Best version of both meet at 190lbs, Edit: Leon Spinks made 190lbs in his 30s, so he could’ve definitely got down to it at the age he was when he fought Ali. Who wins this matchup?
If this is based on the premise that Spinks of the Ali fight could slim himself down to 190 (which I think that he could), then I would favor him to outmuscle/outhustle Foster.
Leon beats down Foster over 11 or 12 rounds for a late stoppage. Foster pulls Spinks over while he’s driving after the postfight party, but being a good guy he gives him a ride to his hotel rather than a DUI.
I would not bet against the Spinks of that particular moment in time. Get him out of that particular moment in time and Foster clobbers him.
Spinks clearly Foster maybe be a top 10 Light Heavyweight of all time but he wouldn't even be in the top 100 for Heavyweights. Foster to my knowledge didn't beat a single noteworthy Heavyweight so it's pretty hard to favour Foster in this match up.
Mercado would've killed Bob, who couldn't have dented Evangelista (who proved to be a pretty durable HW) either. Leon was obviously weight drained for Qawi. BF's got nothing to threaten Leon with. Bob's the poster child for, "Big punch magically disappears completely above 175."
The thing is, except for the evening of Feb. 15, 1978, in Las Vegas, Leon Spinks was not a noteworthy heavyweight. Foster was beaten by Joe Frazier and a non-old and non-brain-damaged Muhammad Ali at heavyweight. Spinks was not in their solar system.
Foster lost convincingly to every notable Heavyweight he fought not just Ali and Frazier. Ernie Terrell, Doug Jones, stopped Foster and Zora Folley beat him via one sided decision. And whilst Spinks doesn't have a great resume at Heavyweight he beat Muhammad Ali faded, hard hitting contender Bernardo Mercado, which is still alot more than Foster ever did at Heavyweight. Spinks had a very short prime due to his drug problems but I'd still make him a considerable favourite over Foster who doesn't have any feats at above Light Heavyweight.
Fair take, I just think highly of Foster and don’t think highly of Spinks. We can agree to disagree, hopefully not disagreeably.
Prime Foster vs the 197lbs Spinks from Ali 1 = I'd favour Spinks, but would make Foster a live underdog, Ali was completely shot by this point. Prime Foster vs the 190lbs Spinks that fought Qawi - I'd make Foster a clear favourite to win by KO.
