Ellis was around 195 lb as a heavy. MSpinks was basically bigger with equal or more power, though their reach at 76" was the same. Spinks wins at LtHvy and Heavy.
I think this would be a pretty good fight. Not sure I agree that Spinks had more power than Ellis. Ellis could crack with that right hand. Quite honestly, with the exception of two controversial wins over an aging Holmes, Ellis has the better Heavyweight resume. I pick Spinks by decision at Light Heavy.
Agree Bert! Agree with you on Spinks at LH; I think Jimmy sort of went from MW to Heavy with a (brief) stop @ LH. Agree that Spinks, basically had NO Heavyweight career. From August 67-September 68 Jimmy had a four fight run: Martin (stopped on cuts), Bonavena (decked him twice), Quarry, and my hero Patterson (tho Floyd, despite fighting tentively, mushed him up!) IMO a HW Patterson bests a HW Spinks. Jimmy's effort against Frazier is to be considered as well; what a first two rounds! Jimmy was rising at the end with the heart of a lion. I'll take Jimmy in this one eras not even considered.
In the 2nd Ellis v Frazier fight, 200 lb Ellis went 9 rds with the Frazier that became "Manila Frazier" in Joe's next fight. 1975-03-02 : Joe Frazier 211 lbs beat Jimmy Ellis 200¾ lbs by TKO at 0:59 in round 9 of 12 Location: St.Kilda Junction Oval, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Referee: Bob Foster The fight was billed as a title eliminator. Ellis was 1-4-1 in his previous six bouts. Frazier earned $250,000 and Ellis $75,000. Promoters of the fight recorded a paid attendance of 15,000, far short of the 52,000 capacity. Promoters estimated a gate of $327,500 from tickets which were scaled from $10 to $65. The referee was Bob Foster, whom Frazier knocked out in two rounds on November 18, 1970, in defense of the World Heavyweight Championship. The Associated Press reported: Ellis held his own for the first three rounds, winning them on points. But Frazier was probably just feeling out his opponent, and from the third round on Frazier was clearly in control. Frazier struck out with the expected left hooks, but threw in right hooks and jabs that surprised his opponent. Frazier bobbed and weaved constantly, making himself a tough target to hit. In the seventh round, a Frazier hook opened a cut over Ellis' right eye. Ellis' manager, Angelo Dundee, took a look and sent Ellis back in, but by the ninth round he knew Jimmy had had enough. He shouted, "Bob, Bob, end it" to referee Bob Foster, the retired world light heavyweight champion, and the fight ended at 59½ seconds of the round. The judges' point ratings gave Frazier the fight by 112-106.
But that was their 'over the hill' fight (Jimmy a 'trial horse' at that point and Joe's best days were rapidly approaching). The early 70's bout was the one I was referring to.
I know...but I admire Ellis efforts for going 9 rounds with Frazier more in the 2nd fight. The first fight was a known Light Armored Vehicle vs Tiger Tank with a 15 round result pretty predictable. Ellis 201 lbs. Frazier 205 lbs. Ellis had never been down as a heavy pre-fight. Interesting that Fight #2 was billed as "Title Fight Eliminator" (with supposedly the winner getting the Manila Fight against the Champ Ali) Frazier vs Ellis Fight 1 four round shootout called by Howard Cosell: This content is protected
Both outcomes could certainly happen. And especially if Spinks faces the 1968 version of Ellis who was active and in tournament mode.
