Jimmy Young vs Leon Spinks?

I think Young would have outboxed Spinks. Spinks would be competitive because he would keep the heat on Young.

 

Spinks would be punching holes in the air and fanning the breeze, but wouldn't have a clue about landing anything on Young. A pretty classic boxing clinic by Young along the lines of his 2nd bout with Ron Lyle. Young decisions Spinks handily.

 

Interested in @Dubblechin and @AwardedSteak863's takes on this one.

 

I think most any time they COULD have fought, Leon takes it. Spinks' career was picking up speed at Young's was slowing down. In 1978 Spinks beats Ali; Young is out hustled by Ocasio. In 1979 Young is out hustled by Ocasio again, as well as by Dokes. Sure, Leon got blitzed by Coetzee, but Young doesn't have Coetzee's power. Leon has a good year in 1980; Young loses to Cooney. Maybe 1981 Young - who earned a Comeback of the Year award, takes 1981 Leon, but I doubt it. By 1982 Young was obviously on the slide and relegated to opponent status, while Leon had a couple more decent years.

Even at their best, I (surprisingly) think Leon is all wrong for Young. He's too busy. Young liked slower, more ponderous, less active fighters to pick apart.

 

they were actually going to fight, I think may have even been scheduled. I remember it was announced I think. Both at their best jimmy would beat Leon easily. Although I agree a busy fighter is Youngs harder fight to win because it looks to the blind judges that the busy guy is beating him up. They don't really care that hardly anything is landing, and Jimmy is countering effectively.

 

Young was at his best against sluggers like Lyle and Foreman where he could counter their slower yet heavier punches. Spinks at his best was a relentless swarmer which is always a difficult fight for a pure counter puncher like Young. I feel like Spinks could outwork Young to a UD. Young liked to fight guys at a slower pace. Spinks would be throwing nonstop from all kinds of angles which would make it difficult for Young to set up.

 

Spinks isnt winning this. Young would shiut down his offense and counter with precision.

 

I think people should watch the Young vs Norton fight if they think Young is gunshy and won't let his hands go.

The reason he was more gunshy against Ali is because the strategy was to take Ali out of his comfort zone (fighting on the outside and waiting for a guy to chase him). It worked and Ali was very awkward being the aggressor against a defensive target. He wouldn't do that against a known pressure fighter like Spinks. I would imagine Young letting himself get backed up and countering to the body to slow him down and landing some of his quick hooks and right crosses in the corner to the head.

I certainly don't think it's an easy fight. I think Young would need to be in top shape and top form to win a decision because Spinks was a nightmare for guys who couldn't blast him out, he stuck to you like glue all night.

 

also young had a way of slowing down the pace and he was very very good and crafty on the inside with very hard left hook to the body

 

Leon by Ud, both at best.

 

This fight between Jimmy Young vs Leon Spinks is going to resemble Jimmy's fight against Ron Lyle. Leon will try to pressure and attempt to swarm all over Young, who will counter every time. Leon will have his moments as the pace begins to slow down. But Jimmy will close the show late with precise counter right hands to score a unanimous decision. Young's lack of a knockout punch will keep this fight very interesting.

 

those two at their best would actually be a very good fight and action packed. I think it might be similar to the jody ballard fight where Jimmy had to pour it on from the middle rounds on

 

Very accurate good post.