1987 same night Tucker Vs. instead of Tyson - Michael Spinks

Spinks is too wily for Tucker.

 

Tucker beats Spinks. Not only was he naturally much bigger. But also very skilled.
There a reason why Spinks avoided most of the better heavyweights of the era, to cash in his chips against Mike Tyson , then retire.
Spinks wasn't a very good heavyweight. He caught lightning in bottle with his victories over Holmes.
He was wise enough to fight a couple of relatively safe opponents like a depressed and drug/ alcoholic version of Cooney, and something named Tangstad.
Most of the better heavyweights of that era would've had a very good chance of beating Spinks, especially with his worsening knee issues.
Spinks himself probably knew that. So why not make the most money of his career by fighting Tyson and retire.

 

Spinks knees were done by here, he even has a knee brace on in the fight.

Tucker UD.

 

Tyson did exactly what he usually did and especially in that situation, blasted through on of the slowest starting power punchers in boxing.

Not Tucker's thing. The Jinx gets out of the starting gate, then shows Tony things like coming from weird angles that Holmes had never seen before or since, even as experienced as Larry was.

Michael was able to compete on even terms with the Assassin twice over the Championship Distance. He takes a clear decision here, finishing the job Buster Douglas started before he abruptly crumbled in the tenth round. By Tyson, the Jinx was used to taller opponents like Vonzell Johnson, Holmes 2X and Cooney. Unlike with Tyson, he brings all that experience to bear with Tucker, and it's just too much for Tony to compete with.

 

Tucker would be too slow and cautious against Spinks to do anything about it.

 

Tucker was a Ring-rated heavyweight, in his prime, and wanting a Title - Just the type of heavyweight Spinks and Lewis wanted to avoid when there was better money to be made from a Lineal Championship bout with Tyson.

There was little appetite to tempt a derailing of that ambition and a derailing it would have been, with Tucker stopping Spinks late.

 

I think it would’ve been close and Spinks would not necessarily have looked all that good, but I think he would’ve found a way to eek it on points. I think he was a bit faster and busier, threw more combos, and his awkward footwork and head moment combined with fast flurries would have thrown off Tucker sufficiently to get a close decision. Tucker could be outworked. But I wouldn’t be totally shocked to see Tucker pull off the upset either. Which is why they avoided him, because why fight a guy that good for so little money and risk the big payday?