Michael Spinks vs Larry Holmes 1 was the greatest masterclass in boxing history.

I never see people talking about what a masterclass it was, Spinks was outmatched in every single way, but he brought the perfect tools and gameplan for the job, took the jab away perfectly using distance manipulation, level changes to bait Holmes, when Holmes would paw out on Spinks with the left hand, Spinks would level change low to his right and whip the left hook over fast, from the outside he’d feint by subtly moving to his left as if he was throwing the right, Holmes would dip to his right and Spinks would whip the lead left uppercut in, when Holmes would freeze up and shell up, Spinks would keep tapping him with the same punch that got him there, when most let them off the hook. He was able to get low and come over the top, slip the uppercuts in when Holmes put his guard up, and was able to evade the counters, his movement and eraticness really threw Holmes off and forced him to commit and make errors, which he needed him to do considering Holmes was the taller man who knew how to use his reach, it was a masterclass and Spinks brought the perfect tools and seemed to do everything with the right timing in that fight, not to mention the high aura Holmes had at the time, with all things considered, I believe it was the single greatest masterclass in boxing history.

 

We’re all focused on enjoying Holmes’ meltdown & sook in the aftermath.

 

Those short left uppercuts were effective but that was some awkward execution. Sometimes Holmes would throw the jab and Spinks would slip to the left and get that uppercut in. Nothing wrong with that maneuver but the way it was done was unusual.

 

All these years, I thought it was just me that found him uneasy on the eye. I just never enjoyed watching him.
Then when he took the money and bottled it against Tyson , It confirmed my disinterest in him.

 

Finally, someone else here who sees Spinks’ quit job against Tyson for what it is.

 

Spinks was extremely odd to watch. Just reminds you that "awkward" is often a good word in the upper levels of boxing.

 

I feel like Holmes Vs Witherspoon was the best match that The Easton Assassin was ever involved in, really good ****.

 

Of all the takes I've seen on this forum...... this is certainly one of them.

 

Kinda liking this thread. I will have to rewatch this fight.... but it's so damn long and boring. I will persevere.

 

I always suspected he laid down. It was too easy

 

I agree. It's clear as he day, when he walked in, he had no intention of winning the fight.

 

Boxing's greatest masterclass? No.

A very good fight with a well-executed strategy to get and upset against a bigger man? Yes.

 

I really don't know about schooling. He outsmarted him at times.

I always had Spinks winning by one point, but it was very close and...to be honest I wasn't that impressed. I thought Spinks' bozonic all- over-the-place performance mostly kind of freaked Larry out, which I imagine was the intention.

For a far more consummate and exquisite (though less imaginative) Master class, witness the first Holmes-Shavers fight.

 

You need to watch more boxing. Also Spinks wasn't "outmatched" in youth,defense, speed etc. He was also more "industrious" tho Holmes was no dummy.

Having said that it's great to see it getting some high praise as it really was an outstanding performance regardless of Holmes being aging and far sharper at his peak. It does get undersold and overlooked. Spinks pacing, skilled ambushes and punch selection were exemplary. He also showed plenty of heart in both battles as he simply had to take chance to win. He could have cruised to decision losses with his eyes closed but he got in there enough to give himself a great shot at victory.

 

I guess a lot of my pique with both fights is how bizarre Michael looked in attempting to win. He didn't look like a champ to me, looked more like some guy with palsy who lucked into landing some feathery punches lol.

I'm bigoted though, to me the exemplar of mastery is the way Salvador Sanchez boxed, not the herky jerky/drunk marionette performance of Michael.

Ok, I just realized I might be a little hard on one of my favorite light heavyweights, sorry folks.