What fights were talked about in the 80's...

If he was lucky. An infamous Duran quote comes to mind!

 

Little doubt he would have fought Tyson if he beat Spinks too. I reckon a few in the industry would have been lusting after that result and possibly even doing some pre-planning in case.

 

Suppose in a way John, I would think there would have been more chance of him beating Spinks, in hindsight. Foreman had an ATG chin at heavy, Spinks maybe not so much.
Cooney would have been the lineal champ to.
Knowing Tyson he'd have wanted to get that title too.
Cooney would have hit the jackpot big time beating Spinks.

 

I remember the big fight that everyone wanted to see for a time, and it was scheduled before the MAPS scandal collapsed the supercard, was the rematch between Eddie Mustafa Muhammad verses Saad Muhammad. It was really appealing because of the style differences and both men peaking as champions. I think it was considered a toss up fight by the experts.

Myself, I wanted to see Cooney and Weaver for Weaver's WBA title. I thought that was a hard one to pick too at the time.

 

Saad Muhammad v. Mustafa Muhammad.
Saad v. Spinks
Pryor v. Mamby.
Boza v. Bramble
Arguello v. Sanchez
Holmes v. Page

 

Cooney hit the jackpot getting fights with both Foreman and Spinks without really earning them. Of course the flipside is when you bring as much money in as Cooney you are going to get some big fights regardless LOL

Cooney was an 8-5 fave over Spinks while Foreman was the 9-5 fave.

 

Cooney was the fave verses Spinks? Just shows in hindsight John!

 

Some of those BIG hyped up punchers just never lose that aura do they. In reality Cooney had never beaten anyone even as good as Spinks at heavyweight yet there he was after barely fighting in years coming in as the fave.

 

That's it mate, you nailed it.
Look as Tyson. How finished he was meeting Lewis.
Yet some still gave him a chance.. Cos he could hit hard!
As if that's enough to get you through alone.

 

There's still people that think he could win a title today.

 

Yes, having seen the devastating win over RJJ its easy to see why tho..

 

I think they had a point though in this case.


Tyson hit harder than McCall and Rahman, and thus if he had Lennox's alter ego 'Lummox' in front of him, he had a good chance. I did not think it would happen personally, but I knew smart fans who did, not just the Tyson fancy.

 

lol! Can't believe people paid to watch that, feel kind of bad for them.

Fights that caused all of us fans endless speculation and anticipation:

Duran Leonard 1 and 2, Leonard Hearns 1, the Prior-Arguellos, Holmes-Cooney... Unfortunately Ali-Holmes.

Hagler-Hearns was huge, Hearns-Duran too.

Mancini Arguello...that's one I played the naysayer on, as a lot of (mostly white) people were convinced Ray would win, but I was already familiar with Arguello and knew better. It played out the way I expected, won some money.

On a smaller level, Dokes-Weaver 2 had some hype due to the early stoppage of the first bout (too bad there wasn't a whole lot to the fight itself, most of my friends and I thought Weaver won). Holmes-Spinks 2 was pretty hyped, as most people were sure Larry was about to win the title a second time (and ended up ripped off).

Sanchez-Gomez, a lot of people picked Gomez. I made money on that. At the time I was becoming convinced Sanchez was the best pfp in the world.

Of course, Tyson-Spinks.

 

Good list. Alas so many over the years that promise so much but ended in.. Blaaaa!