Heavyweights : Ken Norton vs. Tim Witherspoon

[Woldemar]

Who would win and why ?

IMO Norton by close decision.

[goose 5]

Norton by decision. Good fight.

[oogiebe]

Norton easily by decision. The only exception is Terrible Tim landing that overhand right which Norton was susceptible to.

[Ambling Alp II]

Witherspoon didn't have anywhere the power that Foreman and Shavers did. Norton could take his shots. More likely that Norton stops Witherspoon.
Norton was a simply a better fighter. Not a complete one-sided beat down, but Norton would win this.

[oogiebe]

Witherspoon didn't have anywhere the power that Foreman and Shavers did. Norton could take his shots. More likely that Norton stops Witherspoon.
Norton was a simply a better fighter. Not a complete one-sided beat down, but Norton would win this.

Norton got knocked out by Jose Luis Garcia and knocked down by others earlier in his career. Not sure he can take Tim's big shots. But I agree he wins.

[Ambling Alp II]

Norton wasn't the fighter he would later become in the Garcia fight. The rematch with Garcia is on Youtube, and Norton totally dominated him. Norton took everything Quarry, Ali, and Holmes could throw at him. The Norton didn't have a good chin line is a myth.
Norton was a better boxer and had more power than Withersppon. Witherspoon had several subpar performances himself.

[oogiebe]

Norton wasn't the fighter he would later become in the Garcia fight. The rematch with Garcia is on Youtube, and Norton totally dominated him. Norton took everything Quarry, Ali, and Holmes could throw at him. The Norton didn't have a good chin line is a myth.
Norton was a better boxer and had more power than Withersppon. Witherspoon had several subpar performances himself.

Didn't say he had a bad chin. This comp is prime vs prime; best vs best. To dismiss Tim's overhand right makes little sense. Again Norton would win, but in 10 bouts, Witherspoon would get to him.

[Ambling Alp II]

If they fought 10 times, sure Witherspoon would have won once or twice. Agree with that.

Always thought Witherspoon's big right was overrated.
He had all these close fights with guys from his era (Tubbs, Snipes, Williams, Page, Thomas, Smith, Bruno) yet is always given this status that he doesn't seem to deserve.

[oogiebe]

If they fought 10 times, sure Witherspoon would have won once or twice. Agree with that.

Always thought Witherspoon's big right was overrated.
He had all these close fights with guys from his era (Tubbs, Snipes, Williams, Page, Thomas, Smith, Bruno) yet is always given this status that he doesn't seem to deserve.

For me it's only that big right hand. I don't disagree with you at all.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Both 100% READY I gotta go with Terrible Tim who in my opinion is one of the most under-rated heavyweight's from recent memory this would be a Classic Boxing match Norton would force Witherspoon to pull out all stops with Tims hand raised after 15 round's to win by Split Dec.

[jamamb]

interesting you call spoon underrated, id say hes more on the overrated side, as peple tend to talk about him using a hypothetical spoon who is 110 percent and fully up for it, rather then the strongly talented but lazy, lacklustre and questionably motivated spoon who so often showed himself

[overhand_right]

Norton was green and cutting corners when Garcia beat him up. Witherspoon can punch but he isn't in the same league as Shavers, Cooney, Foreman. Can only see Norton winning a 15 round decision. The Timmy who fought Holmes was sublime but he never dug deep in any fight, whereas Norton always fought to the absolute limit, giving it his all.

[oogiebe]

interesting you call spoon underrated, id say hes more on the overrated side, as peple tend to talk about him using a hypothetical spoon who is 110 percent and fully up for it, rather then the strongly talented but lazy, lacklustre and questionably motivated spoon who so often showed himself

Terrible Tim was a one trick pony. I agree with this post.

[Tony1244]

Norton pounds out a hard fought but somewhat convincing decision. First half very close and Ken picks up momentum in the 2nd half of fight.

[DrDuke]

Norton simply was a better boxer. I'd pick Ken to win.