Spinks also beat a 6'6 huge punching Cooney who was actually the betting favourite over Spinks. You could also say Qawi resembles Marciano somewhat with the swarming style yet Spinks done a good job on him. Most of the notable Light Heavyweights that Spinks beat would also be comparable size wise to most of Marciano's title challengers. I also agree that the Charles of 1949-1950 would've decisioned Marciano aswell.
The Cooney fight was such a fun memory. I was a teenager and watched that fight with my dad. Cooney was very inactive going into it but 6'6 heavyweights were not all that normal back then and lots of folks questioned how Spinks would handle the sheer size of Cooney let alone his left hook. Folks still remembered how Cooney destroyed Norton but the reality was that Cooney was shot just like Norton was when they fought years earlier. He had no answer for Spinks speed which truly was the difference. Too this day, it was one of the best knockouts that I ever saw live. Just brutal combination punching from Spinks.
Don't quote me on this but I believe Spinks may hold the record for the most amount of punches ever landed in a single round at Heavyweight. Unbelievably according to the stats he landed a staggering 84 punches on Cooney in the 5th round.
You make great points. Spinks was a slow starter and really liked to ease his way in over multiple rounds.
It was a brutal KO for sure. I remember going into the fight thinking if he was to win it would be on points with movement and his jab. I was way wrong about that, lol.
Tyson is the only guy to stop Spinks. What would lead you to believe Marcianos power is even remotely close to Tysons? Tyson knocked out guys renowned for their durability who were not the size of today's super middleweights and light heavyweights. He also has like 30 pounds on Rocky.
Spinks fought 4 different heavyweights in his entire life. Only one of these was a top 10 fighter. That guy hurt him multiple times across two fights despite not being a puncher and well declined. What would lead you to believe Spinks has some sort of top shelf chin at heavyweight?!?!??!?!?!!??! Are you implying one has to hit as hard as Tyson to KO Spinks? What rated guys did Tyson knock out that were renowned for their durability that didn't get stopped either before or not long after Tyson? Jimmy Young had 25 pounds on Marciano, how much harder do you think Jimmy hit than Marciano? Tyson Fury had 40 pounds on Wilder in three fights, how much harder do you think Fury hit? Michael Spinks fought at 175 for most of his career. Plenty of times he weighed in closer to 170. His walk around weight was about 190. He trained down to 175 and under with ease. Via your own criteria he'd be a middleweight or super middleweight nowadays. With this being the case he'd fit right into your weight bracket that Marciano was knocking out. There's the weight obsession sorted
Marciano was an attrition puncher who toiled against the wee and aged. He was nowhere near the league of Tyson in terms of power.... or anything else for that matter.