Heavyweights: Riddick Bowe vs. Tim Witherspoon

[Woldemar]

Tough call IMO.Who would won and why?

[Counter-puncher]

Best vs best, Bowe wins an excellent fight IMO, he throws and lands more and outworks Witherspoon, who does land the heavier shots and finds a real home for the overhand right.

[BoxBuzz]

I agree, and fortunately for Witherspoon, he would have a good chance of being booked for this event outside that 10 minute prime time frame. Making the fight much harder to call.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Witherspoon was a classy boxer when in top shape and with a good chin plus he had decent power Bowe style was that of a boxer/puncher he had that touch of class also and with a good chin this would have definitely went to the judge's card's the fight would see-saw with both men hurt during the fight but I could see Spoon pulling out plenty the last 2/3 round's on his toe's switching from lefty/righty throwing his excellent jab and popping Big Daddy on his way to a split dec in a classic boxing match

[Woldemar]

I think it was be a good fight.IMO Bowe would won this by close decision,maybe majority or split.

[Kalan]

The Tim Witherspoon who fought Larry Holmes beats any version of Riddick Bowe... Those great right hand counters get Bowe out of there like he did Frank Bruno.. Bowe was a wide open target like Bruno.. It's just that Holyfield lacked the size and oomph on his right hand when he faced Bowe.

I also thought Witherspoon beat Ray Mercer when Tim was 39 and Mercer was prime... Witherspoon was very lazy and inconsistent, but very talented.

[amwsnw]

Awesome fight. Two fighters who i think struggled more mentally than physically. Bowe edges it in a classic.

[elmersalsa]

Riddick Bowe was the better fighter. Tim Witherspoon was the better champion. In a prime for prime fight, I pick Big Daddy in a great fight.

[Bricks]

both guys beat Jorge luis Gonzala in identical fashion!!!

This fight could so easily have happened in 1996!!

I think Witherspoon at his best wins!!!

A modern day witherspoon free of snake KIng and with a nutritionist cleans up!! He would beat Joshua in half the time it took him to best Franklyn Bruno!!!

[sweetviolenturge]

The Tim Witherspoon who fought Larry Holmes beats any version of Riddick Bowe... Those great right hand counters get Bowe out of there like he did Frank Bruno.. Bowe was a wide open target like Bruno.. It's just that Holyfield lacked the size and oomph on his right hand when he faced Bowe.

I also thought Witherspoon beat Ray Mercer when Tim was 39 and Mercer was prime... Witherspoon was very lazy and inconsistent, but very talented.

What's up Kalan?
Something must be because I find myself agreeing with your opinions on some fairly diverse subjects here lately ( aside from your hate of Wilder, that is... ). LOL.
That's cool though, because we've had our disagreements in the past, I respect your knowledge for sure.
Including, very much so, on the matter at hand.
Bowe flamed out once he beat Holyfield that last time because, by then, he's already absorbed way too many shots. He was, as you pointed out, very easy to hit & if a fighter could survive his shots & give it back to him, Bowe was always in deep.
Witherspoon, on those occasions in which he was in shape & focused, was very difficult for anyone to deal with. With a good jab, very good power, an awkward style & his durability. Even late in his career he could still fight. Like in the aforementioned Mercer fight. Which he def won in my book too.
I like him via KO over Bowe down the stretch of a 12 rounder.
Peace.

- Jim