I have never been more entrigued with a fight like this one. Am I wrong to think this could have been a good fight? Or was spinks tailor made for a young Tyson to bulldoze?
Didnt Ali pick Spinks to win? I know Billy Crystal did haha. Well Spinks was the lineal champ, and had beaten Holmes twice. Tyson was favored, but some Believed Spinks would use his jab and all of skills to show Tyson movement and angles. Tyson That night wuld be too much for most fighters. No respect for Anything Spinks could do.
Most people attribute that beat down to Spinks having some type of mental lapse, but I'm not sure. I don't think many heavyweights in history could stand up to Tyson that night. He was one of the most unique athletes that boxing has ever seen, and when he was on he was nearly unbeatable. People don't give Tyson enough credit for his win against Holmes either. Larry fought well in to his 40s, and was never handled like that again.
Johnny Risko would have swept Tyson under the rug that night. Such was the horrible state of the game in the 80's... and it's only gotten worse!
Physically: yes Mentally: no Don't get me wrong; Tyson would have got him out of there, but I think Spinks' mentality really hurt his ability to fight. He certainly proved he could hang with the big boys- punch with them and handle the physicality, but he was totally paralyzed with fear. Had Spinks really believed he could win and been up for it, he could have made several rounds out of it. Was Futch still with him for that camp and fight?
Spinks was a natural LHW and had been partially inactive since 1986 (two years before). Holyfield, Lewis or Klitschko would be much more criticized because of that win. I think it's because Tyson was amazing in that KO1.
Spinks didn't stand a chance. A significant reason for this is because Spinks himself didn't THINK he stood a chance, I think it's that simple. Whether that fear washed over Spinks in his dressing room before the fight, or during his preparation I do not know, but at some point Spinks had concluded he didn't have a chance, and, well, that was that.
spinks through the fight imo, didnt want to risk brain injury, and this is tysons best win a blown up hw who was inacive.
It makes me cringe when people refer to Spinks as the defending champion that night; only The Ring saw it as such. Spinks had about as much chance as any of the mid 80's contenders, he just came up short. Spoon would have given Mike a good fight but Smith got to him first. On paper Spinks looked like he could do it, tough, durable, proven, ATG victory, speed and a great outside game, Mike was just a level above. It took something unique to beat that Mike and it just so happened that Douglas had what it takes to do the job, but with hindsight, Spinks did not.
You know he really did. He just froze. If they fought 10 times Spinks gets out of the first round 9 times. He was an atg who choose the wrong moment to forget his craft.
I dont feel that was Tyson's best win. I believe wins over Tubbs, Biggs, Thompson and Bruno were more impressive.
The story was that the 2 dressing rooms were side to side.....with a very thin wall between them (maybe one of those make-shift type walls). Prefight, Tyson supposedly went over to the wall and hit it, and just about put his fist through the other side.....and Spinks saw the result. As Spinks went down to the ring....someone yelled "support" to Spinks, and Mike's answer was "I will do the best I can". Spinks was beaten before the fight even started.
