Michael Spinks knocked out in sparring before Tyson fight

I find that very hard to believe. Do you know the name of the sparring partner who supposedly floored Spinks?

I remember 1988 very well and I don't recall any reports or rumors that Spinks had been knocked down in sparring, let alone dropped for a 10 count.

I would like to know more details.

 

I think he got the info from the same source i read that Banana Sam handed Dempsey his arse in a 40-second sparring massacre, "Definitely True Gym Tales". Published by Kogan Page. The Spinks one is in there too. As is Norton being iced by R2 D2 actor 'Kenny Baker' before his defence in 1978 vs Holmes.

 

It didn't help R5 D4 when Rodney Bobick took him out in three though.

 

My guess is Spinks unprecedentedly gave up dreaming of glory soon after signing for the fight, as the real prospect of facing "MegaTyson"(TM) set in.

It was an unbelievable cave-in by an otherwise through-and-through pure winner. Such was the excruciating horror of "MegaTyson"(TM).

 

Could be true, why not? Could be Spinks was so busy worrying about Tyson he didn't see that hook comin'. Is there anybody who watched that fight that didn't see the concern on Spinks' face when he stepped in the ring?

Is there anybody who didn't think Tyson was gonna go right through Spinks that night?

 

I just googled "Definitely True Gym Tales" and didn't get any results except for a couple of ESB posts.

Do you remember reading about the alleged Mike Spinks gym knockout? If so, who was the sparring partner? I still cannot believe it happened. Such an event -- especially if there had been many witnesses -- would've made big time gossip in the sports world.

Maybe Spinks was having a crummy day in the gym and suffered a flash knockdown, or maybe he tripped and fell. If so, the incident could have been blown out of proportion in later years when discussed among boxing people.

 

A lot of people thought it would be Tyson's hardest fight. I'd say some even had Spinks to win.

 

Man, this might sound over-simple, but to me Spinks just looked too skinny. I really saw no way he was gonna stand up to Tyson's power.

 

He did beat Cooney though, who had huge power and was bigger than Mike.

 

You may wish to talk to John thomas about this, but from what I recall, he said that Spinks took a rather harsh beating from Greg Page in sparring around 1985.... These are not my words of course.....

 

Yeah, but Mike, Tyson that is, was comin' right at ya. Cooney was a big tough guy, but Tyson was a friggin' :yikes LOCOMOTIVE...

 

Why, what, what happened? Was it me? I have no trouble believing Spinks got knocked out in the gym. My first hand experience is limited, but from what I've heard that kinda thing happened all the time.