Who won the two Holmes vs M.Spinks fights?

Cearly Spinks

 

In the uk only high lights were shown on tv. I was a big holmes fan and going by the rounds we got shown (pre internet) I thought holmes won both fights.

However, years later when i got dvds of the american tv full fights and scored them i had spinks winning by a boxing masterclass in the first fight. he just outboxed holmes.

The rematch I had holmes winning. He won all the early rounds clearly and still had an even share of the closer rounds later in the fight.

 

I watched both bouts live and Larry couldn't let go with the right hand in the first match. He was slow, ponderous, his jab was often off the mark, and his other punches simply wouldn't fire. Larry trained hard for the rematch but I was still suprised when his full arsenal was there because of the first go. Like Choklab said Larry won all the of the early rounds and had an even share of the latter ones, stunning Spinks several times with lead right hands.

 

Fight 1: 144-141 Spinks
Fight 2: 144-141 Holmes

 

I had the first one a Draw.
The rematch, clearly Holmes by 2-points.

 

I often wonder if the decision for the Holmes-spinks rematch was not political. How much mileage was there in holmes as a two time champ defending the title? larry had said he would retire after the bey fight after all.

When ali regained the title from spinks he up and left boxing without a HW champion. how was the powers that be going to be sure holmes would not do the same thing?

In the 1980s it was a hard job getting the general public to know who the real champ was, holmes was the one who had the most recognition. if he retired as champion the fear was recognition retired with him. Heavyweight boxing was going to be even harder to sell without holmes or a "man who beat the man".

Holmes- carl williams was a close run thing, i dont tink larry lost but some fans felt judges were keeping holmes's title. Holmes was looking like an old champion who was going to the scorecards each time he fought. under these circumstances selling boxing to the public was going to be a chore.

spinks won the first fight fair enough. I just dont think the establishment were keen enough on Holmes for him to win close fights anymore.

 

really good theory and makes a lot of sense actually:think

 

If my theory is corect the IBF did not get much value out of micheal spinks. he defended against the european champ then got stripped of his title for refusing to fight tony tucker...

Ring magazine awarded spinks a belt as the linear champion but he went out and fought cooney rather than another belt holder.

It was Mike tyson who came along and created recognition for the wider public.

 

choklab,

You're correct on the Carl Williams fight,,,,,,,easily could have gone to 'The Truth'.
I was and still am a big Larry Holmes fan, but he started to alienate people.

After his wins over Muhammad Ali and Gerry Cooney, I think Larry felt that it didn't matter what he did, the majority of the public would not give him the proper
recognition.

 

Holmes had upset people, he had become too wise to the ways of things. He was the real champion and he knew it. His attitude was the belts needed him and felt he was one step ahead of the game. I dont blame him for looking out for himself. I think he hand picked williams himself and nearly got his fingers burned.

The sactioning bodys know that for the health of the sport boxing needs new blood -not so it remains fair, but so as to create the money that keeps them in fees. I can see it from both sides.

later, george foreman was simular to holmes at that point, only he went a step further. when he beat moorer he ignored the demands of the respective top tens because he knew he could print cash without them.

 

It didn't help that after the first Spinks bout, Holmes claimed that the judges were drunks and on the take.

 

Was it for the WBC & IBF Championships? I believe Don King & Holmes were having a falling out by then... & of course Jose Suleman ( King's puppet ) Was also dissatisfied with Larry also.

 

The first I scored for Holmes 8-7
The secored clearly Holmes 10-5!

 

I dont usualy like to see a champion lose his title to a fighter who did not commit to trying to beat up the old champion at any point but IMO holmes was too ineffective himself in the first m.spinks fight to deserve the win. With a title on the line there has to be a highlight reel of the winners best work in your head at the end but there just wasnt any winning moments for holmes in this one. there was a lot more evidence of spinks beating holmes to the draw and winning exchanges.