If these two had fought in December of '86 as planned, could Mitch have pulled off the decision win and found his way back into the top ten?
My answer is yes, there is a chance. Although Smith was dangerous, he was very inonsistant. Green, however never really defeated a class fighter in his whole career either though. As for him getting back into the top ten, it might have happened, but I don't think he'd last long....
I don't know if you are familiar with the story.. Witherspoon was in a contract he didn't want to be in with King, he was due to box a rematch with TNT Tubbs in MSG when Tubbs cried off with an elbow injury, on two days notice.. with the Unification tourney well under way and TV all set for the show, they searched desparately for a replacement and came up with Smith who was training for a bout with Green.. Smith agreed and Tim wanted more cash... The cash was not raised so on the saturday evening Smith battered a submissive Spoon (who claimed he dived to release himself from Kings contract) and Smith became the new Wba champ at a very ripe age (33 i think) Green later confronted Cark King and had to be restrained from attacking him for taking the Smith fight away from him.. IMO .. Green would have dropped a points loss to Smith who was gaining momentum since a win over Frank Bruno by stoppage in London..
mitch blood green all the way, he would have beaten smith imo, the kings horribly screwed over mitch many a times
Mitch was probably highly motivated at the time, so he would shut out James for a unanimous decision, and re-enter the top ten.How long he stays there, however, is another matter altogether.
No. After a bad 1985, Bonecrusher Smith was on form in '86, coming off good wins over Mike Weaver, Jesse Ferguson and David Bey. Mitch Green never beat a decent fighter in the pros.
I gotta go with Bones Smith over ***** Green.... Smith was at least a real and active fighter in the 1980's... ***** Green at best was a solid pretender... Again, as noted before, Green never beat a man on top of his game... MR.BILL
Its a hug and hold-fest and ugly and tall ugly...Green was a hood and bone crusher a college guy that could have been a little more rugged for his look
