How would you grade Ali's performance in the spinks rematch

Spot on. If Spinks had shown up for the rematch with the same focus and in the physical condition of fight one,he'd still have lost,albeit putting up a better battle,as Ali had the perfect strategy second time out. Leon may have won three or four of the last five rounds but Muhammad would have banked enough of the early ones to get him the decision by around three points.

 

(yawn)

And then Ali would have knocked out King Kong in his first defense, right?

 

While Ali was better conditioned he was less of a fighter .. luckily for Ali Spinks was a loose cannon, completely out of control and fought like the eight fight novice he was ..

 

Howard Cosell had some good compliments of Spinks' capabilities going into Fight 2, then quickly reversed his position when Ali "outboxed" Neon Leon. (Cosell being the lawyer he was).