1985 Michael Spinks versus 1992s Riddick Bowe at Heavyweight

I think Bowe would be too strong and physical for Spinks. Bowe of 92' was an absolute beast of a fighter.

Now I do think Spinks would have beaten the version of Bowe that fought Andrew Golota. By that point Bowe was shot and had no reflexes left and would have been a sitting duck for Michael.

 

Poor Michael. He might have made it 3.

 

Bowe batters him.

 

Bowe loved crumpling the little guys into tinfoil balls and playing badminton with them.

 

Spinks will prove to be a bit tricky but Bowe would try to overwhelm him from the start.

I'll say Bowe KO 8 Spinks

 

I can see this happening.

It could be a bit like the Hide fight: Bowe tried boxing him, but saw that the much smaller guy had major advantages in terms of movement and hand speed. He resorted to bulldozing him...if the Spinks/Bowe fight went on that long, that could be the result. Spinks gets knocked all over the ring until the ref has mercy.

 

As I picture it by maybe a bit sooner.

 

Spinks would be tricky for Bowe early on, people underrate Spinks at Heavyweight because Spinks was blown away by Tyson. But fighters like a shot Tubbs, Hide, faded Biggs, all gave a prime Bowe all he could handle. Bowe excelled when he could fight on the inside, but fighters who fought him on the outside he looked beatable. I think Spinks's awkward style poses a problem for Bowe early on, until Bowe catches up to him and stops him late on I'll say 8th round.

 

Well, If Mike was healthy it’s possible he can outsmart Bowe- He just needs to hit hard enough to make Riddick think about just walking through him and roughing him up. But does he hit hard enough? I don’t know.

If the Ref can keep it legal and Riddick respects Spinks power enough to not just waltz through him I think Michael could cut it very close.

 

Wasn’t Tony Tubbs in his prime? I also don’t remember Bowe being in danger of losing that fight.

 

No Tubbs was seen as faded by 91 when he fought Bowe, his prime was 85 when he beat Bonecrusher and took the title off Page. His fight with Bowe seen as highly controversial, and whilst Bowe may of not been in any trouble regarding being hurt. Points wise he was in real danger of losing, and quite a few people thought Tubbs won me included.

But the reason I bring up Tubbs is that Bowe, couldn't really figure out a tricky veteran fighter who boxed him on the outside. I think Spinks with his awkward style could pose some similar problems, although I do see Bowe eventually getting to Spinks in the 2nd half of the fight.

As I said if you stood infront of Bowe he looked great, but boxers who gave him movement, or boxed him on the outside he looked alot more beatable.

 

I didn’t partake on the poll. I think most would make Bowe the favorite and I can understand why. But Spinks was still young and in great shape in 1985 and a terrific boxer with a difficult style to figure out. He could also go 15 rounds and had a better chin even at heavy than some give him credit for. Bowe of course would have a significant size advantage and Michael’s tendency to start slowly in the early rounds might be an issue. Bowe was also formidable on the inside which may not be the best place for Spinks to be. But overall I think this could be a closer fight than some might think. I wouldn’t bet money at all, and Riddick should probably be given the edge. But an upset decision win for the Jinx isn’t out of the question

 

I do not see Spinks handling the constant fouling of Bowe very well and thereby taking him out of his game. So he trades more than he needs at has to fight at a much faster pace than suits him. Spinks wants and needs a lots of feints on the outside and throw 30 punches a round type fight. Then, he can look good, but this is not Cooney or Tangstad in there. Won't happen here and he will have to double his normal output to stay in with this guy.

But eventually Bowe will land a low blow and continue his 3 or 4 follow up shots before the ref can step in. And Mike Spinks is not able to absorb like a Holyfield and goes out in about 6 rounds.

 

Spinks is crafty enough to carry it into the mid to later rds. Maybe even to a decision but I favor Bowe. He does not get the treatment Tyson gave him I'm baffled ppl underrate Spinks at Heavy for that. Tyson was at the peak of his powers even the Boogeyman, Jason n Freddy Kruger would've shivered in their boots.