Mike Tyson is the most feared heavyweight ever for a reason – one explained by way of an opponent he wiped out in seconds.
Tyson had his foe waiting to be beaten and walking to the ring defeated when he became the world’s undisputed champion.
Former two-weight world and Olympic champion Michael Spinks had no chance, no matter how he felt against Tyson in 1988.
That’s the view of Tyson’s former trainer Teddy Atlas.
Firstly, Spinks went down in 91 seconds against Tyson in an undisputed heavyweight title clash, three years after moving up from 175 pounds.
During his spell at the lower weight, the one-time super-middleweight claimed all the belts on offer. Spinks was widely recognized as one of the best light heavyweights of his generation.
In addition, back-to-back underdog wins over the great Larry Holmes cemented him as a fully-fledged top-division operator.
Mike Tyson
But it was the Tyson fight where question marks hung over ‘Jinx’ as the then 31-0 star was bludgeoned in just over a minute and a half.
Many thought Spinks had already lost on his way to the ring as he looked petrified at what was to come. Others just thought that mentally, Spinks was spent due to the fight’s significance.
As the Convention Hall in Atlantic City held its breath, Tyson enhanced his legacy with an unbelievable performance.
The trainer that night, Kevin Rooney, had replaced Teddy Atlas a few years prior. But Atlas followed the career of Mike Tyson closely over the next two decades.
Atlas took time out during one of his recent podcasts to shield Spinks from unwarranted criticism.
“People thought [Michael Spinks] was a dead man walking. That’s the problem,” pointed out Atlas. “They dismissed everything, and I get people are people.
“They said that he was intimidated. He was scared to death and pooping his pants. In addition, he was frozen like a deer in headlights.
“He was a guy waiting to go to the guillotine. To put his head on the block and let’s get it over with.
“First of all, that’s not fair because nobody in his mind and his body could verify that – number one.
Michael Spinks
“Number two – looking at it from the point I am, I’m the guy who has been as critical as anyone about Tyson and his shortcomings. But at the same time, I have pointed out that he’s one of the great punchers in the sport’s history and could punch with either hand.
“So I give him his due. I point out the things that I believe in my position should be pointed out when that’s what people are asking me to do.
“They’re not asking me to do a show based on being liked. It’s not about being liked. It’s not about giving your opinion on how you see the facts, eliminating everything else. So, I give him all his credit.
“Now, having said that I will say again: when you touch down with Spinks, many people dismissed the fight like the guy didn’t show up, like nobody in the ring with him (Tyson). He was like it was a hologram. He was a ghost. There was nobody there.
“That’s what everyone assumes. One guy says it, and everybody follows. They forget the guy was an Olympic gold medalist on the most outstanding Olympic Team ever in 1976.
“He’s one of the greatest unified light heavyweight champions ever.
“I am going to make a correlation here, okay? I am not trying to defend anybody. I’m not trying to attack anyone. Furthermore, I’m just trying to make a case (for Spinks),” he added.
