Michael Spinks as a heavyweight

Sure, I bet Spinks would have been a far more formidable heavyweight in an earlier era with much smaller heavyweights. But of course in those eras, he probably would have moved up to heavyweight much sooner, when he was still younger and closer to his prime.

 

He'd also be one of the most skilled ever.

I think the best I have him beating are Vitali, Patterson, Jefferies, Johnson, Jersey Joe Walcott and basically anyone short of a HW ATGS

And he'd beat a lot of these past prime as well.

 

It is very hard to rate Spinks. His success had enough to do with Holmes decline, yet I think had he focused he could have beaten guys like Pinklon Thomas and Bonecrusher. He could have edged those fights, but eventually his size would have been what put him on the canvas. He was very good at heavyweight but not great, but his greatness all around gave him the ability to beat Holmes,even thought maybe he shouldn't have won the rematch. His win against Holmes is in the top 10 as far as heavyweight wins.

 

I agree . But my problem with Spinks is he seemed to be intimidated well before and during the fight. Thus he was a beaten man before the 1st bell rang. Yes he probably does well in diffrent era's specifically from 1900 -1930's But I don't see him doing much better against intimidating Champs like Louis, Marciano, Liston, Foreman or Frazier..... He may have gone a rd or two longer, but the results would still be the same.... Tyson exposed something in Spinks that was eye opening in my opinion.. And very intimidating heavyweights even ones not Championship caliber may cause him to freeze up or do something that was stupid that would cause him to get KO'ed in a fight.