Tim Witherspoon's greatest performance: When was it ?

[goose 5]

Imo, it was the fight against Holmes. That night, I think Tim beats a peak Pinklon Thomas.

[Onetimeonly]

You're obviously correct. An underrated performance is when he clearly beat Mercer and got rooked.

[Seamus]

He was way past his best for the Mercer fight, but Yes, I thought he clearly won. If I remember right, I don't think any of the commentators thought it was a bad decision.

[Woldemar]

Against Holmes and Mercer.

[Syntax Error]

He was brilliant against Mercer and he was almost 40 at the time.

Felt really sorry for him getting jobbed like that after such a performance.

[bigjack]

Definitely Holmes

[Onetimeonly]

He was way past his best for the Mercer fight, but Yes, I thought he clearly won. If I remember right, I don't think any of the commentators thought it was a bad decision.

Don't recall, I think it was under bowe/golota 2. Great card.

[drunkenpiper36]

I agree with the Holmes fight. I actually think he should have gotten the decision that night. Another performance which comes to mind was when he KO’d Anders Ecklund. Granted Ecklund was a journeyman but it was such a picture perfect over hand right knockout

[DrDuke]

Holmes bout was a great effort, but he lost there. Against Mercer he was robbed. Probably those two were the best despite being losses on paper.

[Woldemar]

He was good against Jorge Luis Gonzalez.

[DrDuke]

He was good against Jorge Luis Gonzalez.

Yeah, that also was a great performance and KO.

[Woldemar]

Also good perfomances was against Quick Tillis,James Broad.

[Bodyshot3]

Good at Wembley Stadium as well against Bruno...…..

……..that was a very tough road fight with +40,000 home fans to contend with and a huge build-up as well. In terms of having to deal with something altogether different-hostile it was Tim's biggest test at that juncture.

I've watched the fight a few times and although Frank was too one-paced and predictable - he was in incredible shape and he did hit Tim with some clean, heavy shots - but Tim was very calm and composed in a difficult place.

[Ambling Alp II]

I agree with the Holmes fight. I actually think he should have gotten the decision that night. Another performance which comes to mind was when he KO’d Anders Ecklund. Granted Ecklund was a journeyman but it was such a picture perfect over hand right knockout

Always tough to compare a close fight performance against a great fighter against an easy win over someone not nearly as good.
Given his age, the performances against Gonzalez and Mercer were pretty impressive, but not as good if you throw out the age factor.
Thought both the Holmes fight and the Mercer fight should have been a draw.

[AntonioMartin]

Apart from the ones mentioned, his fights versus Tony Tubbs, Frank Bruno (a monster of almost Tyson-like mythic proportions at the era sans ko loss to James Smith) and against the aforementioned Smith in their first bout were very good wins and performances for the Terrible man who wasn't that "terrible" at all! (in the good sense of the sentence that last sentence is meant to be!)

[drunkenpiper36]

I agree with the Holmes fight. I actually think he should have gotten the decision that night. Another performance which comes to mind was when he KO’d Anders Ecklund. Granted Ecklund was a journeyman but it was such a picture perfect over hand right knockout

Always tough to compare a close fight performance against a great fighter against an easy win over someone not nearly as good.
Given his age, the performances against Gonzalez and Mercer were pretty impressive, but not as good if you throw out the age factor.
Thought both the Holmes fight and the Mercer fight should have been a draw.

True and fair enough

[Petu v.d. Pajm]

vs "Quick" Tillis

[Nile4000]

Alonzo Ratliff?

[Autobarn]

Witherspoon was obviously superb against Holmes and Mercer. Excellent fights in which he showed supreme class. But some, including the judges, weren’t as impressed by his workrate, which can drop off. Holmes looked terribly out of sorts and unhinged by ‘Spoon’s style - but Larry kept punching. Mercer took wicked, noisy shots especially to the body. But never stopped putting that jab in Tim’s face.

His fight with Bruno was a great come from behind KO. Gruelling fight in which his laid back attitude to pacing and perhaps preparation forced him to have to win the hard way versus a very sharp and strong Bruno.

‘Spoon was old school and so relaxed in there. How about his beatdowns of not only Gonzalez but also Al Cole. Some feel these are masterclasses.

Heard his fight with Thomas was a really good scrap, with prime Thomas too busy and athletic for Tim albeit in hard exchanges that showcased the best of both men. I know ‘Spoon rated Thomas very highly, above Holmes in fact.