Both considered greats at LHW Both with a thinner resume at HW How would you rate them as opponents in EACH division? With modern weight training Spinks added enough muscle to have a significant size advantage Would that prove to be the difference at HW?
Styles - both counter punchers but Spinks also likes to fight inside more than Tunney Physically - Spinks is 2 inches taller, so an advantage for him here Jabs - both good jabs for sure, no clear advantage Right hand - probably Tunney straight rights from range but Spinks employed a fast overhand right that could be devastating Defense - Spinks employed a higher guard and has better head movement to shot slips. I think so advantage Speed - similar, although Spinks a bit more explosive Outfighting - Spinks slight advantage. Spinks is taller, Tunney has a better right but Spinks has a better defence. Body attack - big Spinks advantage. Tunney mostly went for head shots but Spinks uses the jab to set up left hooks to the head and body. In a long fight you'd imagine it gives him an advantage in the championship rounds. Left hook - Spinks all day long, much better short punches Combinations - Spinks is much smoother at putting combinations together and this should see him rack up points and damage. Stamina - fairly similar Workrate/Stamina - fairly close, Spinks has the advantage that when he's tired he can come inside and bang your body while leaning on his opponent Inside - big Spinks advantage Chin - both similar levels Power - clear edge to Spinks, he's stopping opponents at a more emphatic rate at LHW at he has some devastating knock outs. Overall - Spinks, he's better inside fighter, better technical boxer, more devastating puncher, better body attack. He should win probably a KO around the 8th or 10th.
Michael Spinks, after a wild chase for 10 rounds finally lands the Spinks Jinx and puts an end to this high speed chase. The end comes for Gene Tunney as he did his best.
Could not have said it better. Plus M Spinks was kind of crazy. Always go with the crazy guy in a fight.
Tough match up .. I really like both guys .. Spinks a bit taller but Gene may have had 1" in reach actually .. Tunney was smarter and maybe a bit faster but Spinks was certainly fast enough. I think Tunney was physically a bit stronger, a bit better conditioned and a sharper puncher but Spinks was very fast as well and possibly a bigger puncher. Both had great chins but I'd even favor Gene there .. One poster here made a case that Tunney didn't go to the body but if you read coverage of his Greb fights as well as Carpentier and Gibbons, Tunney was a nasty body puncher ... I have no clue here. Two terrific fighters .. A decision either way ..