Spinks and Tyson, who do you rate higher all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Blofeld, Apr 1, 2023.


  1. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,329
    5,251
    Jun 23, 2018
    I can’t think of too many Light heavyweights I pick to beat Michael Spinks …I can’t think of a few Heavyweights I would pick to beat Mike Tyson
     
    Bonecrusher likes this.
  2. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,793
    44,417
    Apr 27, 2005
    The question tho is who we rank higher "all time" i.e. achievement based. Spinks achieved more. I'm definitely not ranking Buster above Tyson on an all time achievements list.
     
  3. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

    17,124
    28,052
    Aug 22, 2021
    Exactly. That result resides in the realm of H2H not in respect of whole resume.

    In terms of greatness (and we can isolate Ali just to his 2nd career “greatness”), Ken Norton doesn’t run anywhere near as close to Ali as he did in their trilogy of fights -
     
  4. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

    5,498
    7,018
    Aug 17, 2011
    When you are comparing 2 fighters, I would suggest that one night is pretty important. Unless they fought more than once. Or are you suggesting that on a different night Spinks would have won?
     
  5. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

    5,498
    7,018
    Aug 17, 2011
    Many people thought that a Davis- I forget which, I get them mixed up- deserved the decision when he fought Spinks. I would favor a number of lhws to beat him, like Conn, Moore, Foster. At his best, I reckon Tyson to be a good bet against any heavyweight ever. It is all semantics and perception and opinion.
    What is concrete is that Tyson stopped him in 91 seconds of an utter mismatch. No Spinks "overall accomplishments" helped him and he was too petrified to confuse Tyson with his "awkward" style.
     
  6. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,103
    25,228
    Jan 3, 2007
    No.. I’m suggesting that a head to head meeting is not the end all be all of rating fighters.
     
  7. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,042
    9,725
    Dec 17, 2018
    Important to their respective rankings at HW, yes. Spinks was a natural LHW. I wouldnt pick any natural LHW in history to beat a prime Tyson nor do I rank any natural LHW above Tyson at HW based on achievements.

    Spinks joins Charles, Tunney, Moore, Bivins, Loughran and Conn as fighters who were natural LHWs in their prime and who rank above Tyson p4p.

    Ricky Hatton used to balloon up to 200lbs between fighters. I assume you realise that -1) Even a journeyman, club level CW would have destroyed him in a round; and 2) Hatton would still rank higher p4p?

    Clearly, that's an exaggerated example to demonstrate the concept to you, that a naturally far heavier fighter can beat a naturally far lighter fighter, who should be ranked ahead of them p4p based on overall career achievements.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2023
    Bonecrusher and Blofeld like this.
  8. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,044
    4,861
    Jun 24, 2017
    Spink didn’t spend years in jail an outta the ring for 4 years before fighting Holmes. Don’t think that’s a good comparison to use
     
  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,982
    48,051
    Mar 21, 2007
    I can only compare what happened in their careers.
     
  10. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,044
    4,861
    Jun 24, 2017
    Yeah but if someone said Spinks got 2 close decisions against Holmes but Tyson destroyed Holmes and flattened him in 4 rounds?
     
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,982
    48,051
    Mar 21, 2007
    Also true, but not qualititave reflections of their careers. To be more explicit:

    The fighters Spinks beat are better light-heavyweights than the heavyweights Tyosn beat in a pound-for-pound sense. Spinks, at his best weight, beat more impressive men than Mike Tyson did at heavyweight. But even in comparing their best wins at Heayvweight alone, Spinks does something more impressive than Tyson in the sense that he is 2-1 versus the three best he faced at the poundage whereas Tyson would be 0-3.

    It was shortahnd for: the pound-for-pound question is sewn up. The ATG question is sewn up.

    It doesn't mean that Spinks was a better heavyweight, in fact he was a worse one as you indicate.
     
    Bonecrusher, Blofeld and Greg Price99 like this.
  12. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,653
    11,516
    Mar 23, 2019
    Spinks beat an active, 35 year old Holmes. Tyson beat a nearly two years ring rusty, 38 year old Holmes.

    Though I seriously doubt Mike would have lost to the Holmes that Spinks beat, I think it would have been a more competitive match.
     
    KidGalahad and Bonecrusher like this.
  13. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

    1,309
    1,645
    Sep 27, 2022
    I kind of feel if you don't want any "mental masturbation" don't go on a forum.:D
     
    KasimirKid likes this.
  14. KasimirKid

    KasimirKid Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,234
    3,368
    Jun 1, 2018
    Your guys are crazy. Results in the real world trump fantasy every time.
     
  15. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,103
    25,228
    Jan 3, 2007
    Then I guess Iran Barkley rated higher than Thomas Hearns