Witherspoon-Tyson?

[raylawpc]

There really ought to be a thread on how Witherspoon could have been the greatest ever HW.

We all agree he was highly skilled but was hampered by poor self-discipline outside the ring. It's a line that seems to work for Tyson...

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Pretty much, it was his way out from under King. You don't have to believe him, but he has said as much in interviews. He certainly thrashed Smith in their first fight and was never so much as wobbled by a shot during a comprehensive shutout.

- Pretty much that Terrible Tim was actually quite the soft lad for most of his career.

Maybe Smith threw the first fight to set up the rematch, advanced planning not being the forte of the typical forum poster mouthing the usual line up of ol' wive's tales of boxing as you do. All of King's fighters were in the same boat as Tim, so what does he do to separate himself from the pack?

One would expect a significant improvement in Spoon if he was truly interested in his career, but instead, the only true class he shows is over limited journeymen. When in the ring with era contenders, it's always a split or majority win or loss, a clear indication he never improved his status after this bout.

If looks could kill, Smith was the champ and Spoon the Pillsbury Doughboy. Tyson would've killed Spoon anyways, early KO. Smith was so scared of Tyson he became Bonehugger for that fight, respect Smith never showed Spoon in the ring.

[witherspoon]

Pretty much, it was his way out from under King. You don't have to believe him, but he has said as much in interviews. He certainly thrashed Smith in their first fight and was never so much as wobbled by a shot during a comprehensive shutout.

- Pretty much that Terrible Tim was actually quite the soft lad for most of his career.

Maybe Smith threw the first fight to set up the rematch, advanced planning not being the forte of the typical forum poster mouthing the usual line up of ol' wive's tales of boxing as you do. All of King's fighters were in the same boat as Tim, so what does he do to separate himself from the pack?

As a fighter, Tim does not much to distinguish himself from other eighties heavyweights who got ripped off, although none suffered more by being frozen out of the picture for so long.
As a man you have to respect him for standing up to King and persevering until he got his day in court (hence many fans/sympathisers, maybe?).
As to Smith throwing the first fight.......I never looked at it that way, but it sure would explain alot.

[Collins2000]

That could very well be the case. I just can't dismiss Tim's words, he beat the same guy 12-0 earlier and never touched the canvas during the relevant parts of his career.

Post the quote from Tim and we will discuss it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vapRarmj2rQ

2:30, couple of comments from 'spoon regarding fight in question.
This is a pretty good documentary by Jack Neufield about Don King which features Witherspoon prominently.
There is more of Tim discussing the Bonecrusher fight and the circumstances surrounding it, I cannot be bothered
to look for it now. The documentary is well worth watching.

Interesting clip. Thanks.

But no claim by Tim that he threw the fight there.

He said, when the fight was over, he didn't care that he had lost.

[witherspoon]

Watch the whole thing, when you have time. As I said, it's well worth the time to view.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20452&more=1

On his shocking 1st-round loss to James "Bonecrusher" Smith: (I asked whether or not it was true that he lost the fight on purpose, having beaten Smith so comprehensively on points in an earlier meeting.)

"Who told you that!? Oh, the first fight was a totally different fight. I beat him every round. Three times I almost had him knocked out. But the second fight, I didn't want it. It made no sense. I was training for a rematch with Tony Tubbs. But I was told by certain people, that if I didn't take the fight, my career was over! So I thought, to lose is a way to get out and start again with another promoter.

"I didn't put up a fight. I felt I'd let my fans down afterwards, but I just gave it to him [Smith]. Smith thinks he was a legitimate world champion, but was he? That's up to the fans to make up their own minds."

[NazNaci1]

I watched the Smith - Witherspoon fight when it happened and even re-watching it, it was no dive.

He got hit hard, often and was spitting blood at the end of the fight - Stopped on the 3 Knockdown rule.

He just didnt want to be with King or in the Tournament anymore. He was un-motivated and physically, not as fit as he could be. Couple that with the fact the Smith was a good puncher and he came out swinging, he had nothing to lose.

I never though that fight was fix or that Tim threw it and still dont today.

Tysom - Witherspoon? I like Tyson by a wide decision, too fast, busy and his skills at that time were superior, his head movement, speed, jabbing on the way in and combinations would just be too much, although I liked Tim as a fighter.

[generic screen name]

I think by the time Witherspoon and Tyson were active, Tyson would've won. Witherspoon was past his prime, but he would've been a tougher test for Mike, But I think in the end Tyson wins a solid, but unanimous decision. I don't think Witherspoon would be as effective with the more aggressive fighters.

It is one fight that is pretty mind boggling, but at the time Witherspoon's career was in a bit in shambles.

[Robinson]

Conspiracy theories abound, but those were very real shots being fired
back by Witherspoon. He happened to miss them, but had they hit
Smith may not have won.
Those were also very hard meaty blows that Witherspoon was doing his
best to avoid. If he gave it to him, then why not stay down after the
first KD ? Why yoyo it up and down to be TKOd ?

Smith stopped Witherspoon. This was no Phantom punch deal.

[McCannW14]

At the start of the HBO HW tournament, Jim Watt stated he felt Witerspoon would come out on top, beating Tyson in the final! Obviously, that was not the final & that fight did not happen at any time!

However, if Tyson-Witherspoon happened, what sort of fight do you anticipate? Tim was erratic to put it mildly! I mean, I would be surprised if anyone predicted he would lose to Smith in the manner he did?

I think Tyson would have had too much speed & power for Tim, but if he was in condition & focused, I reckon Witerspoon would put up a competent showing! Its all about what Tim shows up though?

Tysons management wouldnt let him anywhere near Tim. Whilst Tyson was certainly capable of winning I can see a fit and motivated Witherspoon giving him a Buster Douglas kind of fight and whipping that booming right over late in the fight dropping Tyson en route to a close but Unanimous decision win.