Michael Spinks vs Michael Dokes

Good one Goo, i'm surprised there's not a few responses yet.

I've said many times i don't think Spinks could take much of a punch at Heavyweight. Holmes, not a big puncher and faded, had him wobbling multiple times throughout their two fights with single right hands but was never sharp enough to really follow up. Cooney didn't hit him remotely clean with anything.

Dokes contrary to early opinion actually filled out and became a respectable puncher. He also had a blazing left hook (Holmes relied on the right hand, power wise) and the fastest hands in the division.

It's going to be tough for Spinks to avoid getting caught flush as much as he did against Holmes vs a young, fresh Dokes. First model Dokes however often flattened out after 2 or 3 rounds i.e. he could gas a bit early after going hard. One scribe penned him the fastest boxer alive - for 2 or 3 rounds. So Spinks gameplan is 100% the same as it was for Holmes. He will mostly holster his guns for a few rounds waiting for Dokes to slow a bit. If Dokes gets him good in those early rounds i'd back him to finish it. If he doesn't Spinks is in the game tho he's still got to walk the proverbial tightrope all night.

I'd favor Dokes. I think he's got a chance early and he could still potentially land good later. Spinks has to tire him and ply his trade later while having two wings to worry about vs one.

 

I see Dokes getting a decision.
He wasn't bad at all in his prime, I think he could have beat Spinks at heavy.
Spinks doing enough to finish the fight but losing a unanimous.

 

I have nothing to add. You have converted me. But I do think Spinks is sold short at heavy due to his blow out loss to a prime Mike Tyson. If Spinks had fought, say a prime Ali, Ali would have won probably by late round stoppage, but Spinks would look more competitive as a heavyweight.

 

Personally i don't think Spinks is underrated at Heavy. I think Ali could have stopped him inside 5, as a matter of fact if peak Ali wanted to i think he could stop him real fast. He hit as hard as old Holmes, miles faster and had great stamina. Foster didn't achieve that much at heavy but Ali toyed with him despite thew legendary "cut". He could overwhelm Spinks if he wanted to IMO.

 

Dokes

 

5 is fast, but I'll settle for mid rounds. But my point is, it wouldn't be a 91 second blowout like it was against Tyson. Plus, I think Spinks was as durable as Patterson at heavy TBH.

 

There are certain heavies in their prime I would not want to see Michael Spinks fight and Michael Dokes is one of them. Dokes by us or possible 9th or 10th round stoppage.

 

Well that point would be pretty safe given 91 second blowouts in Heavyweight title fights are rather rare. My point was IF Ali for some mad reason tried to get him out of there as fast as he possibly could i think it would be quite short because i disagree Spinks takes as good a punch at Heavy as Patterson. Patterson was down often but invariably got up almost every time, often winning. Spinks was down involuntarily once and that was that.

Ali mid rounds is a safe bet too as that's 5-10 and Ali likes to stuff around a lot and put on a show rather frequently.

 

Dokes is probably the biggest underachiever in HW Boxing. I believe the well prepared '80 version that murdered Weaver in 63 seconds would also kill any version of Spinks.

 

I agree with the majority so far.
I also have Dokes on this one.

 

I don’t know all, Spinks lost 1 fight, 1!! To a Tyson who was an absolute stylistic nightmare of a matchup for the slow starting take my time and see what the other guys going to do Spinks. Tyson had the speed that most Heavyweights don’t have and Spinks just couldn’t get away from him. He just really had no chance, and as many have said he was past his prime, not that it would’ve ever mattered that version of Tyson demolishes him, regardless of when they fought. It also didn’t help that Spinks was terrified.

Now Dokes has fast hands and can pop, a little. But the first Weaver fight was a bad stoppage, proven by the fact that the second fight went the full 15 Rounds. Dokes might sting him early, but I think Michael Spinks will weather the storm and his superior conditioning will tell the tale down the stretch. His awkward herky-jerky style will cause Dokes fits. Remember, Ossie Ocasio caused Dokes all kinds of fits in their first fight. Yes I am aware Dokes knocked him out in one round in the rematch.

I think the Spinks that was just able to just edge Holmes in the 2nd fight or the Spinks of fight 1 can beat Dokes. I know many of you think Holmes won that second fight, and it was razor close on my card but I think if he can run that version of Holmes that close then he can beat any version of Dokes. Holmes would go on to prove with many more good performances at an even more advanced age than he was far from shot when he lost twice to Michael Spinks.

Styles make fights and Spinks is a rhythm breaker and awkward as hell. I think his jab and high guard and his unpredictable attacks will offset Dokes. I think Spinks beats Dokes on the cards in a fight where he sweeps the late rounds due to his extreme fitness, which Dokes didn’t always have.

Full disclosure I love Michael Spinks, so I’m probably a bit biased.

 

You're kind of swaying me to your camp. Yes, Spinks lost to peak Tyson in 91 seconds and he gets sold short because of it. But Tyson may have been one of the few heavies in history that could have gotten rid of Spinks that quickly. The rest would be super heavyweight ATG punchers.