Witherspoon's biggest problem were promotional issues, and Don King blackballed him. This curtailed his career and hurt motivation. Still, Witherspoon is best viewed as being the 3rd o4 4th ( I say 3rd ) best heavyweight in the 1980's, capable of nearly beating a prime Larry Holmes and good enough to upset Tyson, which is a reason why the match never happened. Suppose Mike Tyson wasn't around in the 1980's, and Don King had Witherspoon as his primary guy instead. How might have his career played out?
If we are talking coke-free and King not acting the bollocks with his flavour of the month fighters, then he holds the title for longer than he did. Bones doesnt win a belt and a rematch with larry around 87 after the 2nd spinks loss woulda been interesting. Tucker around the same time woulda been tight
I don't know of anyone who thought Tim Witherspoon was going to upset Mike Tyson in the 1980s. Witherspoon would've fought Tyson in early 1987, to unify two titles, but Tim got stopped in one by Bonecrusher in 1986. That sort of killed any notion of Witherspoon beating a Mike Tyson right there.
Witherspoon was obviously out of shape against Bruno in July 1986. He was heading for a loss, regardless of how Don King did business.
If spoon could stay in shape and motivated he would be tough to beat. he would beat Spinks and most of the other guys around then but for spoon motivation was a big problem I can't see him maintaining the form needed to remain champ .
King would have still ripped him off. Tim, unlike Mike, was smart enough to question King's motives. Tim still would have lost motivation. He didn't lose to Bonecrusher because he was trying to avoid Tyson. Even if King thought of Witherspoon as his "mealticket" he would have still manipulated him financially.
i always thought he threw it. He has since said that he did, or at least hinted at it, but then again it could be a case of sour grapes. He beat him handily enough the year before and Smith had lost to Marvis not long after
Witherspoon also had his home robbed the same night as if to say, you'd better keep your mouth shut. Don King is 85 years old. When he passes, it will be interesting to see what stories are told.
I don't see what would've been keeping Pinklon Thomas from beating Berbick in a rematch and keeping it until losing to Holyfield a couple years later. Witherspoon could've fought Tucker for his belt. It would be a pretty even match. Witherspoon might've regained a belt and lost it pretty quickly.
Spoon had the ability to beat anybody. He had a great teacher coming up in Slim Jim Robinson and really learned his craft well here in Philadelphia. But as we all know he just never had the same discipline after the Holmes fight. Damn shame. A top notch Spoon could have beaten anybody.
