Against Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in the two fights Foster lost up at HW. The LHW version of Spinks, not bulked up to HW. Lets also have separate matches when Spinks is bulked up, as he was against Holmes. Personally, I think the Joe Frazier that demolished Foster would do a similar job on Spinks... He was amazing that night, even his jab. It wouldn't be a carbon copy of the Tyson fight of course, but I feel Frazier would catch up to him and end it brutally. So, thoughts?
Both Frazier and Michael had a reputation for slow starts, but Joe did show with Ziggy, Ramos and Daniels that he could charge right out of the gate, while Mike never did. Tyson dropped Michael with a body shot. Smoke is really bad news. Michael might have an ace in the hole if brother Leon is willing to provide some quality sparring. A bobbing and weaving, hustling Leon was the closest thing to Frazier the heavyweight division had seen since Joe's prime, and that's preparation Michael could use. Michael goes the distance with Ali, any version. Like Terrell, Muhammad was a fast starter for his style of boxing, but he didn't try catching opponents cold, and Michael would be able to warm up before things got serious. This would not be an exciting fight, or a particularly close one. Ali had longer arms, and faster feet and hands. Michael's arms are shorter than Bob Foster's, but he had far better punch resistance once warmed up, and he was considerably more awkward to deal with than the more textbook former Air Force coach. Muhammad would settle for a clear distance win.
Frazier KO's Spinks inside 5 five rounds, Ali probably outboxes Spinks and stops him around 12 or 13 or a 15 round fight.
agreed. his awkwardness would keep him in the ali fight longer but any time he tries to mount an offense, ali would pick him apart. once he turns up the heat, spinks has no answers and gets TKO'd
I think Spinks would start earlier than usual against Frazier. Spinks would try something different vs. Frazier because he would feel the need to. He would also know that Frazier wouldn't feel the need to change a thing. With that said, I think that after 4 rounds the fight would be about even but Frazier would have the momentum. By the mid rounds Frazier would impose his will. Frazier would stop him late. Ali wins a clear decision vs. Spinks but I could also see him stopping him late in the fight. The weight is not an issue IMO.
With all due respect Michael Spinks is NEVER going to last into the late rounds with the 1970 version of Smokin' Joe Frazier who steamrolled Bobby Foster in just 2 rounds. Spinks is not durable enough to hold Frazier off who fought, as one reporter stated in the 71' Ali fight, "Like a wild beast in a thicket." Whatever that is or means it sounds just about right!
Frazier was still smoking at that time, Spinks may have fought a different fight than Foster who went in to trade from the get go but the results would have been the same. Frazier was not a tall heavy but his hook was BIG Heavyweight Power Frazier by KO