The are both 6'2 1/2", Holyfield has a longer reach by 1 1/2" (77 1/2"), Holyfield is 8-10 Lbs. heavier (Foreman and Cooper fights). Holyfield is the stronger man, Holyfield punches harder, both are quick and have good footwork, Holyfield is more durable. I'll take Holyfield by late round KO. I think it's a good fight but Holyfield would be able to take Spinks punches well and land some fight changing punches in return. Spinks would try to outspeed Holyfield and stick and move but Holyfield would surprise Spinks with his speed and footwork and ability to catch him if he tried to run.
Sometimes think Spinks is very underrated due to the Tyson blowout. I mean Spinks twice beat Holmes on points, a better version than the one Holyfield beat at that. I do think Holy stops him late on but I bet he makes a proper hard job doing it. Spinks is no pushover.
We're taking the best possible version of Evander Holyfield and pitting himself against the best possible Heavyweight version of Michael Spinks, who was obviously at his best at 175lbs. That's where he got most of his work done. As it is, it's difficult to make a case for Michael here. Holyfield holds all of the physical advantages -- bigger, faster, stronger and more durable. You'd see some incredibly competitive exchanges though with Holyfield being as insolent as he was. Even the most basic of fighters like Bert Cooper and '91 George Foreman, slow and lumbering, didn't find The Real Deal to be all that elusive. A very entertaining and action-orientated fight before Holyfield's strength would begin to tell, weathering Spinks' best before grinding him down late in the fight.
Like the most of you I feel that Holy was just too strong and powerful. That's really the separating factor here. Both were fast, skillful, smart and brave, but Spinks didn't have stopping power against someone like Holyfield. Wouldn't be able to really discourage him. Evander would go looking for a tear up, find it eventually and quite possible stop Spinks.
Would be interesting if Spinks shows up at the weigh-in all 'roided up (like Holyfield)....and Evander ch!tes a brick.
Yeah, I see SPinks posing all kinds of problems for Evander. At the lighter weights I might even pick Spinks but at heavy I'll go with Holyfield by a tough decision.
Spinks gets underrated. He beat an undefeated Holmes twice. I think he'd give Holyfield a decent fight.
