Some would say that Cory Spinks is at a crossroads in his boxing career. I think the boat has sailed.
Spinks had a chance to show the world that he is a legitimate contender in the middle weight division, but he forgot one thing. Boxing is made up of several things, and style is one of them. He forgot that avoiding getting hit, along with having no real offensive tools that would lend you to believe that he could knock out any of his recent opponents, is not how you get the big money fights.
Saturday night’s display against Jermain Taylor was boring if not embarrassing. Spinks’ style has a lot to do with that. He is elusive and is not inclined to get into any real exchanges. There was not much action between the two fighters that would make anyone ask for a rematch. In fact, there would have been a better fight had they made it pay-per-view – not between the fighters, but between the people who paid for it and their local cable operator.
This display virtually sealed Cory’s fate when it comes to being a main event on HBO. HBO would have been better served to have shown some reruns of the fabled show OZ. At least someone would have gotten touched up.
Some guys will go to their graves thinking Spinks actually won the fight. I get it – hometown guy, maybe there are some who thought they would get some loose change out of this thing. To say Cory Spinks is not a good fighter
would be incorrect. He has skills. Unfortunately, he and his camp have elected to employ a style that does not work in this day and age of the quest for the Big Money Fight. He doesn’t even get into fierce exchanges anymore – a jab here and there, and then it’s on the bicycle. Nice style if you are fighting as an amateur, but not at this level.
The Spinks’ camp tries to make comparisons to other fighters and their lack of activity in fights. Why then do those guys continue to get the big money fights? Because they are willing to exchange, and they have the ability to knock someone out. If Spinks wants to fight with the big boys, he will have to change some things – alter his style, stop being so defensive about his style and, more importantly, act like he has been there.
Cory Spinks’ manner in how he tries to represent St. Louis in all of his fights is commendable. Fans have been there to support him, especially in his most recent bouts in St. Louis. That support is starting to wane, because he is not representing St. Louis in the manner that St. Louisans fight, in or out of the ring.
Cory Spinks is better than what we have seen recently, or is he? Can he
become a bona fide champion that people will pay to see and watch on TV? Will he now be fodder for up and comers? I think not on this one, because there has been no reason for any young guy to fight him because of his style. Could it be that we have seen the last of the big time fights with real big name opponents who are not just looking for a tune-up fight?
Those questions can only be answered by Cory Spinks and company. Don’t take too long, though. The ship is about to leave.