I voted for "The Spoon.":deal And I also love "Holmes-Spoon" and "Dokes-Weaver 2" for 80s title fights that sometimes seem to go forgotten... Oh, "Coetzee-Dokes" of '83 was also great stuff back then, too... :thumbsup SR.BILL:hat
It has to be Tim Witherspoon.Beat Tubbs and Page.Shutout Smith a year before the unfortunate kayo loss.Lost that controversial decision to Holmes and lost to Thomas, but for the most part, his record holds up well for the decade.Spinks didn't do enough in the division, Page had a variety of well-known problems, as did Dokes, and even though Holyfield had some quality wins, they were over fighters who were well faded (i.e Dokes, Thomas, and Tillis).
So far Witherspoon is the clear favourite, which is interesting. Dare I suggest that Mike Weaver bellongs ion the argument?
1. Tyson 2. Holmes 3. Spinks. 2 wins over Holmes and a fine performance against Cooney. 4. I put Thomas here since he beat Witherspoon H2H and was ranked in the Ring P4P rankings. He showed up against Tyson and gave him a helluva fight as well. 5. Witherspoon
Under rated fighter is Mike Weaver. Nothing too flashy but always in great shape and carried his power late...His fight with Tate shows that you're never out of it until the final bell. Personally I like Spoon the most...Thomas and his jab are tremendous but he doesn't do quite as well against the field as Terrible Tim. Spinks work at the weight is too scarce.
If people are right in their assesment of Witherspoon, then is he one of the great "might have beens"?
I tend to think Spoon is overated on this forum. He was somewhat lazy and inconsistent. Good fighter, but didnt have the ring smarts of a Holmes or Tyson.
Tyson was 3rd best 80s heavy. Spoony 2nd And Larry H is 1st. I means H2H/Greatness, same order IMO for teh 2 measures.
Based upon potential, Tony Ayala the Baby Bull would have stormed the middleweight division and cleaned it out by 84...done the same to LHW by 86 at the latest and become a 4 division champion at HW by 87 and no one would even talk about Iron Mike any more. Man what could have been!!!!