Tim Witherspoon Vs Lennox Lewis 1992

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 22 Oct 2007, 20:14

Ok Lets say that as the HW picture was in late 1992, that these two men
ended up facing one another. Lewis who was slowly finding himself working out just who he was inside of that ring, fresh of his KO over Ruddock.

Witherspoon, no longer that young upstart of the early 1980s, now a seasoned pro, fearful of slipping into HW oblivion, a hero of the alphabet days, but a mere contender by the early 1990s.

How do you see it and who takes it...

Kym

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 22 Oct 2007, 20:23

I see the Witherspoon who fought Holmes knocking Lennox out.

But the chubbier 1992 version?? I'm not sure. But Lewis at this time was still a little green. Hmmm, I see it as 50/50.

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 23 Oct 2007, 05:37

Witherspoon was kinda hit and miss in that era, I am certain that
he would have been in some what good shape for him, at that time
vs Lewis. Lennox however was still developing his pro style and
was making alot of mistakes, which would be revealed later vs McCall.

I think Lewis wins, however should Witherspoon set up the over hand right
as opposed to lob it as a principal weapon if he can set a trap or fight clever for a few rounds, then I think he KOs Lewis with that booming right.

Otherwise Lennox wins a decision that see's him paw away with his jab, measure Witherspoon tentatively with his right. Throw single shots, not to many combos. When Witherspoon does come to fight him Lennox clinches and wins the fight this way, by surviving.

Kym

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 23 Oct 2007, 06:39

This would have been a tricky fight and potential banana skin at this stage of Lewis' career. Lewis would realise this and be quite cagy, he would have big advantage in speed at this stage, enough to get a pretty clear points decision win over Terrible Tim. Lewis' complacency against McCall and Rahman cost him the fights rather than an inherent chin problem

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 23 Oct 2007, 10:13

dr_devious wrote:This would have been a tricky fight and potential banana skin at this stage of Lewis' career. Lewis would realise this and be quite cagy, he would have big advantage in speed at this stage, enough to get a pretty clear points decision win over Terrible Tim. Lewis' complacency against McCall and Rahman cost him the fights rather than an inherent chin problem

How was Lewis "complacent" vs McCall?? He came in the fight in shape, and was fighting his usual fight, and got caught.

However, the more I think about it, I realize Tim by then was fairly slow, and I think the difference in speed and movement will make the clear difference. Lewis UD 12.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 23 Oct 2007, 16:08

dempseyfire wrote:
dr_devious wrote:This would have been a tricky fight and potential banana skin at this stage of Lewis' career. Lewis would realise this and be quite cagy, he would have big advantage in speed at this stage, enough to get a pretty clear points decision win over Terrible Tim. Lewis' complacency against McCall and Rahman cost him the fights rather than an inherent chin problem
How was Lewis "complacent" vs McCall?? He came in the fight in shape, and was fighting his usual fight, and got caught.

However, the more I think about it, I realize Tim by then was fairly slow, and I think the difference in speed and movement will make the clear difference. Lewis UD 12.

Yes, Lewis was well trained for the first McCall fight, but his complacency led to him being caught by a bomb by an opponent he should have dominated, and did in the rematch (although the rematch featured a decidedly dodgy McCall).

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 23 Oct 2007, 17:39

Tim by KO inside 5 oe Lewis by decision.

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 23 Oct 2007, 17:54

dr_devious wrote:
dempseyfire wrote:
dr_devious wrote:This would have been a tricky fight and potential banana skin at this stage of Lewis' career. Lewis would realise this and be quite cagy, he would have big advantage in speed at this stage, enough to get a pretty clear points decision win over Terrible Tim. Lewis' complacency against McCall and Rahman cost him the fights rather than an inherent chin problem
How was Lewis "complacent" vs McCall?? He came in the fight in shape, and was fighting his usual fight, and got caught.

However, the more I think about it, I realize Tim by then was fairly slow, and I think the difference in speed and movement will make the clear difference. Lewis UD 12.
Yes, Lewis was well trained for the first McCall fight, but his complacency led to him being caught by a bomb by an opponent he should have dominated, and did in the rematch (although the rematch featured a decidedly dodgy McCall).

By that logic every fighter who ever gets knocked out was being "complacent" . . .Lewis ran into a punch b/c his defence was open and was hurt bad because his chin was breakable, period.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 24 Oct 2007, 07:00

dempseyfire wrote:
dr_devious wrote:
dempseyfire wrote: How was Lewis "complacent" vs McCall?? He came in the fight in shape, and was fighting his usual fight, and got caught.

However, the more I think about it, I realize Tim by then was fairly slow, and I think the difference in speed and movement will make the clear difference. Lewis UD 12.
Yes, Lewis was well trained for the first McCall fight, but his complacency led to him being caught by a bomb by an opponent he should have dominated, and did in the rematch (although the rematch featured a decidedly dodgy McCall).
By that logic every fighter who ever gets knocked out was being "complacent" . . .Lewis ran into a punch b/c his defence was open and was hurt bad because his chin was breakable, period.

Lewis avenged both his defeats mercilessly, he was clearly a far superior fighter to McCall and Rahman. The manner of both defeats and utterly conclusive revenge victories lead me to believe he didnt take McCall or Rahman seriously in the first fights. And the McCall stoppage was quick, he might have been able to recover

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 24 Oct 2007, 10:47

dr_devious wrote:
dempseyfire wrote:
dr_devious wrote: Yes, Lewis was well trained for the first McCall fight, but his complacency led to him being caught by a bomb by an opponent he should have dominated, and did in the rematch (although the rematch featured a decidedly dodgy McCall).
By that logic every fighter who ever gets knocked out was being "complacent" . . .Lewis ran into a punch b/c his defence was open and was hurt bad because his chin was breakable, period.
Lewis avenged both his defeats mercilessly, he was clearly a far superior fighter to McCall and Rahman. The manner of both defeats and utterly conclusive revenge victories lead me to believe he didnt take McCall or Rahman seriously in the first fights. And the McCall stoppage was quick, he might have been able to recover

Mercilessly??? The McCall rematch saw Lewis staring at a crying man in the ring not throwing punches . . I would say that's as close to "mercy" as you'll get in boxing!

RazorKO · Post by **RazorKO** » 26 Oct 2007, 10:27

Lewis most probably will jab n grab his way to outpoint an unmotivated 1992 Witherspoon.

The Witherspoon who fought Holmes however knocks out Lewis in 5 rounds or less. I also see Witherspoon who knocked out Bruno back in 86 giving Lewis a run for his money; Lewis simply cant handle fighters who can stand up to his blows and force him back (i.e Holyfield, Mercer and Klitschko) And Witherspoon had a cast iron chin. Terrible Tim can take Lewis' punches, but Lewis wouldnt have a chance in hell in standing up to Witherspoon's famed overhand right.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 26 Oct 2007, 10:51

RazorKO wrote:...Lewis simply cant handle fighters who can stand up to his blows and force him back (i.e Holyfield, Mercer and Klitschko)...

Ahem. He did beat all three of those guys.

RazorKO · Post by **RazorKO** » 26 Oct 2007, 11:31

The Great John L wrote:
RazorKO wrote:...Lewis simply cant handle fighters who can stand up to his blows and force him back (i.e Holyfield, Mercer and Klitschko)...
Ahem. He did beat all three of those guys.

With the utmost extreme difficulty. I personally thought Mercer and Holyfield in the rematch whooped him, Mercer won 7 of the ten rounds and Holyfield neutralized his jab winning 8 of the 12.

Evander · Post by **Evander** » 27 Oct 2007, 03:24

Lennox Lewis would have knocked Tim Witherspoon out that year.

Heartbreak_Kid79 · Post by **Heartbreak_Kid79** » 09 Nov 2007, 04:30

RazorKO wrote:
The Great John L wrote:
RazorKO wrote:...Lewis simply cant handle fighters who can stand up to his blows and force him back (i.e Holyfield, Mercer and Klitschko)...
Ahem. He did beat all three of those guys.
With the utmost extreme difficulty. I personally thought Mercer and Holyfield in the rematch whooped him, Mercer won 7 of the ten rounds and Holyfield neutralized his jab winning 8 of the 12.

granted Lewis-Mercer was very close- (though its the usual Lennox haters who tend to bring up the Mercer won theory) but Lewis outjabbed Holyfield in their rematch, months later a swell of opinion (Stateside I must add) suggested Holy won some kind of moral victory despite being well beaten. HBO scored lewis well ahead (granted lewis was contracted to them) but the extremely biased DonKing productions coverage scored it a draw- even their bias couldn't score a win for Evander.

Heartbreak_Kid79 · Post by **Heartbreak_Kid79** » 09 Nov 2007, 04:37

Getting to the topic at hand: 1992 was the same year Lewis blitzed Ruddock- who was a more dangerous opponent than a 35year old Witherspoon. In fact Lewis also beat the top10 rated Gary Mason in 1991, so although pre-prime, Lewis was still a decent fighter at c1992 and ranked in the top 3 HW's.
Lewis KO's Witherspoon midrounds

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 09 Nov 2007, 06:02

Decagon wrote:
RazorKO wrote:
The Great John L wrote: Ahem. He did beat all three of those guys.
With the utmost extreme difficulty. I personally thought Mercer and Holyfield in the rematch whooped him, Mercer won 7 of the ten rounds and Holyfield neutralized his jab winning 8 of the 12.
What you think doesn't matter, because you are clearly biased against Lewis, and because you're a total idiot. Didn't you once rate Carry Coetzie as one of the top 20 heavyweights of all time?

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 09 Nov 2007, 07:36

I'll give Tim the benefit of the doubt and assuming he'd be in shape and focused.

He'd still lost some of the physical gifts but it would still be a tough proposition for Lewis.

I think Lewis found stout chinned opponents very tricky. Mercer, Holyfield (II) and McCall all caused Lewis problems because they were there for the night. Lewis seemed to realise this and when put in with Tua managed to stick to a game plan that saw him through. I'd imagine Witherspoon with his chin and defence could also see the fight out which means at some point he would have some success.

I think Lewis would win a clear decision if he can avoid taking too many of Tim's right hands.

donnellon · Post by **donnellon** » 09 Nov 2007, 08:43

Lewis to win if he doesn't lose!

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 09 Nov 2007, 11:20

Heartbreak_Kid79 wrote:
RazorKO wrote:
The Great John L wrote: Ahem. He did beat all three of those guys.
With the utmost extreme difficulty. I personally thought Mercer and Holyfield in the rematch whooped him, Mercer won 7 of the ten rounds and Holyfield neutralized his jab winning 8 of the 12.
granted Lewis-Mercer was very close- (though its the usual Lennox haters who tend to bring up the Mercer won theory) but Lewis outjabbed Holyfield in their rematch, months later a swell of opinion (Stateside I must add) suggested Holy won some kind of moral victory despite being well beaten. HBO scored lewis well ahead (granted lewis was contracted to them) but the extremely biased DonKing productions coverage scored it a draw- even their bias couldn't score a win for Evander.

No, the Sheridan-King production team scored it a 8-4 for Holyfield.

I personally had it 6-5-1 for Holyfield, which I don't see as a biased score anyway you slice it. THe majority of ringside observers had Holyfield winning. Lederman's scorecard was crap.