Witherspoon v Tyson
Witherspoon v Tyson
Why did this fight never take place? I suppose most people will say Tyson would have won easy but I'm not too sure. What do people think? I think the fight would have gone the distance!
vs
I think Witherspoon was a good tough guy,and he had an awkward defense,good power,and a good jab.BUT,I do think that the Tyson back then would have overwhelmed him.Many people got high on Witherspoon when he gave Larry Holmes a good solid fight.But giving an aging boxer like Holmes a good challenge(many thought Witherspoon was robbed)is night & day with the Beast that Tyson used to be.I think Witherspoon would have had as good a chance as any of the young prospects back then,but that's it,only a chance.Don't think about the Tyson that got warped by Robin Givens,or Tyson the person,(who seemed to be a prick),but watch some of those old fights,when Tyson was Tyson,he was a quick fisted,aggressive wrecking-ball throwing fighter.I know many dislike Tyson and won't agree,but the old Tyson was a thing of beauty,I wouldn't give many moderns a chance against a prime Tyson.
zuru
zuru
Re: Witherspoon v Tyson
It have been dicussed before.. seach from the archivesArsenal wrote:Why did this fight never take place? I suppose most people will say Tyson would have won easy but I'm not too sure. What do people think? I think the fight would have gone the distance!
I was a big Tyson fan abck in the 1980s. He came along at a time when there were a lot of unathletic, lethargic contenders around. Guys like Page, Tubbs and, to some degree, Witherspoon had a lot of talent but ddn't seem to be dedicated to the sport. Tyson started blowing out the old fighters and it was very very exciting.
During this time Witherspoon was the one guy I didn't want Tyson to face. Tim had a very decent chin, good defensive skills an excellent jab and had no fear. he was the one fighter I who thought could extend Tyson.
Tim got blown out by Smith on the 3 KD rule. I've wathced the fight (I mean the round) a number of times and Witherspoon doesn't look out of it as such. It was a big shock and credit to Smith for taking his opportunity.
Anyway, if Tim had trained hard, lost some of that siftness around the middle and had a game plan he could have beaten Tyson. I'd pick Mike in a match up but I think it would have been the most competitive fight he ever won.
During this time Witherspoon was the one guy I didn't want Tyson to face. Tim had a very decent chin, good defensive skills an excellent jab and had no fear. he was the one fighter I who thought could extend Tyson.
Tim got blown out by Smith on the 3 KD rule. I've wathced the fight (I mean the round) a number of times and Witherspoon doesn't look out of it as such. It was a big shock and credit to Smith for taking his opportunity.
Anyway, if Tim had trained hard, lost some of that siftness around the middle and had a game plan he could have beaten Tyson. I'd pick Mike in a match up but I think it would have been the most competitive fight he ever won.
Re: Witherspoon v Tyson
They never let Tim fight him. Tim could have been an all time great.Arsenal wrote:Why did this fight never take place? I suppose most people will say Tyson would have won easy but I'm not too sure. What do people think? I think the fight would have gone the distance!
I'd favour Tyson, but Tim could have beaten him.
Tony would have beant Tyson if he would have done every rounbd like the first. He got too comfy and let his balls take him into an inside fight. Tony wasn't affraid of Mike, he was willing to mix it up inside, which is not Tony Tubbs' fight. Tony would have defeated Tyson if he boxed him like he did in the first.
-
Syntax Error
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 9007
- Joined: 22 Apr 2005, 08:00
Re: Witherspoon v Tyson
It would have happened in March 1987 if Spoon hadn't of had his buttocks spanked Boneclutcher Smith in Dec 1986.Arsenal wrote:Why did this fight never take place? I suppose most people will say Tyson would have won easy but I'm not too sure. What do people think? I think the fight would have gone the distance!
I always felt that Witherspoon was the one guy that could have given the prime Tyson a decent scrap. His overhand Right was a peach of a punch & it was that same punch that Boneclutcher stunned Tyson with in the last 10 secs of their snorefest in '87. Tyson finished that fight tottering on his feet. If Witherspoon had of landed that punch, it might have shocked the world.
To say an average heavyweight like Buster Douglas would beat Tyson was probably absurd too... but crazy shit happens..shyguy wrote:it dosent matter who fought tyson in his prime he would of still beaten them saying average heavyweights such as witherspoon and tubbs could of beaten tyson is absurd .
-
BrocktonBlockbuster49
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 4900
- Joined: 29 May 2005, 00:32
Buster Douglas was far from an average heavyweight. He was immensely talented but lacked the dedication and motivation to become truly great. If Douglas trained for every fight like he did against Tyson, he would have sported an undefeated record.cybox wrote:To say an average heavyweight like Buster Douglas would beat Tyson was probably absurd too... but crazy shit happens..shyguy wrote:it dosent matter who fought tyson in his prime he would of still beaten them saying average heavyweights such as witherspoon and tubbs could of beaten tyson is absurd .![]()
Everyone saw the potential and the skill, but unfortunately everyone also saw his poor mindset.
FYI: Douglas whips Tubbs any day of the week. Tubbs was a poster boy for Weight Watchers even back then. He didn't get past the second round with Tyson because Tyson knocked him the hell out. Who cares how well he boxed in the first round? He couldn't take Tyson's punches and exited the fight early.
Last edited by evndrbsn on 17 Nov 2005, 23:06, edited 1 time in total.
Yeah he was scared of Tony but not Tyson, very viable.cybox wrote:Buster was scared shitless of Tony's skills. I've seen the 2 box each other before.BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:buster douglas that night would have taken tony tubbs to school
. Tony would have defeated Tyson if he boxed him like he did in the first.
Dude do you have any idea how the game works. Sure Douglas is gonna climb into the ring for $1 million to fight Tyson, hell, you or I would but he wouldn't garner that much vs Tubbs and he knows Tony is too slick for him, It's been done to him before. It doesnt mean he's scared or not scared, it means he would fight whomever they threw in front of him for whatever money cause he was broke and bound to a contract with Johnson to fight. What else is he gonna do skip out on a 6 figure purse to tote carpet around and sit at home in Columbus and watch someone else take the fight. He wouldnt want to fight Tubbs becuase he knows he would get out boxed just like he had done to him before for the amount of money he would have made and risked a bigger purse. Hell, they tried to get Tubbs and Douglas to fight before. Tubbs was all for it but James bawlked pricing himself out...why?...cause he knew he would lose...evndrbsn wrote:Yeah he was scared of Tony but not Tyson, very viable.cybox wrote:Buster was scared shitless of Tony's skills. I've seen the 2 box each other before.BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:buster douglas that night would have taken tony tubbs to school