What version of Dempsey is this? I could see Spinks potentially outboxing the rusty, past-prime Dempsey of 1926 or 1927.
I don't see this fight as being the mismatch that some have already made it out to be. In fact, on the right evening, Spinks could have troubled the hell out of, or even beaten Dempsey. Of course, its not something that I'd favor him to do, but I think a lot of Spinks chances are being weighed based on what happened in the last fight of his career, when he was past his prime, and facing a man who I believe to be much better than Dempsey was.....Doesn't quite cut it for me. Michael Spinks was an all time great light heavyweight who proved that he could be reasonably competitive at 200 lbs as well. He was a master boxer with an awkeward style, a decent punch, good stamina and was only decked by one man in his entire career. At 6'3", 205 lbs, he would have had a decent size advantage over the 6'0", 185 lb Dempsey, and unlike Jess Willard, Spinks was a skilled and mobile big man. I also don't want to turn this into a politically incorrect subject, but its no secret that Dempsey wasn't particularly thrilled about facing black men either ( for whatever that's worth. )
Great post. This is how I see it too the more I think about it, it's not quite the mismatch it initially seems I think.
That's the way I'm leaning, I think Dempsey catches him with something big in the later rounds in a very close, competitive fight.
Agreed, There is nothing to suggest that Dempsey would duplicate what Tyson did. In 1988, Spinks was in the last fight of his career and entered that arena looking like he'd rather be at the oral surgeon's office awaiting a root canal. Tyson at this stage was viewed as unstoppable and to any honest boxing fan or expert, had established more dominance than Dempsey who wouldn't even fight the best challenger of his era. A prime Spinks defeated many light heavyweights who come fight night were as big or bigger than a lot of the heavys Dempsey fought, and Spinks was never decked, beaten, or gifted any decisions against these men. If we want to use Spink's early defeat to Tyson as a gauge, then we might as well mention Dempsey's first round knockout loss to Fred Fulton, or his being dropped by the very crude Luis Firpo.
spinks wasnt really a dancer or a mover..i dont see him doing what tunney did..if he did win..it wouldnt be doing a tunney or ali...he would win by being spinks..being a bit mobile..but banging.