FANTASY FIGHT: Michael Spinks vs Roy Jones Jr (15 Rounds/Poll)

Went with Spinks without hesitation.

I have no doubt he’d set up the knockout punch. He could adapt mid-fight.

He may struggle to time Jones for the first few rounds, but he’d definitely find the opening and capitalise.

 

Very tough pick. I’m gonna say Spinks present challenges Roy didn’t normally have with bigger men. Roy’s a great boxer but maybe has to be cautious enough that Spinks wins split decision.

 

I got Spinks to win. RJJ, gifted as he was, didn't fight anyone as good and powerful as Spinks at 175. Spinks wasn't just bigger but he had an usual style that was difficult to figure out, an unpredictable attack pattern, power in both hands, and was very smart in the ring. A dangerous combination for RJJ to overcome. Spinks has also managed to beat a variety of different styles and I think he would not be intimidated by RJJ's speed.

By no means would this have been an easy fight for Spinks though. This would have been a fascinating match up to see given how elite level both of these guys are.

 

I watched Roy vs. Hill last night and outside of the right hand body KO wasn't super impressed. It seemed like he was often times trying harder to make the show of winning than actually achieving effective aggression. And Hill's size seemed to influence a lot of what Roy was doing.

I rank Roy very highly, and although I didn't love him at the time, I have come to really admire him. He was a very, very good lightheavy but 160-168 was his peak. That's where he comes into the GOAT conversation, at least in a head to head context.

I have a hard time picking Roy to beat a guy who at 175 was undefeated and ran the gauntlet of Johnson, Muhammad, Lopez, Qawi, etc. I have to go with Mike.