Out of all the fights I have watched I have never been as fascinated with a "what could have happened" scernio then with this fight.
I just don't see it. Tyson was at the absolute pinnacle of his powers and only a prime ATG heavy could hope to defeat him on that night.
Despite what the scales said, and all that "linear" crap aside, no. Spinks wasn't a heavyweight. He was a fat but creative light heavy. He was in the right place at the right time with Holmes, who was old and lead-legged, and hand-fed no-hopers like Tangstad and a decrepit, rusty Cooney. That doesn't make him a heavyweight. A guy that was essentially operating with smoke and mirrors (all to his credit, by the way; I love Spinks) isn't going to beat a beast like that version of Tyson. Which is why I always shake my head when people list that one as some great victory for Tyson, and also when they denegrade Spinks for it, as if it should affect his legacy one way of another. It doesn't.
No. Spinks was over-rated because of his fights with Holmes and his win against a terrible version of Cooney. This fight really was a joke to begin with. Way over-hyped. No chance for Spinks. Also, Spinks did nothing after this loss. It's not Tyson's fault but these fights with Berbick, Spinks, Bonecrusher, etc. were jokes. Nothing for Tyson to worry about at all.
Brings up a good question: Who do you think could have defeated Tyson that night? Ali? Marciano? Louis?
Anyone who would listen, was getting the lecture off of me, about how Spinks was going to outpoint Tyson! And for all those laughing, I was hardly alone, hindsight is seemingly always 20/20...
