BoxRec

spam: What was your first big break-throught fight, where you really first impacted the boxing world?

Tim Witherspoon: The Marvin Stinson fight, my 8th pro fight in 1981 (W10). It was a real confidence builder. I beat a guy that was one of Larry Holmes’ sparring partners. He was getting ready to fight a big CBS fight – against Tex Cobb for $50,000. I stopped that opportunity. He was the first of a line that I was gonna go after.

spam: What were some memorable attempts to intimidate you in your career?

Tim Witherspoon: Only one who did that was Larry Holmes. All the other ones were intimidated by me I think. Holmes belittled me. Like he was gonna kick my butt. Didn’t work though.

spam: How did you first get into boxing? You started very late…

Tim Witherspoon: The people at a job – upper class nurses and doctors at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia – treating me like I was nothing. My mom and two brothers worked there too. They treated blacks really unfair. I said I’m not gonna live the rest of my life like this. That started me training (at age 19). http://spam.com/2016/06/14/talk ... therspoon/

Always been a fan of Tim's. That being said, I wish I could take back that click. Hate to contribute a penny to that useless douchebag.

i met tim a couple of times and he is one of the funniest nicest guys i have ever met we drank more than a few together and laughed a lot ..super cool guy.

Can't beat a bit of Witherspoon wisdom....a nice guy-class act and seems to really like it over here in the UK.
Getting dicked about by Don King at his most ruthless/devious could not have been a whole lotta fun but Tim's still coming out smiling.

Bodyshot3 wrote:Can't beat a bit of Witherspoon wisdom....a nice guy-class act and seems to really like it over here in the UK.
Getting dicked about by Don King at his most ruthless/devious could not have been a whole lotta fun but Tim's still coming out smiling.

King did them all over. But few as thoroughly as he did Tim.

I remember the Bonecrusher Smith fight.

Interesting to consider how in boxing one man's worst experience can be another man's best.

King did them all over. But few as thoroughly as he did Tim.

Very true....you do kind of suspect that someone like Thomas Hauser is sitting on a mother lode of material on DK but his publishers just won't touch it until Don heads 'upstairs' (or maybe downstairs) for some more scheming.

King was often great for boxing - he did some huge nights and had a true gift for publicity - but I don't think he was that good for a significant number of his fighters.

If the book ever gets written then I look forward to hearing Tim's input.