Thomas Hearns vs. Michael Spinks who wins?

Question

Light Heavyweights 15 rounds. Interesting dream match up if I must say so myself.

Cannot deny Spinks' greatness at Light Heavy but I can't discount that Hill/Hearns fight. Hill was very underrated.

Answer 1

Hearns - W 61 (KO's 48) TF 67 - W pct 91% - KO pct 72% - wins over Cuevas, Benitez, Duran and V.Hill - KO'ed by Leonard, Hagler and Barkley (average fighter) - #18 ranked puncher - #67 ranked fighter
If it weren't for a weak chin and lack of stamina, his ranking as fighter would be much higher
Won titles at 147, 154, 160, 168 and 175
Much better boxer than given credit for

Spinks - W 31 (KO's 21) TF 32 - wins over Johnson, Mustafa Muhammad, Quawi, Holmes and Cooney - KO'ed by Tyson - #42 ranked puncher - #41 ranked fighter
Won 1976 Olympic Gold medal at Middle wt
Became first Lt Hwy wt to win Hwy wt title

Hearns was moving up, where as Spinks was a natural Lt Hwy wy. Spinks was a very unorthodox fighter with good boxing skills and a good chin. This would be a boring fight with Hearns doing a lot of boxing and Spinks doing just enough to win a 15 rd highly disputed majority decision.

Answer 2

Brent F I like this matchup very much. I believe that Hearns has the better jab and Spinks is the better puncher. It could come down to endurance as it would be a pretty even match particularly early in the fight, Sometime after the 10th round I believe Spinks would catch Hearns on the ropes and hit him with a barrage of punches prompting the referee to intervene let's say in the 11th round.

Answer 3

Tough call. It's a shame that the only thing the general public remembers about Spinks is the Tyson fight. Not only is this the measuring stick for Tyson myopians of "Iron Mike's" prime, but it depicts Hearns--rightly proclaimed by another poster as one of the greatest light heavies ever--as some sort of "tomato can". He was as far from a tomato can as you could get (postscript to Tyson myopians--your hero fought arguably the biggest tomato can in the history of the sport in Peter McNeely).

One thing I weigh heavily in these historical matchups is the quality of opposition, and Hearns fought a who's who of this divisions history: Hagler, Leonard, Duran most notably. Hearns had freaky power for his size, and a small reach advantage over Spinks. Spinks, to his credit, fought some first rate heavyweights--Holmes and Cooney--but toward the end of their career.

This is an almost even matchup. Spinks may be a better rounded fighter than Hearns, though he'd have to respect Hearns' power. If these guys fought ten times it could be a 5-5 draw.

Answer 4

General rule is when always bet on the man fighting at his natural weight. Spinks is a lot better than Dennis Andries, the man Hearns beat for the WBC 175lb crown. Hearns has his moments but I say Spinks by TKO in the 12th.

Answer 5

I agree with you that Hill was way underrated - still is. 21 defenses.

Hearns was the biggest puncher in the 80s - over and above Tyson, but what people forget is that he was also an extremely accomplished boxer, so he matches Spinks in that dept.

Thus, the deciding factor in this fight is power. Hearns was such a phenomenal banger, that even though he started at 147, his power was still a factor at 175.

Hearns knocks Spinks out.

Answer 6

Michael Spinks

Answer 7

Michael Spinks: The greatest light heavyweight of all time who was undefeated in this weight.
He cleaned out the most talent laden light heavyweight in his ERA. Great Boxing skills, Solid Chin and great Power.

Tommy Hearns maybe considered the best Jr. Middle in the world
yet as a Light Heavyweight he was ordinary. He got knocked out by Iran Barkley in this Weight and was rock by Juan Roldan and was almost Stopped again by Sugar Ray Leonard in their Rrematch.

Spinks TKO 7th round

Answer 8

Tough one. Spinks took a good shot. Maybe Michael. But could he last 15 rounds?

Answer 9

Mike

Answer 10

My money would be on Thomas "The Hit-Man" Hearns.