Who had the better career Mike Spinks,Evander Holyfield,Roy Jones or Bernard Hopkins?

Roy Jones - between the titles he's won - the history he's made - the money he's made - and the lenght of time he was on top - I would have to go with him. Even after his loses - he's still doing alright. Got a nice check from the Tito fight and look decent.

 

I have jones the highest by a long way on my atg list so would have to go with superman.

 

That's a pretty good question. Tough one, at least for me.

My first instinct is:
1.) Holyfield
2.) Jones
3.) Hopkins
4.) Spinks

Thing is, one could make good arguments for every possible combination.

I lean toward Holyfield as he was THE real champ at both cruiser and heavy. He was easily the best cruiser of all time and arguably in the top ten for heavies. Definitely top 15 for heavies, anyway.

Roy and Bhop could both be in the top ten in at least one division apiece. Roy at supper middle, and maybe, LH. Bhop could be top ten at middle, but that's about it.

Spinks is definitely a top ten light heavy, but he just didn't crack the top 20 heavyweights for me, much less top ten. Maybe between 30-40, but no higher.

All 4 fighters were successfull at multiple weight classes. BHop showed the best longevity, but both Holy and Roy had decent wins past 35 (Holy had a few).

Still, a pretty damn good question.

Ask me another day, and I'll give you a different order.

 

It's Holyfield.

 

1. Roy Jones, Jr.
2. Evander Holyfield
3. Bernard Hopkins
4. Michael Spinks

 

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_Pound_For_Pound--1990s


He was P4P king in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2003. Guys like Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Mayweather can compete with him in that achievement.

 

This is a tough one. I personally won't argue too much against any order, although I am a little surprised by just about everyone so far havign Spinks last.

Spinks doesn't have a lot of fights, but he sure did a lot in those fights. He fought in one of the best LHW eras ever and never lost there. He defeated guys like Johnson, Qawi, E.M. Muhammad, and the Davis Brothers. Then he moved up to HW and defeated the recognized champ in Holmes. The rematch was a bad decision, but Spinks legitimiately won the first fight IMO. Spinks also showed terrific versatility, and is possibly a top 5 all-time LHW.

The Tyson loss hurts how people, mainly casual fans, remember him, but others know better.

Holyfield is #1 all-time in a weak division at cruiser, but is considered by many to be top 10 at HW all-time. If not top 10, then not too far outside it. He wasn't the most consistent guy at HW, especially after he won the title from Douglas. Sometimes I think his own struggles at HW caused others to get overrated, but no doubt he faced real quality opposition there and had success against some of them.

Hopkins has amazing longevity, given the fact that he's still so successful at this age. He had a lot of weak opposition during his reign at MW, but has some quality wins as well. Jones was the most gifted. He gets a lot of criticism for his opposition level, but wins over Toney, Hopkins, Ruiz, Johnson, Tarver, Woods, Sosa, and others add to an at times, underrated resume.

 

That's exactly right, Roy was a boxing God and I somehow wish there could always be a prime Roy Jones fighting out there.

 

1. Holyfield
2. Roy
3. B. hops
4.m.s

 

whats with ranking hopkins above spinks, this is laughable. One guy beat all the top natural fighters in his division and then went up to beat cooney and holmes. The other fought 3 small guys and tarver.

 

Spinks ... Olympic Gold Medalist, undefeated, undisputed LHW, and lineal HW champion !!

Only 1 loss and that was to Tyson - he beat the great Larry Holmes who was also undefeated, had 20 title defense, and this guy beat him 2wice.