Tim Witherspoon vs. James Smith (2nd meeting) - Revision history

Artur128: /* Notes */

2023-11-11T15:30:52Z

Notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 11 November 2023
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	*Smith entered ranked as the # 9 heavyweight contender by the [[WBA]].		*Smith entered ranked as the # 9 heavyweight contender by the [[WBA]].
	*Witherspoon was scheduled to defend his title against [[Tony Tubbs]], who withdrew citing a shoulder injury. Against the will of Witherspoon, Smith was substituted by Don King. Witherspoon did not want to fight Smith as he had been training exclusively for Tubbs, and he and Smith had just met a year and a half prior. Thus, Witherspoon threatened to pull out of the match and had been threatened by King with legal action in the week leading up to the fight.		*Witherspoon was scheduled to defend his title against [[Tony Tubbs]], who withdrew citing a shoulder injury. Against the will of Witherspoon, Smith was substituted by Don King. Witherspoon did not want to fight Smith as he had been training exclusively for Tubbs, and he and Smith had just met a year and a half prior. Thus, Witherspoon threatened to pull out of the match and had been threatened by King with legal action in the week leading up to the fight.
			*Bout official on December 6, just six days before the scheduled date.
	*Smith entered 16.5 pounds lighter than in his previous bout just four months prior and had been training for a $35,000 fight against [[Mitch Green]]. Instead, he received a title shot and a $230,000 payday. Shortly before the bout, it was announced that Smith had signed over 50 percent of promotional contract to [[Carl King]], Don's son.		*Smith entered 16.5 pounds lighter than in his previous bout just four months prior and had been training for a $35,000 fight against [[Mitch Green]]. Instead, he received a title shot and a $230,000 payday. Shortly before the bout, it was announced that Smith had signed over 50 percent of promotional contract to [[Carl King]], Don's son.
	*The attendance for the bout was only 5,042, which left some 17,000 empty seats. Among those in attendance was [[Mike Tyson]], who after the fight referred to it as a "wonderful punching performance."		*The attendance for the bout was only 5,042, which left some 17,000 empty seats. Among those in attendance was [[Mike Tyson]], who after the fight referred to it as a "wonderful punching performance."

Wouter: Wouter moved page Fight:2209 to Tim Witherspoon vs. James Smith (2nd meeting)

2016-12-05T16:14:17Z

Wouter moved page Fight:2209 to Tim Witherspoon vs. James Smith (2nd meeting)

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:14, 5 December 2016
(No difference)

Wouter at 16:13, 5 December 2016

2016-12-05T16:13:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 5 December 2016
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	~~#REDIRECT~~ [[~~James~~ Smith vs. Tim Witherspoon]]		[[File:Terrible-bonecrusher.jpg\|right\|375px\|thumb\|Bonecrusher Smith (right) vs. Tim Witherspoon]]
			<fight>2209</fight>
			*'''Promoter:''' [[Don King]]
			*'''Aired On:''' [[HBO]]
			*'''[[World Boxing Association]] Heavyweight Title''' (2nd defense by Witherspoon)

			"Bonecrusher" Smith went out at the opening bell and gave his best shots, and they landed. He repeatedly blasted the champion with right hand bombs to the head. Witherspoon was hurt in the early moments and a big right hand appeared to cause his knee to touch the mat, but the referee never moved in. Witherspoon walked into a solid left hook with about 90 seconds gone and was knocked almost through the ropes and down - for the first time in his career. He rose at the count of four on wobbly legs. Smith never let up. Seconds later, he sent Witherspoon down in a heap with another right hand. He got up at five this time and spit out a tooth as Smith charged in. Witherspoon lumbered forward only to be met with a right hand that dropped him for the third time. Referee Luis Rivera immediately invoked the WBA's three-knockdown rule and waved the fight over at 2:12 of the opening round.

			== Notes ==
			*Tim Witherspoon 25-2 (17 KOs) vs. James Smith 18-5 (13 KOs)
			*Smith entered ranked as the # 9 heavyweight contender by the [[WBA]].
			*Witherspoon was scheduled to defend his title against [[Tony Tubbs]], who withdrew citing a shoulder injury. Against the will of Witherspoon, Smith was substituted by Don King. Witherspoon did not want to fight Smith as he had been training exclusively for Tubbs, and he and Smith had just met a year and a half prior. Thus, Witherspoon threatened to pull out of the match and had been threatened by King with legal action in the week leading up to the fight.
			*Smith entered 16.5 pounds lighter than in his previous bout just four months prior and had been training for a $35,000 fight against [[Mitch Green]]. Instead, he received a title shot and a $230,000 payday. Shortly before the bout, it was announced that Smith had signed over 50 percent of promotional contract to [[Carl King]], Don's son.
			*The attendance for the bout was only 5,042, which left some 17,000 empty seats. Among those in attendance was [[Mike Tyson]], who after the fight referred to it as a "wonderful punching performance."
			*The fight was part of HBO's heavyweight title unification tournament.
			*Witherspoon had one of his front teeth, root and all, knocked out in the bout.

			== Quotes ==
			*"I couldn't get into the fight. I didn't care about it." - Tim Witherspoon
			*"I been heavyweight champ of the world twice, and I live in an apartment in Philadelphia I'd be embarrassed for you to see. I got nothing to show for it." - Witherspoon told to a media friend following the bout. He then handed the same person the tooth that had been knocked out as a souvenir.
			*"I knew his mind couldn't be on the fight. He wasn't thinking about me. My plan was to be all over him. He embarrassed me the last time and I wanted to pay him back. I did." - James "Bonecrusher" Smith
			*"James 'Bonecrusher' Smith showed a dramatic display of physical power, and I just think it was marvelous on his behalf. I'm not surprised. I know when two fighters are in there, anything can happen." - Mike Tyson
			== Sources ==
			*"Bonecrusher' swarms over distracted Witherspoon" (1986, Dec. 15) ''The Age'' p. 32.
			*Heller, Peter. ''Bad Intentions: The Mike Tyson Story''. (1995, Aug. 22) Da Capo Press. p. 160.

JollyDee: Fight:2209 moved to James Smith vs. Tim Witherspoon

2008-10-03T22:18:11Z

Fight:2209 moved to James Smith vs. Tim Witherspoon

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#REDIRECT [[James Smith vs. Tim Witherspoon]]