ATG: Who Rank Higher? JOnes or Spinks

Hopkins moved up two weights when he was 40. What the hell are you talking about?

 

I keep thinking would Jones have beaten Holmes and I always say no, this was a stellat achievement by Spinks and he was undefeated at lightheavy without ducking anyone. Jones is an alltime great in my book though, it really is go hard to compare fighters of different eras especially where both are so unorthodox.

 

Is it in a pound-for-pound, overal sense or just as a lightheavyweight? Because i'd rank Spinks as the better lightheavyweight and having a significantly better resume there, but Jones' untouchability at (super) middleweight as well as comfortable wins over Hopkins, Toney and Ruiz put him a bit ahead pound for pound perhaps.

 

Jones Jr.

 

Spinks fought the better guys. Jones ducked good competition and did dominate who he fought, but Spinks did also. I do not think Jones could take the Spinks Jinx, and yes I think he would be hit by it.

 

These are what I consider credible scalps on their records...

Resume comparison:

Roy Jones Jr.
-Bernard Hopkins
-James Toney
-Mike McCallum
-Montell Griffen
-Reggie Johnson
-Antonio Tarver

Michael Spinks
-Yaqui Lopez
-Murray Sutherland (x2)
-Marvin Johnson
-Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
-Dwight Muhammad Qawi
-Larry Holmes (x2)

Does that appear to be fair? Or am I missing some fighters? Or should some guys be struck from either list?

 

Here's something else to consider.

Titles Held:

Roy Jones Jr.
IBF, Middleweight, March 1993 - March 1994, 1 defense
IBF, Super Middleweight, November 1994 - October 1996, 5 defenses
WBC, Light Heavyweight, (1) November 1996 - March 1997, No defenses
(2) August 1997 - March 2003, 11 defenses
(3) November 2003 - May 2004, No defenses
WBA, Light Heavyweight, July 1998 - May 2004, 10 defenses

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IBF, Light Heavyweight, June 1999 - March 2003, 7 defenses
The Ring, Light Heavyweight, 2001 - May 2004
WBA, Heavyweight, March 2003 - February 2004, No defenses


Michael Spinks
WBA, Light Heavyweight, July 1981 - September 1985, 10 defenses
WBC, Light Heavyweight, March 1983 - September 1985, 4 defenses
IBF, Light Heavyweight, February 1984 - September 1985, 2 defenses
The Ring, Light Heavyweight, March 1983 - September 1985
IBF, Heavyweight, September 1985 - September 1986, 2 defenses

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This content is protected

 

I think Spinks wins this, no matter what criteria or angle you use. He completely cleaned out a very strong light-heavy division (Roy never truly cleaned out any division he fought in) and then he toppled a proven all-time great, long-reigning, undefeated heavyweight champ in Holmes - the single biggest win ever scored by a light-heavyweight champ. The only real mar on Spinks' legacy is getting overwhelmed by Tyson all the way up at heavyweight; but Roy has quite a few mars on his legacy.

 

Seconded.

 

I guess from one angle you could say that Spinks was a true fighter. He stayed in his division, cleaned it out, and left without question he was the man when he left (light heavyweight). Throughout Jones' career there are question marks in which he took titles in multiple weights, but he never truly cleaned out any division he fought in. I think Jones' has a slightly better resume then Calzaghe, but still nothing too much to brag about.

I mean, Calzaghe never got the chance to (willing or not) to clean out his division. He fought well in it, but he never got the opportunity to take on everybody. Which is why I don't have as much respect for guys like Jones and Calzaghe as much as men like Hagler and Duran.

Hell, I think Duran showed everybody that you can be a multi-division champ and still successfully take on what might be the best fights in his respective divisions.

 

Agreed, I also think one of the great intangibles would be taking on Tyson (for Spinks). Taking risks. He knew it would destroy his perfect record, but he still embraced the challenge. I'd rather see a fighter sit down and take a risk rather then to see a fighter pack things up for an easier route. There were points in Roy Jones Jr's legacy where I felt he was sticking with the easier choice. None the less, he was exciting to watch. Yet, Spinks is my choice.

Also, for both men's heavyweight excursions Spinks is much more qualified. Honestly, would you take it as a great accomplishment if you beat a champion like John Ruiz? I don't think so. I'd thank Roy for getting rid of him, but then again he didn't do that either.