Spinks-Holmes II not a robbery

Liston, this was my score and what I wrote when I scored it. We're really not too far off. We only disagreed on rounds 7 and 9 and I had the 12th Even. Not too bad after 15 rounds.

Holmes vs Spinks II

Round 1: 10-9 Holmes
Round 2: 10-9 Holmes *
Round 3: 10-9 Holmes
Round 4: 10-9 Holmes
Round 5: 10-9 Spinks
Round 6: 10-9 Spinks
Round 7: 10-9 Holmes
Round 8: 10-9 Spinks
Round 9: 10-9 Holmes
Round 10: 10-9 Spinks
Round 11: 10-9 Holmes
Round 12: 10-10 Even
Round 13: 10-9 Spinks
Round 14: 10-9 Holmes **
Round 15: 10-9 Spinks

Total: 144-142 Holmes

Let's look at the two rounds I noted. Round 2 which I scored 10-9 for Holmes, in the hands of someone more liberal with points could have called that 10-8 for Larry. He did stun Spinks towards the end of the round, but mostly because Spinks did absolutely nothing that round. It's up to the individual scorer.

Round 14 was another unusual one. Spinks started well and ended well, but Larry did stun him and followed up briefly before Spinks ended the round better. But how do you score? Spinks did most of the heavy lifting that round, but Holmes did rattle him. Very tight, but I gave it to Holmes. I could have called it even as well, but it was an intense moment for Larry. I see Harold Lederman also gave the round to Larry. Good fight. Felt Larry deserved this, but Spinks should be lauded for fighting his heart out.

 

Holmes was the aggressor, landed the more effective punchers, and never got hurt.

Spinks ran (stumbled a lot), fell into Holmes with a bunch of punches that were mostly arm, and got seriously hurt several times in the bout (almost got knocked out late).

I've had it four points for Holmes every time I've watched it, and I watched it from the day it happened on.

Michael edged it the first time, the second time Holmes said it all when he bemoaned "I talk too much".

 

Holmes landed by far the more effective punches, went after the "champion" the whole time...Cortez justified, Spinks was badly hurt that round.

 

Guys, here’s my take on it:

Larry Holmes v Michael Spinks 2

This was a tough fight to score. I had Holmes ahead but there were a few close rounds that could have swung it the other way. Still, I think Holmes edged it.

I have no idea what tactics Spinks was employing over the first 6 rounds or so but he fought an awful fight early on. He came on over the second half as Holmes tired but was it enough to take it? I'm not convinced. Not a robbery by any means but I can understand the controversy.

1 10-9
2 10-9
3 10-9 (close, cagey round)
4 10-9
5 10-9
6 9-10 (very close)
7 10-9
8 9-10
9 9-10
10 9-10
11 10-9 (close, both fighters took a breather)
12 10-10 (best action of the fight so far)
13 9-10
14 10-9 (tough to score but Holmes wobbled Spinks)
15 9-10

Holmes 144-142 Spinks

 

Holmes won clearly.

 

I scored it for Larry but I agree it wasn’t a robbery. It’s within the range where you can make the case for Spinks, even though I think Holmes deserved it.

 

I am starting to think 1/5 posters actually watch as much boxing as they talk about hence the cookie cutter opinions. I have honestly never seen this fight.

 

Maybe give the fight a watch, I'm interested in your opinion.

 

Close fight, have not seen it in a while, but I do recall I scored it for Holmes.

 

My take last January as posted on the What Fights Did You Watch Today thread:

Michael Spinks (c) vs. Larry Holmes II on April 19, 1986, at the Las Vegas Hilton, scheduled for 15 rounds for Spinks’ IBF (and lineal) heavyweight championship.

Larry weighs 223 and is 48-1, his only loss coming to Spinks the fall before in their first match.

Spinks is 28-0 and weighs 205, up about five pounds from their first fight.

1. Holmes 10-9 — Larry comes out with a lot of aggression, pretty wild, but lands well to the body and with some jabs. Michael does very little but try to let Larry blow off some steam.

2. Holmes 10-9 — Holmes hurts Spinks in the last 45 seconds with a right hand.

3. Holmes 10-9 — He walks Spinks down, some jabs get through but mostly Spinks is fighting a negative fight trying to avoid conflict so far.

4. Holmes 10-9 — Michael lets his hands go a bit but Larry’s body work and jab take it.

5. Spinks 10-9 — Michael gets busier, ands some good hooks.

6. Spinks 10-9 — Spinks fights in spurts and works better inside. He’s awkward as hell.

7. Holmes 10-9 — Clean right hands take it.

8. Spinks 10-9 — He really gets busy and his jab gets on track late in the round.

9. Holmes 10-9 — Rocks Spinks with a right hand and works him over a bit.

10. Spinks 10-9 — Big round for Michael, lots of clean combinations.

11. Holmes 10-9 (c) — Both do good work with the jab, but I gave it to Larry on the strength of a few good rights and his body work.

12. Holmes 10-9 — Outworks Spinks, again good body work.

13. Spinks 10-9 — They’re both tired and leaning on each other; Spinks is busier.

14. Holmes 10-9 (c) — Difficult round to score. Spinks clearly wins most of it then Larry lands a right hand and comes as close to a knockdown as you can get as Michael sags and barely stops himself from crumbling to the canvas; Larry lands a few more good shots as Spinks survives.

15. Spinks 10-9: Lot of stalling but he’s busier.

My card: Holmes 144-141

Official cards: 144-141 Spinks, 144-141 Holmes, 144-142 Spinks — split decision for Spinks as he retains. AP had Holmes by a point, UPI Spinks by the same.

I wanted to score this again because I’ve never seen how anyone could give Spinks this fight, and I still don’t.

 

Maybe Larry turned off the refs by literally shoving Spinks to the ground in the first round. That was wild.

 

It’s largely a repeat of fight 1 imo. Never understood why people get upset over this one. Holmes does a bit better and being aggressive early going for a stoppage was a good idea and he started strong. But he clearly had issues coming forward. Holmes is very comfortable standing and trading or having the other guy come to him. But he looked like he got put in a trance by Spinks in both fights. Constantly beat to the punch at mid range and following him around the ring rather than cutting it. Cooney had exact same issue. Even prime Holmes always has major issues with Spinks.