What if Tucker had met spinks instead of spinks fighting C0nney ?.what difference would it have made to the Hw landscape?.
Tucker UD Spinks... not much of a change at all to the landscape except Tyson's rise is not as spectacular as he mows down the contenders... perhaps Tucker fights Tyson sooner and the blueprint to beat Tyson is written a bit earlier especially if Tony shows a bit more aggressiveness without an injured hand
Always wondered myself. Tucker had the advantage in being the bigger and stronger man with pretty decent boxing skills himself. And I can't see Spinks scoring a stoppage. Then again Michael was crafty and showed plenty of assertiveness against Holmes where as Tony had the tendency to be either lazy or non agressive.. It's a toss up for me. Something tells me this goes the distance with one of them winning a close decision.. As for how the future of the division plays out ? I agree with someone who said that Tyson wins lineage sooner and for probably less money than he would have against Spinks.. Tucker wasn't a big attraction and I don't think beating Spinks would change that much. But with a healthy right hand and something to fight for he might have had a better chance against Mike.
Who the fvck was Tony Tucker? Yes he was 34-0 (29) 1NC overall and 1-0 (1) in IBF HW world title fights prior to his loss to Tyson but who had he beat? Tucker's opponents at that point had a collective record of 372-291-19 overall. Prior to his fight against Bobby Crabtree in 1985 his opponents combined for a record of 257-260-15. He fought 6 times between Crabtree and Tyson... in these 6 fights he faced David Jaco KO3, Eddie Richardson W10 and KO4, Otis Bates KO2 (who was 10-10-2), James Broad W12, and Buster Douglas KO10 (for the vacant IBF belt). Prior to that Crabtree fight he had faced Danny Sutton NC3 and W10, Eddie Lopez KO9, and a faded Jimmy Young W10. His resume was horrible then and he didn't do much to improve it after Tyson. He managed to go the distance vs. Tyson but that's about it. Sure, he landed a decent shot or two... so what? He won 14 fights between Tyson and Lewis (10 by KO) but the only two worth mentioning are Norris SD12 (I thought Norris won, Norris won the rematch) and SD12 McCall (could have went either way). Lewis dropped him twice and dominated... oh, but Tucker went the distance! There isn't anything worth mentioning after the loss to Lewis... nothing good anyway. 6'5" with an 82" reach and 221 - 243 1/4 Lbs. In HW world title fights. Why so much love on this forum?
Maybe Spinks gives Tyson a half decent fight for as long as it lasts? Tucker would be seen as a good win. A win over a big, young, and undefeated fighter would gain interest. The fight with Tyson would have been just as big, probably even bigger than the fight they actually had. When they actually fought there was some ducking involved and a stripped title, Spinks went in looking scared (and he was).
That's what I'm thinking, Spinks beat one of the best boxers of all time in Holmes. Tucker isn't a fighter who would try and blast out Spinks and would be out worked and out landed. Spinks wins by clear decision.
Spinks proved himself to be a great fighter time and time again. Tucker was good, that's all. Tony never went on an impressive run in his career. Spinks savaged Gerry ****ey who was the size of Tucker, not as skilled but more dangerous. I think Michael Spinks would rise to the occasion and beat Tucker one way or another.
It'd be a close fight and could be one that defined Tucker. If he was ever to take the lineal crown, this is his best opportunity. I rate Tucker quite highly, I think he is a bit under rated and he has that stoppage win over Douglas.
I think that the difference between Tucker and Holmes at that late stage of Larry's fights with Spinks is a speed and reflex advantage for Tucker.. which would be more difficult for Spinks to look so good against
I liked Tucker, but I think he got more than enough kudos, that Douglas fight was weird: Douglas starts well, but realises Tucker is not going to give up; Douglas quits... After the Tyson fight, for which maybe TNT does need a bit more credit, his drug and fitness problems forever cost him, but due to good promotional connections he always got the big fights and never won even one of them!
Tyson misses out on his career defining win, but in turn, this propels Tucker more into the limelight and then the Tyson Tucker showdown gains more significance. Maybe cementing Tucker as Tysons biggest rival and thus giving Tysons eventual victory over Tucker more weight.