The Michael Spinks that fought Tyson, could he have beaten ANY VERSION of Tyson

Lets look at it another way.

Antonio Tarver would have beaten him at the end of his career.

Guarantee it.

 

People on here believe Spinks only lost because he was scared, i wander if people have watched the fight? Spinks could not take Tysons power and Tyson had no respect for Spinks power.

The right hand which finished it was perfectly time.

Cant belive there is morons here who believe Spinks took a dive

 

The Danny Williams- Tyson he would have beaten.

 

If you listen to the tape closely during the walkup by Spinks to the ring, a fan says:

Go gett'em Michael !

The which Spinks responds: "I'll do the best I can."

Michael had just completed the "Falling Floyd" Patterson School of Motivation correspondence course.

Spinks would have been toast for at least 4 rounds against Tyson, and he didn't even make it that far (That wasn't Dwight Braxton he was fighting)

 

All a one round blow out shows is that one guy never got started. Take Marciano v Wallcott or Smith v Witherspoon. Were Walcott and Witherspoon outclassed or did they simply not get started? can we ever measure a performance where they don't even get going?

 

Yeah, because when the bell rings is when the fight starts. It doesn't start in round 2. :-(

 

I am not talking about all one round fights I am talking about "blow outs". You cant fault the winner but it is what it is. The loser of a blow out starts deflated and is not ready to fight.

 

Definitely beats the McBride version. Probably beats other late version of Tyson too.

If Spinks had really grown into a solid 215 pound heavyweight, like Holyfield did (more weight training + steroids + seasoning against other big young HWs) he could have given Tyson a real fight in 1988.
But that's a big "IF".

Spinks never had that sort of ambition. He'd already over-achieved by beating Holmes. He wasn't in love with the game or obssessed with building a legacy.
He was already one of the greatest Light-heavies AND a history-maker to win the heavyweight crown too.
Heavyweight fights put some extra money in the bank. Tyson was a bonanza payday.

 

Tyson beyond 2000 wasn't a fighter anymore.
Its pointless agrueing who could beat that version of Tyson.
Its on par with debating who could beat Ali of the Holmes fight.

 

Didnt Tyson beat Francis circa 2000-2001?

He looked in decent shape then, i pick that version of Tyson to beat Spinks.

 

I would go with Spinks by then.

 

tyson had gone back at least 50% after prison compared to the spinks fight ! if tyson never took him out early i could see spinks taking him apart like holyfield did .

 

One thing is that Tyson never had any respect for Spinks power and Tysons power would always catch up with Spinks, i reckon he still beats him

 

Tyson was pretty pitiful against McBride.

 

Technically, imo, yes. Prime Spinks would've gave post '99 Tyson a run for his money, and possibly beat him. This isn't saying much though. Tyson was never the same fighter after prison, much less after the Holyfield fights even. Pre-prison Tyson destroys Spinks every time though, and pre-1989 Tyson absolutely demolishes him, no chance for Spinks ever.