Controversial statements on boxing that you stand by...

Basically the making a few quid off the title before stepping up to the real challenge.

As champ Haye beat Ruiz and Harrision in cash in fights before losing to Wlad. As champ Spinks edged Holmes in a rematch and then cashed in against Cooney and Tangstad, in defences that were every bit as poor as Hayes, before getting banjoed by Tyson.

Thats not really criticizing either Haye or Spinks, just pointing out the parallels.

 

I think some Japanese fighters tend to get overrated, but very few of them are boring.

Nobuo Nashiro in particular guarantees a good fight.

 

I will add that Spinks battered Cooney ;-) Spinks>>>Haye for Heavyweight finishing :tong

But yeah, he should've fought Tubbs/Witherspoon in his title reign. But obviously he still had a better 'reign', I must point that out but yes, Gaz I agree, Spinks felt herding all the hard work in the Holmes fights.

Was Tyson already built as a challenger around this point? ('86 or so?) I'm a little hazy on dates sometimes....EDIT: i checked and of course Kid Dynamite was in full swing by then, Spinks deffo' shouldve taken the fight then, same result every time and probably even worse! I've always felt Spinks was coaxed back to fight Mike when he was on top of the World, and had been out for over a year by the time the fight happened.

Still, an underrated win for Tyson IMO.

 

Liking Japanese fighters has become kind of fashionable.

Like Manga.

 

Did he have to rematch Holmes? That was a tough defense to take.
Also, a lot of the other top guys were all in the Don King tournament

 

Does that mean Fighting Harada is Astro Boy? :think

 

By the time Spinks-Tyson happened Tyson had been most peoples #1 for a good 18 months/ 2 years.

The problem was Spinks was lineal champ but everyone knew Tyson was the best in the division. Spinks and (moreso) his manager Butch Lewis just tried to put the fight off as long as possible.

Spinks was just inactive and didn't really have anywhere else to go rather than being coaxed back, if you know what I mean? Kinda like Haye....;O)

 

Not sure about Holmes but rematch clauses were common around that time but Spinks got offered entrance into the Don King tournament and refused to take part, that side doesn't really hold water at all TBH mate.

At the end of the day though, Butch Lewis and Michael Spinks did the right thing from a financial point of view so its hard to criticize.....

 

I edited once I checked: I knew of course Tyson was the no.1 in '88 and that Spinks was literally the only big name for him to smash.

Mike turned up knowing he'd get smashed, I'm certain of that. You can see it in his eyes. So yes, a cash in, but not one where he could run and survive like Haye ;-)

Here's a very controversial one: Harada was greater than Jofre.

 

Are you just trying to goad me and **** me off?

 

No I've said it before but I am pretty certain. Resume, achievement, as well as being the only man to beat Jofre.

I didn't even realise you were here to be perfectly honest, and wouldn't have thought that you'd disagree either.

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...IBAJ&pg=5758,6342567&dq=spinks+don+king&hl=en

Here is a a piece on Spinks pulling out of the tournament because of South Africa. Interesting :think


You'll love it as there is a spread about Don Curry on the page too:yep

 

I wonder who was more hof worthy, Michael spinks or Ricky Hatton?:think

 

Also worth poining out.

After the Spinks took his Tyson crushing and got his $20 million compensation - he never fought again.

Took his cheque and slipped away into blissful retirement to a mansionin Beverly Hills - and waking up late every morning in silk PJ's and enjoying the finest steak and wine.

Spinks took the money and ran.

 

Me saying that would be like you saying Moon was a weedy bum.

He'll always be the Golden Bantam! Always. Well, unless he has to face Donaire...:scaredas: