50 yr OLD TIM WITHERSPOON MAKING A COMEBACK IN THE UK

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 09:42

Sorry i dont have the link but the ageing Spoon has been sparring with Pele Reid and a couple of others. Hes convinced he'll be fighting over here in the next month or two.

Apart from being suicidal, am i alone in thinking a man of Spoons age will never get a licence to box in England. No way, no how.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:16

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2233- ... eback.html

He would beat most British heavys, even now.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:21

Hmmm. I know you're a big fan of Tim Ian, but do you really think so?

I personally I think a 50 year old man has no business being in the ring, former heavyweight champ or not.

Maybe he could beat Audley, but what kind of shape can Tim be in, or get into these days.

PompeyScot · Post by **PompeyScot** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:23

To be fair to Witherspoon, by the sounds of things he's not looking for title fights or anything like that. I get the impression that it would basically be 'exhibition' fights under a competitive umbrella.

I agree though, I still think he'd beat the majority of the British heavies, even now

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:24

He looked spent after rd 1 v Lou Savarese and that was in 2002. (and now even Lou is ancient, to put things into even more perspective)

As for beating Audley.... in his last fight Tim dropped a SD to Brian Nix, who Fraudly subsequently rolled over in 3 rds, without breaking a sweat.

Tims one of my all time faves, but he is totally shot. The idea of Pele hitting this 50 yr old single parent in the head is frightening.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:28

Know what you are saying. Let me put it to you though - could Big Tim beat British top ten heavy Mark Krence?

Mind you, if he was gone after a round in 02, maybe not!

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:40

If you would listen to FinalFight, the Spoon was on a level with Eshira Evans...

Dunno what he could honestly do at 50 yrs of age but he has forgotten more then the likes of Reid will ever know..

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:44

Tim was a great defensive fighter in his day, I'd rather he pass on that much needed skill to our current generation of horizontal heavyweights than see him getting his brains scrambled.

Is Tim skint? I cannot imagine why else he'd be lacing them up at 50. If it's for exhibition bouts, then fair enough, no real harm in that, but I would hate to see him in a serious competitive bout.

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:48

I was there and he did 9 rounds at a decent pace.Hes still has moves and is totally relaxed in there.If he can get past the medicals (he has his us stuff)the board might ask him to do a trial bout in the gym and if he works like he did yesterday i could see them passing him.Tim doesnt want 12 round fights against top opposistion but 6 rounds fights against the lower grade fighter who is outside the top ten.

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:51

Terence wrote:I am a 'Spoon fan and as long as there is no chance of him being battered about the ring by some fellow I'll be trying to get to the fight, if he has one.

I can guarantee the match will be just what is needed for the big man,your right he doesnt need to be jumping in with some super fit young athlete who is on top of his game.This wont be happining.

Podmore_Birmingham · Post by **Podmore_Birmingham** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:57

Tim went at a fair lick against the three heavyweights yesterday. He caught Pele a few times and stiffened his legs in the third-round of sparring. It was great experience for young Alex Ibbs, who really tried to beat Tim up. But Witherspoon took the shots well and is being pencilled in to fight on July 1.

Tom Podmore.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:00

The problem is any of these young journeymen are gonna raise their game and fight their heart out to get Tims scalp on their CV.

At 50 its going to be very hard work for him. How about guys like Spoon and Tubbs TRAINING fighters?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:01

That is sparring though, we all know that is not the same as a competitive fight.

It's great experience for the lads no doubt, and Tim was a great boxer in his prime, with loads of tricks and tips, I just shudder at the thought of 50 year old in competitive fights.

Just because two blokes are past their primes, doesn't mean they cannot hurt one another badly.

Still, it's Tim's life I spose, but I would be surprised if the board sanction this one.

Anyone know out of interest who the oldest fighter in the UK is who is currently campaigning?

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:03

Utter madness imo, Holmes and Foreman could get away with fighting at a late age but they are the exception to the rule... Tims been shot for ages and should look at what happened to Greg Page.... if he's only going to be fighting exhibitions or six rounders you wonder what the point of it is as there won't be much money in fights like that... also you can still get hurt in a 6 rounder... look at what happened to Jerry Quarry.... concentrate on training young fighters Tim and keep your health...

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:06

Holmes and Foreman adapted with age and became more crafty guys defensively. Spoon is the same old come forward power puncher. He looked devastating for 1 rd v Savarese (he very nearly iced Lou with 1 punch!) but when Savarese started hitting back in rd 2 Spoon had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Anyone involved in helping Tim get fights should be shot.

I hope he is not licenced.

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:10

I couldn't agree more and I'm 100% sure the BBB of C will put the block on it.

The idiot who agreed to promote a Witherspoon fight needs his licence revoked

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:13

overhand_right wrote:Holmes and Foreman adapted with age and became more crafty guys defensively. Spoon is the same old come forward power puncher. He looked devastating for 1 rd v Savarese (he very nearly iced Lou with 1 punch!) but when Savarese started hitting back in rd 2 Spoon had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Anyone involved in helping Tim get fights should be shot.

I hope he is not licenced.

I think to call Tim a come forward power puncher is a bit off. Tim was a crafy old bugger in his prime, but at 50, his reflexes ain't going to be what they were and he's going to be vulnerable to getting whacked.

As you say exhibitions aren't going to earn him a fortune, so he's going to be in with someone who is punching him back with bad intentions, or at least hitting with some real force.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:13

Looking halfway decent in sparring is a whole different ball game to real fights, and lets be honest here Pele Reid is hardly world class is he... I would expect spoon to still be able to handle himself in the gymn against the likes of Reid, but to go from there to competitive fighting is a dangerous leap... so many stories like this year in year out, when are boxing promoters and authorities going to stop fighters from wringing out the last drops of blood from their bodies...

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:16

Podmore_Birmingham wrote:Tim went at a fair lick against the three heavyweights yesterday. He caught Pele a few times and stiffened his legs in the third-round of sparring. It was great experience for young Alex Ibbs, who really tried to beat Tim up. But Witherspoon took the shots well and is being pencilled in to fight on July 1.

Tom Podmore.

Wow. Unless Ibbs has improved greatly in recent months I would have thought even a 50 yr old Spoon would have mullered him in sparring - the kid is as raw a novice as they come.. I am surprised he could even land a shot on the aged Yank.

Still, as you say Tom a priceless experience - Tim must have a wealth of knowledge to share.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:19

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
overhand_right wrote:Holmes and Foreman adapted with age and became more crafty guys defensively. Spoon is the same old come forward power puncher. He looked devastating for 1 rd v Savarese (he very nearly iced Lou with 1 punch!) but when Savarese started hitting back in rd 2 Spoon had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Anyone involved in helping Tim get fights should be shot.

I hope he is not licenced.
I think to call Tim a come forward power puncher is a bit off. Tim was a crafy old bugger in his prime, but at 50, his reflexes ain't going to be what they were and he's going to be vulnerable to getting whacked.

As you say exhibitions aren't going to earn him a fortune, so he's going to be in with someone who is punching him back with bad intentions, or at least hitting with some real force.

I know what he means though, ...Tim wasnt a mover like Holmes or a huge power puncher like Foreman... he had a bit of everything but wasnt exceptional in any particular area, ...cute but still used to take his fair share of punishment... at this stage he would be a sitting duck for punches and his decent chin will make sure that he doesnt get blown out quickly... = recipe for disarster...

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 12 Apr 2007, 11:24

Should Tim even be taking punches in the gym from these young men??... I hope he's wearing a head gaurd for the good it will do him. Its ironic really as I remember in the early 80s reading about a young Witherspoon sparring with Ali (after Ali's last fight) now Tim is the old guy chasing memories against guys young enough to be his sons...

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 12 Apr 2007, 12:26

I really have my doubts the BBBofC will let a 50 year old Tim Witherspoon fight in the UK. They would be taking a massive gamble but not as much as Timmy will with his health.

Earnie Shavers is having an exhibition next month maybe Witherspoon could join him?

Witherspoon was always a very clever fighter with a bitch of a right hand but was usually not very dedicated when it came to training and was always blowing his money.

Having said that I always quite liked the guy, but entering the ring at 50 is a crazy idea.

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 12 Apr 2007, 12:26

Yeh head guard and big gloves also two minute rounds.Ritchie Woodhall does not let wars happen in sparring the gym either.

Grilling Machine · Post by **Grilling Machine** » 12 Apr 2007, 17:30

Richie's involved in training now? I thought he was on some amateur committee?

Top Dog · Post by **Top Dog** » 12 Apr 2007, 17:40

Tim has been taking a lot of flack on this thread aint he

But lets be honest here guys, is he wants to have 6 round fights with guys outside the top 10, I think that's fair enough. He still looks in pretty good nick, and he's got a wise head on him, I'm sure he could teach a thing or 10 to some of the so called prospects we have!!

If Foreman can fight for a world title at 45 or 46 whatever it was, then a 6 rounder against a sub top ten fighter over here cant exactly be any harder now can it?
As long as he's not taking mad full blown shots all day long he would do ok, hell he might even surprise a few guys. Either way I'm sure he'll know if he's still got it after the very first back, he aint going to let shit guys batter him, too proud for that.