AJ Versus Witherspoon ?

When did Witherspoon ever blow anyone out of the ring that was a quality heavyweight, a green & stiff Frank Bruno? AJ wrecks Spoon in a couple of rounds. AJ too strong

 

I don’t rate Witherspoon among great fighters. But I don’t think AJ is a great fighter yet. The division is weak and he’s won a title while still learning the game among an inexperienced era of Superheavyweight prospects. There just are not seasoned fighters out there at the moment.

I think it is one thing to look great right now and another to look decent in a much harder era.

A 42 year Old Klitschko cannot be where Witherspoon might have been in his prime yet AJ was one thread away from losing that fight.

Witherspoon scored some impressive knockouts at times. Quick Tillis and James Broad were still good fighters when he kayoed them.

 

AJ is not ready for Spoon yet, yet Spoon was ready to give Holmes his toughest fight to date after just 15 fights? Seems like a bit of a double standard, but I will concede I'd still like to come back to this one in 2/3 years time after another 5 or so fights. Right now I don't see anything but a Joshua KO, or a competitive decision with Witherspoon happy to see the final bell.

 

No offence, but AJ didn't blow out old Wlad, Takam, Parker, or even Breazeale and Whyte in a couple of rounds.

Molina and Martin are laughable and certainly not better than Spoon's James Broad, James Tillis or Levi Billups whom he blew out in a couple of rounds. Prime Tillis probably the best fighter in both fighters' resume who was KO'd in a couple of rounds.

And current AJ boxes more, he doesn't seek a quick knockout anyway.

Also Spoon was dropped in how many fights before his 40th birthday? Yes, in 1 fight against Smith, that's it. In 50+ fights.

In this thread it seems many underrate AJ here, and some underrate Spoon.

I believe this fight would be a long night for both and likely goes full 12. As I said, I pick AJ by decision.

 

I guess that's the problem with judging fighters who's careers are far from over. I still think AJ will lose atleast 1 fight in the next 3 years, probably against a fighter that we don't expect him to. A very fair post, maybe my stance on this one is a little bit harsh on Spoon

 

Yes I understand how it looks, I just think 22-0 today is not like 22-0 in those days. And as you say, a few years from now we will be able to make a fairer judgment. Already I am impressed with Joshua’s temperament. He has that winners mentality that surpasses the consistency of Witherspoon, but it’s this novice like “boxing by numbers” faze AJ still looks yet to climb out of that could be a problem against a more dimensional fighter that Witherspoon was already with fewer fights. Boxing was more advanced then technically than it seems to be now.

 

About that Version of Tubbs that Tyson fought.. Not only had Tubbs never beaten a rated fighter during the entire time Tyson had been a pro but his trainer walked out on Tony in the week of the fight because in his words “Tubbs was in no shape to fight”. Then Tubbs blew a bonus to make weight. In the most public way possible He deliberately blew his chances like he did not want to be there.

well Bruno was a hard guy to look good against. He was no picnic for Tyson or Lewis.

yes Smith blew Tim away. Louis also blew Schmeling away but it dosnt erase Schmeling and Witherspoon doing a lot better first time time around against Louis And Smith. In fact first time Witherspoon did a better job on Smith than Tyson or Holmes did.

Two of those guys were not active or relevant fighters beating contenders when Tyson met them. You have to go all the way before Tyson even turned pro to find wins that show Holmes And Thomas could beat rated men.

against Tyson’s Bruno was coming off a 13 month lay off. Tubbs was the most ill prepared challenger in History.

 

I agree on that technical stand point, Joshua himself hasn't actually been boxing all that long, but I would say Joshua's 22-0 is substantially better than most in the sport in the current days climate though. I'd say he's been fast tracked compared to most of the fighters in this era, mainly due to the fact that his team saw a nice window where Wlad's name could still propel him into superstardom, but didn't have that much left in the tank. Luckily for AJ and his team they were just about right.

 

after joshua beat spoon he would have to face uri geller for the WSC.

 

Yet you just defended him over a prime mike Tyson?

 

I thought Witherspoon beat Holmes in his 15th fight and Tim had a couple of good wins, I wouldnt get carried away with the Tillis KO in 83, Tillis had been stopped 2X in 82 by Page and Thomas and lost to Weaver in 81. That being said Tim had some good tools but also was an underachiever & some fights were lean fests.

I agree with you about Molina & Martin but they were just as good as a lot of Holmes opponents in the 80's and better than a lot of them and AJ needs the professional experience. AJ has been consistant about winning and Takam, Parker & Breazeale & Whyte were not blow outs but good steps for a young Champion and guys that may have done better in the 80's. I do like the way AJ came back after being dropped
by Vlad and both guys exchanged some bombs, credit to both men.


I think Tim had talent but did not stick out among the Thomas,Page,Dokes,Tate,Tubbs,Berbick,Snipes type of fighters. Tyson pretty much gave us a guage on the 80's fighters, they either held on for dear life or got knocked out.

 

The difference with Klitschko is that he was consistanly in great condition, fought regularly & fought all comers, style,co Champions. I have to say he looked like he couldnt pull the trigger vs Fury but his conditioning against AJ showed very little sign of decline.

Experience means so much but Vlads type of conditioning was in the Joe Louis, Marciano consistancy but Vlad also had the Louis longevity.

Remember Vlad had to get past the mental hurdles and style and training, pace corrections as did Louis but Vlad was still a monster in his 40's

Look AJ can get KO'd and ruined like Big John Tate, same thing can happen to Wilder but the thing I like about AJ is that he has the Vlad training regiment & experience will come. Wilder also takes conditioning serious but AJ has been in much deeper with half the fights.

IMO AJ, WIider and Povetkin would do a lot of damage in the 80's other than Holmes (who missed too many of the betterguys) not many of the top contenders stayed in condition, even Thomas (who went back to the needle while Champ)

 

Agreed.

The other big thing with Olympic pedigree champion Joshua is his handling pressure in big bouts. 80k people consistently at his bouts and he has a lot to lose by stumbling. PPV pressure from the suits to continue winning.Lots of guys do not handle pressure and the expectations very well. Or that big money coming in.

Brutal uppercut along with a strong jab/nasty left hook and big right hand make the guy formidable. I think he's doing better with his feints. If he ever learns to counter in a nanosecond, he'd really be something.

 

at this point I think Witherspoon was too much for AJ,, If he is focused and does not have a Bonecrusher rematch issue.

 

I pick Joshua but Witherspoon would probably get in some uncomfortable looping right hands. He landed them at will vs Gonzalez and Joshua has issues with that punch.