A lot of people forget, that the Jinx put his career on hold for 19 months after the Montreal Olympics to assist with Leon's career; anybody who knows the sport, knows that's an eternity in boxing.
I also believe that had the Tyson fight come about 12 to 18 months earlier, there would have been a whole different outcome. However, there is no denying, Tyson cold-****** him.
That said, I always take reach and height over brawn and muscle, and if Spinks makes it past round three - with Tyson or Marciano - the shorter guy is in trouble.
If Marciano doesn’t get cut, I'd take Spinks in a 15 round UD.
Marciano, easily. Past it as he may have been, Mike Tyson exposed Spinks's weakness: a swarming heavyweight. Marciano, unlike Tyson, never tired out, whereas Spinks only hope of winning the Tyson fight would have been to hold on until the later rounds, which he couldn't do.
Marciano in the same fashion that Tyson beat him.
Spinks is one of the greatest LHWs of all time and was a tough fighter at HW, but he couldn't deal with an aggressive swarming heavyweight.
spinks does alright for a few rounds, but when marciano finds the range, he pulls ahead then stops spinks in 11.
15 rounds, heavyweight
