How good was Michael Spinks? 31-1 with 21 KOs

[NoSavingByTheBell]

Compiled an amateur record of (93-7)
Won the 1974 Light Middleweight (156 lb.) National Golden Gloves Championship.
Made it to the finals of the 1975 National AAU, losing to Tommy Brooks
Won the 1976 Middleweight (165 lb.) National Golden Gloves Championship in Miami, Florida.
Won the Middleweight Gold Medal for the United States at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The guy beat everybody until Tyson blew him out in 38 seconds. Stopped Holmes from tying Marciano's 49-0 record. Beat Holmes in the rematch. Knocked out a much bigger Gerry Cooney.

Spinks is one of the few top fighters who left the sport of boxing with both a decent amount of money and being seemingly unharmed, free of permanent injuries and never returned to the ring. Aside from a rare event honoring him and occasionally attending fights, Spinks has largely remained off the boxing scene and out of the public eye.

Questions:

1. How would he have fared against Evander Holyfield?

2. Are his 2 wins over Holmes AS MEANINGFUL AS Roy Jones or James Toney winning the HW titles?

3. Where does he belong in the historical rankings?

[Master]

That was a good link not seen those knockouts and Spinks in action before. He looks very awkward and unorthodox when he fought.

1. Evander Holyfield would have beaten him at Cruiserweight and above.

2. Spinks "wins" against Holmes are more meaningful than Roy Jones and James Toney's winning the Heavyweight as his was against the best champion in the division at the time. Larry was at the end of his career but still better than Ruiz.

3. Spinks was undisputed light heavyweight champion and became the first to win the heavyweight crown after many many boxers in history had tried but failed. At light heavyweight he should be up there with the greats like Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles.

[mikeeod]

That was a good link not seen those knockouts and Spinks in action before. He looks very awkward and unorthodox when he fought.

1. Evander Holyfield would have beaten him at Cruiserweight and above.

2. Spinks "wins" against Holmes are more meaningful than Roy Jones and James Toney's winning the Heavyweight as his was against the best champion in the division at the time. Larry was at the end of his career but still better than Ruiz.

3. Spinks was undisputed light heavyweight champion and became the first to win the heavyweight crown after many many boxers in history had tried but failed. At light heavyweight he should be up there with the greats like Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles.

I agree with all of this. Just to piggyback/add:
1. Holmes was better than Ruiz, BUT, Roy and James won more decisively (I thought Holmes was robbed) and they both started at 154/160 so they were MUCH smaller men.
2. Spinks cleaned out 175 so he is an ATG, but I rank him behind Ezzard Charles (my #1 175 pounder ever) and Archie Moore (maybe). Michael Spinks was awkward but effective.

[Primo Carnera]

Take all that on board, but 2 similar but slightly different questions.
1. Who wins at LHW ? Michael Spinks or RJJ ?
2. Prime v prime , Michael Spinks or RJJ ?

[Master]

Take all that on board, but 2 similar but slightly different questions.
1. Who wins at LHW ? Michael Spinks or RJJ ?
2. Prime v prime , Michael Spinks or RJJ ?

Good questions, make you think hard, as it is an interesting matchup which has so many dynamics and factors at play.

1. Michael Spinks wins at light heavyweight as he was a ATG at the weight and would do whatever it takes to get the win. He would adapt and adjust to whatever Roy Jones brings and be better.

2. Prime v prime and pound for pound Roy Jones was a god of boxing and he was the best I have ever seen. He was untouchable at middleweight and supermiddleweight against quality boxers. At light heavyweight it was just his resting ground where he was content to pick up the titles after playing some basketball.

[mikeeod]

1. Head to head would be an interesting fight. Spinks is the naturally larger man, and he was awkward. Roy was equally awkward but in a more aesthetically pleasing and athletic way. Spinks beat better competition at 175, but Roy toyed with those he faced, meaning he had plenty that he never had to show (until the rematch with Montell and first Tarver fight). Head to head I will lean slightly to Roy- he didn’t hit as hard here (outside of Hill’s ribs and the Montell rematch) but he could still crack and his speed was on another level. I don’t see Spinks bullying him like he would haVe to do to win.

2. Historically it is easier (in my mind) to rank them. Spinks is higher at 175 due to cleaning out the division, and Roy is higher in a P4P sense for his 175 reign plus everything else he did outside of that.