Evander Holyfield v Michael Spinks at Cruiserweight

Holyfield all day

 

I also think Spinks would win this quite comfortably.

 

1987 Holyfield would beat up any version of Spinks.

I actually agree with combatesdeboxeo when he says even a novice Holyfield would never be easy for Spinks.

 

Holyfield would lose in 1985, but he would win from 1986 onwards.

 

Spinks wins close fight

 

:bbb:good

 

damn i didn't read the 1985 part....Anyways i still have Holyfield beating Spinks in '85 by decision. A 1987 version completely destroys Spinks.

 

Great post :good I'm leaning toward this, but anythings possible with evander lol


I think Spinks Vs Holyfield at LHW in 87 would have been a fkn barn-burner :bbbBut its hard to put these two together due to 87-88 being evanders transitional period from cruiser to heavyweight i think? anybody know exact time?

 

I pick Spinks just because Spinks at that point was more experienced when he would have fought Evander compared to Evander.

 

Evander Holyfield made his heavyweight debut in the summer of 1988 against James "Quick" Tillis, shortly after Spinks had been dispatched by Mike Tyson... The time frame that the thread author posted was 1985 and at cruiserweight, ( assuming Spinks had decided to fight within those perameters. )

Even if these two men had met at cruiserweight, ( never done by Spinks ) I don't see Evander beating him any earlier than 1987.. In 1986, Holyfield had compiled less than a dozen fights, and barely escaped the jaws of defeat against an aging Dwight Qawi, who Spinks had beaten a prime version of years earlier. Holyfield was still a long way from becoming the confident, experienced and muscular specimen that we'd see years later. Meanwhile, Michael was still in his late 20's, undefeated in around 30 fights and had proven himself at the elite levels of both light heavyweight and heavyweight. Had he shown up at the in between weight of 190 lbs, it possibly would have proven an ideal setting for him at that stage. A fight between Evander and Michael in 1986, would have resulted in a decision victory for Spinks, who's awkward style, experience and savvy would have been a tad too much for Evander. I also think that Spinks could have unified the crown and beaten any or all of the top cruisers in the mid eighties.

Incidentally, while I would always pick a fully developed Holyfield to beat Spinks, I don't necessarily think that it would be an easy fight.. Spinks is often judged too heavily on his loss to Tyson, who's style and punching power made him very dissimilar to Holyfield.. Evander had the tendency to struggle with men who boxed reasonably well, and the 1988 version of Spinks who lost to Tyson, wasn't even prime anyway.. Remember, Spinks had never even been decked prior to fighting Mike, despite facing numerous ranked opponents, and even a few who could crack.. His style was awkward as hell, and getting him into a chess match was a mistake. I also don't see Spinks as falling for the bait, when Evander tries to lure him into an exchange, the way that so many of Holy's opponents did.. Michael could also fight 15 rounds without a problem. If we took the very best renditions of these two men, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go to the cards, or at least to the latter half, with Michael stealing a few rounds.

 

Awesome, you cleared up heaps for me there Mr Magoo :good

 

Spinks would give Holy all kinds of trouble around this time. Am I the only one who thinks Holyfield was a stupid fighter until the early 90's?
Holyfield was raw, fast and had a ton of heart, but how can he defeat a guy whose as progressed and ring savvy as Spinks at such an early time?
Spinks wins a tough fought decision.