Spinks vs Usyk

Look, the "cruisers" that Usyk beat had a 200 pound limit and rehydration clauses. In other words, they were heavies by another name, and by historical standards, big strapping ones. He is just much more proven against bigger opponents.

What Spinks accomplished was amazing, but I don't think that 35 year old Holmes and inactive, coke-head Cooney were really great wins, and of course, most people thought he lost the rematch. Of course there was Tyson.

Stylistically, Spinks did have the big right, which is the best weapon against a southpaw, but could he figure out the best southpaw heavy in the first place?

I'll say this...I'll go with Usyk, but Spinks was a special fighter who had one fight too many. At this point in history, I would not argue it too stongly.

One other thing worth saying is that these were two of the sport's really good guys.

 

I disagree Spinks moving up to Heavyweight and beating 48-0 long reigning ATG Heavyweight champion is a great win I fail to see how it can't be ?

A win over Holmes is better than a win over Joshua in my book even if Holmes was faded at that point.

 

Spinks was afraid of Tyson and was stopped already in the first round, a world-class boxer should not allow himself to be beaten by someone just like that in the first round and then retire because he cannot handle the first defeat, Usyk would beat Spinks...

 

Spinks was already on the verge of retirement because of his bad knees.

 

You gotta give Spinks credit for atleast one of the Holmes wins, that's a champion who was dominating for an entire decade with no real end in sight.

 

I favour Spinks by decision

 

Michael Spinks had to work really hard (1985) to reach the weight that Usyk has dried. Since I consider them both ATG and neither (yet) HW ATG; i think usyk would win. Usyk is a master of angles who has proven himself well as a CW and as much as I appreciate Spinks, he is still a natural LHW. Usyk UD.

 

I rate Michael Spinks higher on an all time basis but head to head I might favor Usyk wherever they fight. The man is fast, throws punches from all angles and had a high work rate. His chin is more than proven as well and he has decent power too. Michael being a slow starter might work against him here.

 

Holmes is a greater win than anything Usyk has at heavyweight

 

Probably yes. But a narrow win over an aged champ who arguably got gifts in some of his more recent fights and had been ducking top challengers for years takes some of the flare out of that win. That and the fact that Holmes was basically robbed in the rematch. Truth is I don’t think Spinks was the only heavyweight around in 1985 who might have edged Holmes. And even if it IS better than anything Usyk has done, I think Usyk looks better at 35-36 than Holmes did.

 

Agree 100%. Perfect post!

 

I am going to go with with Oleksandr Usyk by Decision over Michael Spinks.

 

Agreed. Spinks beat an ATG heavy but then again, I think Uysk would have beat the same Holmes that Spinks did. Holmes doesn't have a resume against a southpaw let alone one like Uysk.

 

Well Usyk hasn't had a long grueling hard Professional career like Holmes did though bit of difference. Usyk has only had 20 odd fights where as Holmes had over double at 48 fights.