Foreman vs Witherspoon 1990

[Mukel]

What if these two fought back in 1990, both past there primes,
but still respectivley fighting at a some what competetive level,
im thinking big george as he went on to win the world title some years later, and had much more left in the tank at his advanced age, but what do you guys think?

[oliverfennell]

Agree with that. Spoon was faster and still had his big right, but I think Foreman could have soaked it up and dropped the bomb sooner or later.

[dempseyfire]

Bad matchup for old George. Witherspoon had a great chin and his jab and body punching would see him pull it out on points.

[bollox]

Bad matchup for old George. Witherspoon had a great chin and his jab and body punching would see him pull it out on points.

Agreed wit this. I doubt very much that George wanted anything to do with a still too dangerous Spoon

[Goodnight, Irene]

Two votes for George & two for Tim, & that indicates this is a tough call that will divide opinions. I'm rather divided myself on this one. Foreman in 1990 was probably about as good as he was going to get during his comeback. The question is does anyone think Witherspoon could knock Foreman out? He had a great right hand but Foreman proved himself to be impossibly tough for such an old athlete, so Witherspoon will probably have to do it on points, & he is capable.

I really don't know who to side with. This may've required more than one meeting to decide who was superior in 1990.

[Robinson]

In 1990 this would have been a BIG step up in Comp for Foreman. He has the experience, size and tools to give Witherspoon a tough night. But I think in 1990, as up and down as he is. Witherspoon beats Foreman.

Having said that however I think the Foreman that absorbed all that Holyfield had in 1991, would most likely have enough to get the nod over Witherspoon.

This is a tough call and would be an interesting fight.

Kym

[energie]

george avoided spoon and ruddock and for good reason

[The Great John L]

george avoided spoon and ruddock and for good reason

And Tubbs, Tucker, Tillis, Norris, Hunter and anyone else who didn't hold a title and knew how to fight.

[Syntax Error]

I'd say Witherspoon by UD.

Foreman would have been way too slow & although his physical strength & power were unmatched, a focused & fit Witherspoon isn't getting knocked out by anybody.

[Bodyshot3]

This is a great thread because the key is the timing of this fight..

.........they're both, broadly speaking, fighting the same level of reasonably respectable, useful and fringe-contender opposition in 1990 with Foreman fighting a fragile Cooney and the so-so Rodrigues and Witherspoon fighting Ribalta and the talented but erratic Jeff Sims.

But Foreman is the man set to go on proverbial charge and will go onto win a world title again and beat Moorer, Coetzer, Schultz and Alex Stewart. He'll also go the distance with Holyfield and Morrison.

Witherspoon would go on to have some wins himself, against Carl Williams and Gonzalez, but the loss to the pretty average Martin and Mercer suggested he was on the wane.

1990 is a real tipping-point for both of these guys. Foreman is back and fighting well and stepped up the level of his opposition and Witherspoon is far from finished.

I'll take Foreman based on his punching power, ability not to get messed around by Tim and the fact that he is broadly speaking in the slighter better form.

[drunkenpiper36]

Back in 1990 I wondered what would happen if this fight actually happened, but I don't think Foreman's camp wanted anything to do with Witherspoon. He was a high risk - Low reward type of proposition at that point. Tim was doing well under new management, keeping busy and fighting opposition that ranged from average to somewhat respectable, as was George. Neither man had much speed at that point. Both had reasonably good chins and a lot of power ( though George probably still hit harder. ) I am inclined to agreeing with those who already said that Spoon might squeak out a close decision in a 10 rounder. Foreman's cross armed defense would prevent some of those over hand rights of Tim's from hitting the button, but Witherspoon would also be going down stairs and had a pretty good defense himself. Its a hard fight to judge and could have gone either way, but if forced to choose I'll take Terrible Tim on the cards.

[drunkenpiper36]

This is a great thread because the key is the timing of this fight..

.........they're both, broadly speaking, fighting the same level of reasonably respectable, useful and fringe-contender opposition in 1990 with Foreman fighting a fragile Cooney and the so-so Rodrigues and Witherspoon fighting Ribalta and the talented but erratic Jeff Sims.

But Foreman is the man set to go on proverbial charge and will go onto win a world title again and beat Moorer, Coetzer, Schultz and Alex Stewart. He'll also go the distance with Holyfield and Morrison.

Witherspoon would go on to have some wins himself, against Carl Williams and Gonzalez, but the loss to the pretty average Martin and Mercer suggested he was on the wane.

1990 is a real tipping-point for both of these guys. Foreman is back and fighting well and stepped up the level of his opposition and Witherspoon is far from finished.

I'll take Foreman based on his punching power, ability not to get messed around by Tim and the fact that he is broadly speaking in the slighter better form.

Good post and a very real possibility. I took Tim by narrow decision, but have no problem with Foreman being the favorite either.

[BoxBuzz]

I would agree that Spoon was just too much risk for Foreman who was far more mapping out a way to the championship, than attempting to fight all the best contenders.

However......

If Spoon had the/a championship in 1990 (lol...ok my brain is fried...I don't think he did in that year right?) ....I think Foreman would have a better than even chance to have rested it from him. But why chance it if that's not the guy with the belt? He had the option of cherry picking his fights. Dumb not to do exactly that. Sometimes it's about the path leading to the destination. And one does not need to stop at every corner along the way.

[Tuan_Jim]

Why should Foreman fight the guy Moorer, Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson, Morrison, Mercer, Seldon Ruddock et al diclined to fight?

On the other hand, people using the Bigfoot and Mercer results against Tim are so misinformed its astonishing.

[drunkenpiper36]

Tuanjim permanently ignored for being dull....

[Dart340]

You have my attention. How can one "misapply" losing to punching bag Bigfoot Martin?

It is also noteworthy that the Witherspoon of this era was squeaking out life and death decisions over the likes of Larry Alexander and Jose Ribalta- guys that Foreman would've disposed of like a plate of cold cuts at a picnic.

[Tuan_Jim]

You have my attention. How can one "misapply" losing to punching bag Bigfoot Martin?

Because he won the fight and the judges gave it to Bigfoot.

It is also noteworthy that the Witherspoon of this era was squeaking out life and death decisions over the likes of Larry Alexander and Jose Ribalta- guys that Foreman would've disposed of like a plate of cold cuts at a picnic.

'Life and death' over Jose Ribalta? Sounds like more than one person on this thread is talking about fights they haven't seen.

[The Great John L]

It is also noteworthy that the Witherspoon of this era was squeaking out life and death decisions over the likes of Larry Alexander and Jose Ribalta- guys that Foreman would've disposed of like a plate of cold cuts at a picnic.

Of course George didn't actually fight those guys.

[drunkenpiper36]

You have my attention. How can one "misapply" losing to punching bag Bigfoot Martin?

It is also noteworthy that the Witherspoon of this era was squeaking out life and death decisions over the likes of Larry Alexander and Jose Ribalta- guys that Foreman would've disposed of like a plate of cold cuts at a picnic.

I saw witherspoon fight Martin more than 20 years ago on USA tuesday night fights. I don't remember much about it, but it was a close fight. Could have gone either way. But anyway that match happened two years after the proposed meeting date for Foreman on this thread, so in 1990 anything could have happened.