatzee, Spink's stops the equally if not more dangerous Bernardo Mercado.

And shortly before that? Stops Evangelista, a decent B-level guy, who brought a younger Ali to a 15 round decision in a title fight.

He wasn't THAT bad before drugs completely ruined him. Almost any fighter would slide as far as Spink's did if they followed his path.

[he grant]

Maybe qualify as a sparring partner ... maybe not ...

[heehoo]

Against a young Ali, Spinks wouldn't have had a chance. Ali would have done away with him in probably 9, 10 rounds.

Spinks had the potential, but from what I understood, after he becam,e champ, he got caught up in the wrong crowd and squandered his winnings, his talents, etc, etc.

His loss againt Coetzee was something not even I expected. Here's the fight: lmSv-CbrkVk

[birddog]

It's all been said, a mismatch.

Does anyone know when Ali's parkinsons started to show itself?

[Robbi]

Does anyone know when Ali's parkinsons started to show itself?

He was diagnosed with the disease in 1984. IMO he may have had it as far back as the second Spinks fight. I watched an interview before they squared off for rematch and he looks drunk while talking. His eyes looked dreary and his speech wasn't what it once was either, although it wasn't particularly bad.

[heehoo]

He was diagnosed with the disease in 1984. IMO he may have had it as far back as the second Spinks fight. I watched an interview before they squared off for rematch and he looks drunk while talking. His eyes looked dreary and his speech wasn't what it once was either, although it wasn't particularly bad.

In Larry Holmes' book, Larry makes mention that his speech was slightly slurred and that before they fought, Holmes notices a SLIGHT tremble, but doesn't think anything of it. After their fight, the tremble becomes more noticable.

[Robbi]

In Larry Holmes' book, Larry makes mention that his speech was slightly slurred and that before they fought, Holmes notices a SLIGHT tremble, but doesn't think anything of it. After their fight, the tremble becomes more noticable.

I have never seen a fighter look as 'shot' as Ali did that night. Some fighters get knocked out in 2-3 rounds and are shells of what they once were mainly based on poor punch resistance. But with Ali lasting 10 rounds we really got a good look at his physical deteriation over the course of the fight. He was competitive for a round, then he suddenly looked like an old man who could do nothing else but try to defend himself.

[la-califa]

He'd do about as well as he did against Holmes. Swift feet & fast cobinations were too much for Leon.

[Longhhorn71]

I have never seen a fighter look as 'shot' as Ali did that night. Some fighters get knocked out in 2-3 rounds and are shells of what they once were mainly based on poor punch resistance. But with Ali lasting 10 rounds we really got a good look at his physical deteriation over the course of the fight. He was competitive for a round, then he suddenly looked like an old man who could do nothing else but try to defend himself.

How the Ali - Holmes fight was even sanctioned is a mystery to me.

Ferdie had quit him several fights before....and you could see Ali was shot and had been pounded even by Spinks with a grand total of 7 pro fights.

Then he comes back after 2 years and is thrown in with Holmes at his prime, and used as cannon fodder.

Ali's management should have realized what was going to happen...and it did.

[Bill Butcher]

Not very good.

Ali would likely win every rd before scoring the tko in rd 6.

[Holmes' Jab]

Get schooled, then stopped.

[tommy the hat]

ALi in his prime would have beat any heavyweight who ever laced them up, period. Prime Leon beat an old, out of shape Ali, and a prime Leon would lose to an even older Ali in the rematch 7 monthe later. SO if an old Ali can beat Leon at his peak, Leon would have a real tough night against prime Ali.

[SteveO]

Leon might grab a few charity rounds, but that's about all I would expect.

[kickbxn5]

I'd reference the Cleveland Williams or Ernie Terrell matches. Ali in 66-68 was far superior to the Ali of 78. I think the outcome would depend on if Leon called him Clay or Ali. The former, a late, brutal humiliating stoppage. The latter, a merciful early stoppage.


Ditto!

[My dinner with Conteh]

Both Spinks fights have an unpleasant aroma about them.

[ThinBlack]

Ali would beat Spinks in about six rounds on a TKO, with Muhammad flooring Leon three times.Only way if Spinks won any rounds if Muhammad let him win.

[Stevie G]

The easy answer here is that he would be badly outclassed, but I don't think this is necessarily true.

The very motivated "Neon Leon" that beat Ali had very quick hands and feet, good upperbody movement, and great stamina and workrate. This was the kind of fighter that caused Ali the most problems in his career, not the big, strong punchers.

What do you think, could he last the distance and nab a couple of rounds? Could he even make it close?
Leon would make it lively enough for three or four rounds. After Muhammad finds his range,though,he stops his man before the seventh. Even the 1974 model would convincingly beat Spinks.

[he grant]

See his fight against Larry Holmes ...