The Bomber claimed that his best chance of winning a world title in the mid 80s was not against Tubbs, Witherspoon, Berbick or Thomas, but Michael Spinks. So instead of Spinks/Tangstad and Witherspoon/Bruno, summer 1986 sees The Jinx come to Wembley to fight Big Frank; what is your pick?
It s a tough question. Spinks chin survived against Holmes for thirty rounds but Bruno had a lot harder punch. But Frank started gassing after at least 9 round so if Spinks was still there, then it could be Witherspoon all over again. Frank has to get him and fast, but he such an akward style did Spinks that maybe Bruno struggles to actually get him. If the fight was tomorrow, I'd put a little money on both and keep me fingers crossed for Frank!
I’ve contemplated this one many times and it certainly could have happened in 1986. I would favor spinks to conquer Bruno but it would be a dangerous fight as Frank’s power would certainly be a factor
Like most here, I would favor Spinks with certain reservations. I suspect that it was never likely to happen in practice, because Bruno would have been a dangerous challenger, who hadn't really forced the issue. There were more deserving challengers, but he was too good for an easy title defense.
If Bruno had thrown caution to the wind and gone all out after Spinks , treating it like a four round fight, he would genuinely have had a chance here. The problem is that Frank never did that against a live opponent. It's more likely that he would stand off and jab with Spinks. When he did this, Bruno was just so predictable that Spinks would start to time him just as Witherspoon did and start breaking him up with right hand counters. Spinks had a terrific right so I reckon Frank gets stopped between eight and ten.
As hard as Frank hit, Spinks would beat him by a fairly wide decision. Bruno is just too slow and stiff for a guy like Spinks. Spinks was far from great at heavy, but he did retain his awkward, herky-jerky movements and ability to throw unpredictable combinations while simultaneously getting out of dodge. The real danger to Spinks at heavyweight wasn't necessarily automatically the hardest punchers. The real threat to him were the heavies that could get to him on a consistent basis...this excludes Bruno due to Bruno's lack of speed and ability to track a guy down as slippery as Spinks. Guys like Page, Tucker, and Thomas were bigger threats to Spinks in the mid-late 80's than Bruno was.
Michael Spinks was a very good defensive fighter...very hard to hit ....Spinks UD ...and if anyone is getting knocked out ,it’s probably Bruno
Agreed if it ends early. It'd be a Spinks-Cooney type ending, though. Flurry of punches driving Bruno (instead of Gerry) out of the fight.
Bruno sparred with Spinks. Frank thought he had his number. not saying Frank could win though. The occasion might have got to him again.
As well as Frank probably felt after sparring, I'd bet a lot of money that in a real fight he'd be left saying "but I did ok in sparring with him once..."
