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

Not a specific one. But when I say "awkward", I'm sure that you can picture multiple fighters in your mind. Spinks, Graham, Vitali, anybody who fights in an unorthodox way, but makes it work, can be directly called "awkward".

 

Yes.

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Maidana

 

Eh, I don't think he's very special. Taking Mayweather close is more of a style thing than Maidana being amazing thing.

 

I also shall persevere

 

This is the weirdest style I’ve ever seen.

As one of the comments said, this is when you push all the buttons at once.

 

Definitely not the greatest, but I love what Spinks did here. He really befuddled Holmes and beat him clearly as the underdog.

 

Spinks had worked hard on his craft unlike his brother and had become a really good technician. As you say he had a good game plan and also worked with a very skilled nutritionist/conditioner to get his weight up. But the bottom line was while Holmes still was relatively in his prime he was a little older heavier and stronger but a bit slower. Spinks was a gifted athlete then with the work he put in he was at a peak where he was good enough skill wise and simply too fast for Holmes at that point in his career. Amazing seeing the first Light Heavyweight to win the Heavyweight title and from a great champion. Also he won the second fight fair and square though it was a bit closer. This in spite of Holmes coming back as serious as he could be and despite that some disputed the decision.

 

The first professional (I watched amateur) fight that I watched in my life (11 years old), and I was too young to understand that it was a masterclass.

 

Why was it so 1 sided with Spinks? I believe it was Tyson’s last fight with Rooney hence it may have been his absolute peak. After Rooney Tyson seriously regressed. So peak Tyson and then its styles. Spinks wasn’t going to be the power hitter at heavyweight he was as light heavyweight. He beat Holmes because hands and feet were too fast for Holmes to catch up to. He lost that advantage against Tyson who was just as fast. So now he can’t hide so he’s toe to toe with a super heavyweight and not just anyone. We re talking peak Mike Tyson. Styles. How could Forman demolish Frazier like he was an amateur the man who beat the great Ali. But then Foreman gets outboxed and KOd by Ali. Styles.

 

I can't help myself, every time I see someone accuse Michael Spinks of laying down against Tyson, I have to say something.

It doesn't matter how scared Spinks looked during the introductions - hell, he could have worn a giant chicken suit into the ring, it wouldn't have made one single bit of difference. The only thing that matters is how he performed. I would like someone to show me one single second of running or desperate grabbing and clutching.

 

I think greatest masterclass in "History" may be a bit of an exaggeration. But, I completely agree with all of your observations. An underrated performance. I think Spinks could easily have befuddled some of the overrated superheavyweights of today with similar tactics..