Heavyweight Michael Spinks vs ....

He could very well beat them all.

Tony Tucker struggled against Orlin Norris who was a smaller fighter moving up like Spinks.

Tim Witherspoon struggled against the awkward Renaldo Snipes who was more awkward than Spinks ?

Bonecrusher was out pointed by Marvis Frazier.

Douglas was hot and cold but I think the best version of him could beat Spinks.

 

I think he could beat them all in “ theory.” But realistically he probably looses to some of them.

 

I agreed with most of your initial post. But I think it’s worth pointing out that Tony Tucker was older than shlt when he fought orlin Nortis. And Norris had fought a large percentage of his career at heavyweight prior to facing Tucker.

 

Good post. I think prime Tucker is by far the toughest test. Bonechrusher is too slow, Douglas is not active enough and Spoon simply gets outpointed.

 

Michael Spinks is ATG (though not at heavyweight) while these potential opponents are not. Jinx has only been beaten since 1988 by Mike Tyson, and the boxers on the roster have never been at that level. I feel that peak Spinks would beat them all, and the hardest test would be Tucker.

 

The Spinks from the very first Larry Holmes fight could probably beat all of them. However if he fought them after Holmes he would probably lose one or two.

His knees started to go and brought down his overall ability to throw punches from weird angles.

 

I think he beats Smith. Easily and makes him look foolish in the ring. Witherspoon is a terrible matchup and Mike Spinks is not absorbing that big overhand right. Tucker and Douglas outbox him. Tucker is the closer bout and that would mostly be due to him not putting his foot on the gaspedal. Buster uses that mobility and jab to win the rounds and Spinks does not have the footspeed to get himself in range.

I also think 3 of the bouts would be boring heavyweight fights of that era. The only one with any excitement or cause folks to get on the edge of their seat would be Witherspoon. Mostly because he'd probably lose a few rounds while figuring him out. Not a lose the battle win the war type thing but more of a lets get to the 5th and then the fight starts.

 

Beats Smith after surviving a few dodgy moments.
Loses to Douglas providing Buster is as he was in Tokyo.
Not sure about Tucker. Will think on it.
Loses to Witherspoon.

 

Douglas got a draw with Taangstad who Spinks demolished

 

The Tucker/Spinks fight could have happened. On the fence about who would have taken it

 

In 1982 in his 13 professional fight that obviously isn't the same version of Douglas that was on role vs Williams, Berbick, McCall, Tyson.