Lennox Lewis - 245lb Michael Spinks - 205lb Both in their primes, Lewis 1998-2000, Spinks 1986-88 Best heavyweight of the 1990s vs ´supposedly´ one of the best of the 1980s
Spinks IS one of the best fighters of the 80s.... at 175. P4P he was a FAR better fighter than Lummox. But at heavy, this is a complete mismatch. Lewis in 3.
I wouldn't say that Spinks was far better than Lennox P4P. It's fashionable to rate non-heavyweights over heavyweights in a P4P sense but Lennox at his best was pretty much as good a heavyweight as any heavyweight in history which would make him equivalent to Spinks P4P or only a tad below. Therefore, considering that Lewis was that much bigger, I agree with your conclusion 100%. This is a mismatch and I think round 3 sounds about right.
Okay, so why does Spinks always figure on Tyson´s ´Best Victory´ list at #1? Guy is a fucking light-heavy against one of the most destructive heavies of our generation. Never understood that, at all.
I don't consider Spinks to be Tyson's best or most impressive win. However, it was an impressive performance none the less. Tyson was the favorite going in, but nobody expected him to dispatch of Spinks in 91 seconds. Also, remember that while looking back it seemed like a mismatch all along, a number of people actually picked Spinks to beat Tyson.
Lewis, obviously. Spinks was a great light-heavyweight, not a great heavyweight. An ATG 175 lber vs. an ATG 240 lber.
But my point is....a TON of people see that as Tyson´s defining moment and its been talked about as such for fucking years...
I can't recall anyone on Lewis' ledger that actually fought like a Stinks, so it may be interesting for a few rounds until he gets KO'd
It's Because Spinks Possessed LINEAGE, having Taken Larry Holmes' "0" from Him AND There was the Notion Tyson's Reign Wouldn't Be Legit UNTIL he Faced Spinks... EASY to Dismiss All that NOW, but IN THE MOMENT, This was Widely Discussed by Fans and Media Alike...Tyson was Favored, and by KO, but Not in 90 Seconds... REED:hammert:
I think the general feeling is that Tyson was more "up" for Spinks than any other fight of his career, which is probably true. Mike's outside the ring life was in chaos at the time of the Spinks fight thanks to that gold digging whore Givens. Plus, many people were calling Spinks the true heavyweight champion. Those two factors combined, it's like he wanted to take out all his frustrations of the world on Spinks. As Butch Lewis famously told... he walked into Tyson's dressing room and Mike was punching holes in the wall, at which point he knew his boy was fucked.
Lewis would win, but I think Spinks gives him a little more problem than expected with his awkwardness
