This is n't so much a 'who would have won' thread,as it's a foregone conclusion. It's more how easily Holmes would have won. Spinks would always be blasted out by aggressive predators like Tyson,but could give the smoother boxer types an awkward time. I could see Holmes finding Michael problematic in the first few rounds,before settling down and stopping Spinks around the ninth or tenth. ????
I think a prime Larry, and I consider 80-82 within his prime, stops Spinks late. The fight in 85 was a great accomplishment for Spinks but even then he had his hands very full. I just think prime Holmes would be able to impose his will on the fight and wear Spinks down.
Prime Holmes was a top three heavyweight in the opinions of many, and not an easy man to last the route with. He showed with Marvis that he was capable of a quick start, and it would be rational to test Michael right out of the gate, something the junior Spinks brother might not expect. These are two of the most intelligent titlists of the championship distance era. If I was Larry, I'd definitely test Michael early. Holmes stunned Shavers late in the opening round of their first fight, the very moment he came of age, and had the strength to steamroll a Neon Leon coming off the best stoppage win of his heavyweight career. The typical outcome to be expected is a late stoppage, but Holmes could also opt to use his jab as a bludgeon, like he did with Ocasio. That's a heavy weapon for Michael to take repeatedly for 15 rounds. Larry might walk right through him, and march him into the floor before the championship rounds came up.
