Had Michael Spinks fought "The Truth" after Williams had been decided the winner of his fight with Larry Holmes--who would have won.. I think Williams with a larger confidence from winning the title and quicker than Larry at this stage... would have beaten Spinks by late TKO... any other opinions----the left hook of Spinks may not have been able to get past the jab of Williams... it would have beena competitive and great fight in my opinion...
Its an interesting match up but one Spinks could have won. Spinks beat a good boxer and brawler in Holmes and Cooney. I'd put him 50-50 or more with everyone else in the division. Tysons another story of course.
I think that Williams had faster reflexes than Cooney or Holmes had when Spinks faced them and that this would have kept Spiks on the outside--neither Spinks nor Williams were the best at Heavy but Williams had more pop in his punches and would have used his jab to negate the quirkiness of Spinks..
I'd go with Spinks on this one. Both men fought the same version of an aging Holmes, only Spinks did just a little bit better against him ( at least the first time around ). Spinks also defeated Cooney, wheras Williams was destroyed by an aging Weaver. Both men lost in one round to Tyson, only Spinks did it at the age of 32, and when Tyson was still training under Rooney. Williams lost in the same amount of time, only at age 29 and when Mike was under new managment. You also have to factor in Michael's quality wins at lightheavyweight, against Qawi, Johnson and Muhammad. Williams didn't have that many good victories.
A tough fight for Spinks. IMO both had the ability to stop each other given their sets of whiskers at Heavy.
Close fight to call. Williams at his best was a dangerous fighter, but gut feeling says Spinks takes this one by decision- this would be a tricky matchup for him, though. I wouldn't be entirely suprised at a different outcome. Spinks by close, but clear UD.
Williams has the skills, but Spinks the experience.Slight edge to Williams by a close split decision with no knockdowns, the awkwardness that Michael brings makes it a interesting fight for Carl, but he prevails.
carl williams was a nice boxer by the time he fought Holmes, he would have beaten all lesser men than holmes on that night. williams career stalled after that, It was a pity he had to wait 4 years for another title shot after pushing Holmes so close. with all the belts on offer Williams was more qualified than a lot of folks landing title shots before that time. but then maybe mike weaver hurt his rep in 86' with that KO loss - the one blip during those lost years. williams was speedy and slick in 85' if spinks ducked Tucker then he would have wanted no part of williams either for the same reasons- taller, younger, active, proven, good use of reach and fast hands. Spinks did not want anyone like that he'd paid his dues at a lower weight and only wanted selected super fights.
Williams quite clearly and convincingly , Williams would have won by either decision or a stoppage , early stoppage 4 Williams is more probable than a Spinks early stoppage , but less than every other outcome Williams would have won in . Williams was d better h2h HW .
I was hoping Williams would get a shot at Spinks but Williams messed it up when he lost to Weaver (LKOby2). As for Tyson vs. Williams? Williams lasted 2 seconds longer than Spinks and he could have continued IMO. So, Spinks vs. Williams... both at their best (at HW)? Spinks by split-decision.
I suspect this would have been a strange fight to unfold as I picture the larger, stronger, faster Williams boxing from a distance and limiting the exchanges and the smaller, lighter-hitting Spinks pursuing as the slugger. In that, I think it would have been an exciting memorable fight. Maybe Spinks gets to him over the top, but otherwise Williams boxes him the way he did Holmes and doesn't get robbed this time.
