How would the Pinklon Thomas that beat Tim Witherspoon and Mike Weaver have fared against Mike Spinks or Larry Holmes that boxed for the IBF around 1985?? Pinklon was a hell of a fighter if you analyse him, he had a fabulous Jab, and balance.. He was athletic.. had a very reliable chin and when he set his feet he could Knock you out with that right hand.. Concentration was a small down fall, and his penchant for rec drugs.. Larry would have had to be on his game to overwealm Pink.. and Mike Spinks would have to employ a very clever plan to get past him.. Gimme some Opinions... The Berbick fight could be a great measure of how Thomas could look on a horrible night... God Bless..
Pink did have that great jab and a steady chin. At times Pink lacked focus and would try to land a big shot without setting things up. He also tended to gas early whereas Holmes retained his stamina throughout. I don't think that Thomas would have been able to deal with Holmes' speed and piston jab. Holmes' ring generalship was better in that he was patient and eventually in the fight he would become dominant. Larry by UD or late round TKO Michael Spinks would have a little more difficulty in the fact that Pinks jab may be able to find Mike often. Spinks herky jerky movement serves him well as does his onslaught of combinations once he moves in. I think Pinklon will try to make this a more physical fight by attempting to get close to Michael. If Spinks can avoid the big shots and keep Pink off balance with those combination flurries he might get a decision but he will have to be in excellent condition. Spinks seemed to always be very well conditioned. Sometimes Pink would gas and get hit with more shots than he sould have.
pink drew with gerrie coetzee at his best. that was his level. No shame in that, i think coetzee was beter than hes given credit for also. I think pink looked great against a still good quick tillis but you have to give the edge to holmes over thomas at this time. around this time larry began to slide, hed been slammed for strugling with bonecrusher smith but nobody else stopped smith for many years later. whilst holmes couldnt cope with spinks's pace and clever boxing, it does not mean he could not cope with thomas a harder puncher but also much easier to find. as for thomas v spinks i think thomas huffed and puffed a bit and would have quiet spells in distance fights that spinks may have exploited also. would he catch spinks? I accept spinks is hard to judge at heavyweight since he didnt have many HW fights.
Thomas would of beaten both at that point if it's the motivated version that put on a great performance against the under rated Witherspoon. Spinks beat Holmes by taking advantage of his old body and the fact he took him lightly. That version of Holmes made Spinks look a better HW than he really was imo. Thomas at his best was a very, very good heavyweight and I'd say he outpoints or maybe even stops Spinks later on. I think Larry was ripe for the picking at that point as well considering what Williams did to him. Thomas had a great jab and while it wouldn't of been a blowout by any stretch, I see Pinklon taking the decision here against a Holmes who was slower than he used to be.
that is a very good point. spinks was a jack in the box who was awkward fast and pacey. he did not fight like a heavyweight. I had him winning the first fight but it was brains over brawn, he was not the beter man since he didnt fight with holmes. I remember holmes saying in retirement that he was still unbeaten as a heavyweight who beat 2 of the 3 reighning champions smith and berbick.
Thomas was looking good but fizzled against Berbick, something went wrong and I have heard rumors that he went back on the dope and neddles after winning a title...fool
Pinklon would beat both by UD, though with Holmes, if it was a 15 rounder, he might have some problems down the stretch.
