Let’s say Michael Spinks was offered significantly less money to fight Tyson than he was in actuality. He decides that the ordeal of fighting the baddest man on the planet isn’t worth it but figured he’d like one last pay day against what he perceives as a soft opponent. Michael is 31 years old in the spring of 1988. Francesco Damiani is 29 and has a record of 21-0-0-17 with an Olympic bronze medal and a ring rating of #10. They schedule the fight for 12 rounds in Las Vegas and is billed for “ lineage “ but mostly for marketing purposes. At this stage in those two men’s careers who would you pick and roughly how do you think it ends ?
Interesting one Goo. I actually think Damiani might be in with a chance. The younger, fresher man may catch Spinks at just the right time, maybe getting a decision.
I thought Damiani was big, game but very sloppy without much of KO threat. Mercer picked him apart. If Spinks was 85% of his best he should do the same.
If the fight takes place in Italy Damiani has a very good chance of winning. A big payday might tempt Spinks over . I think Mike might of bitten off more than he can chew here . Tyson next !!!!
At the time champs typically fought an EBU champ "once and a while" and Spinks had just fought Tangstad so he was unlikely to fight another one so soon. Of course Damiani was EBU champ one year after Tangstad so we don't have to shake up the timeline that much for Spinks to fight Damiani instead. I'm unsure. Michael Spinks might be checked out at this point.
Yeah I can’t agree. Damiani had pretty good skills.. I mean not Muhammad Ali level but his jab, cross, combos and footwork work bad at all.. And Ray Mercer didn’t “ pick him apart.. “ he won by landing a single lift hook that broke Damiani’s nose in a fight that he ( Mercer ) was well behind in.
At that time Spinks could have fought whoever he wanted. He wasn’t officially holding a belt anymore, though the public expectation and pressure to fight Tyson was too overwhelming as was the pay day. It was either Tyson or retirement. George Foreman was already 9-0 in his comeback when Spinks fought Tyson in June of 88. At the time it would have been seen as absurd for Spinks to fight old George but in hindsight I would have liked to see it !!!
