Michael Spinks v Floyd Patterson?

Question

who wins? Both in their prime.

Answer 1

Spinks will be remembered for preventing Larry Holmes from equaling Rocky Marciano's record, and the abject terror he brought into the ring with him for the 90 seconds he lasted against Tyson. Patterson has the Johannson fights and his own destruction at the hands of Sonny Liston to weigh in against Spinks. A fairly equal match up that leans towards Patterson even if Floyd was past his prime against Ali, competition wise, Floyd was a true champion who fought the best available, with less than perfect results.

Floyd Patterson by decision, he had more heart than Spinks.  Cut those fisherman some slack and I think Bobby Fischer is a great sportsman.

Answer 2

Spinks will be remembered for preventing Larry Holmes from equaling Rocky Marciano's record, and the abject terror he brought into the ring with him for the 90 seconds he lasted against Tyson.  Patterson has the Johannson fights and his own destruction at the hands of Sonny Liston to weigh in against Spinks.  A fairly equal match up that leans towards Patterson even if Floyd was past his prime against Ali, competition wise, Floyd was a true champion who fought the best available, with less than perfect results.

Floyd Patterson by decision, he had more heart than Spinks.

Answer 3

Floyd Patterson is so disgustingly over-rated.  What  has he really done as a heavyweight?  He regained the title from Johansson, who never took boxing seriously, and is the youngest to ever win the undisputed title, though Moore was 4 days older than God.  

Besides that, Patterson defended the title against a guy who was having his pro debute (Peter McNeely's uncle Tom).  and a few more stiffs until he ran out of excuses to duck Sonny Liston.   We all KNOW what happened the first time he fought someone who could fight.  Then he lasted a few rounds with Ali only because, in one of Ali's naughty moments, Ali carried him in order to punish him.  

(not nice Muhammad but then again Floyd deserved it because he ventured in territories where he should have left well enough alone).

I DONT think Floyd Patterson would have KO'd Gerry Cooney.  However, if you are saying the fight would be at 175, all the more reason "Church boy Floyd" would lose to Michael Spinks.  Floyd WON the heavyweight title.  It DOES NOT make him even a good heavyweight.  He was well liked but certainly NOT a great fighter.    Timing is key and it was certainly on Floyd's side.  A few years earlier or later and he would never have come close to winning the title.  

Spinks by KO in 11

Answer 4

This is a very good match up between two favorites of mine.  Very close fight.  I have them fighting at light heavyweight.  The chin that betrayed Patterson so many times doesn't really matter here.  I don't think Spinks could knock him out.  Spinks was a great light heavyweight(undefeated at that weight).  This fight goes 15 rounds with Spinks taking the bout 8 rounds to 7.

Answer 5

Outstanding question.  Michael Spinks was taller and had a longer reach.  He did what no one else could do in reaching the heavyweight title after coming up from lightheavy.  And he holds two wins over Larry Holmes (considered by some to be one of the best heavies ever).  All in all, Spinks was a very good fighter, but he wasn't great.

Patterson, on the other hand, was great.  Youngest ever to hold the title, first man to ever regain it after losing it (which is something not even Dempsey, Braddock, or even Louis could do), and was referred to as "the best pure boxer I ever faced" by Muhammad Ali.  Patterson had knockout power in both hands, as Ingemar Johannson could attest to.  He was knocked down often, but almost always got back up.  And his HEART. . . . to last the entire fight against Ali with a hurt back, being battered and taunted the entire time by a cruelly dominant fighter. . . it's just immeasurable how talented he was.  Not to mention that he probably had the fastest heavyweight hands in the division until another D'Amato student (who WON'T be mentioned here) came along.

Neither man was "truly" a heavyweight (Spinks's heaviest would be a joke in today's division, and Floyd rarely weighed even 200)  but if they were ever to have fought, Patterson's gazelle punch would have flattened Spinks within 8 rounds.

Answer 6

Good matchup. I say Floyd by split decision. Floyd had good hand speed and a good left hook and i think he would beat Spinks to the punch as Spinks tries to stay on the outside and land the right hand. Spinks had decent boxing skills as he showed against Qawi and a past prime but still effective Holmes,despite that i still think Patterson's speed would be the difference in this fight.

Answer 7

michael spinks in the late rounds, patterson had a suspect chin.

Answer 8

Outstanding matchup here.  Floyd Patterson 55-8-1 (40) was a two time heavyweight champion with very fast hands and good power.  His one weakness was his chin as he was known to visit the canvas on more than one occassion during his career.  Patterson defeated fighters like Archie Moore, Ingemar Johansson twice, Eddie Machen, Henry Cooper, and Oscar Bonavena in his career.  He lost to Jerry Quarry once and had a draw with him  He lost to the great Muhammad Ali twice and Sonny Liston.   Michael Spinks was the first light heavyweight champ to win the heavyweight title when he beat Larry Holmes and he done it twice (controversial decisions)  He had a somewhat awkward style but was a good boxer with good power too.  He beat such notable fighters as mentioned above, Holmes twice,  Dwight Muhammad Qawi,  Marvin Johnson,  and Gerry Cooney.  He lost his one and only fight to Tyson in his last fight.  I believe that the difference in this fight is that Patterson clearly fought and beat more heavyweights and he has the better handspeed.  Both are probably equal in the power department so this would make for a relatively close fight.  I believe that Patterson would survive an early knockdown, come roaring back strongly in the latter rounds and win a close but unanimous decision.  Good question sir.

Answer 9

Floyd Patterson.

Answer 10

i will pick spinks by close decision, floyd had the faster hands, but michael has more movement.

Answer 11

floyd patterson