I am am sometimes thought of as an apologist for Matthews era, but there is simply no comparison. Matthews was a flash in the pan type contender, while Witherspoon was one of the most successful heavyweight contenders that any era produced. This is the 80a A Team vs the 50 C Team.
At times like this, we should bow our heads in a moment of silence for MRBILL. "I am a big Timmy Spoon jocksniffer and everyone knows it but I watched him on the USA channel and have it on VHS from '92 against (insert journeyman name here) and Matthews would hang tough if they were the same size HOWEVER they aren't! Timmy Spoon by KAYO early!"
However good you think Matthews was he was only a good HW because the era was small. Matthews beat Rex Layne and Bernie Reynolds so did Marciano. Ezzard Charles, Lloyd Marshall and Jose Basora were the three best guys he beat and he beat them all at the very end of their career. None of these guys beating Witherspoon either probably. Murphy's a good win. Matthews knocked out Petersen who was 6'2 he's also barely above .500. He's like 4-25 against HW notables. Matthews knocked out "Young Harry Wills". That's not really Harry Wills. This Harry Wills was under .500.
For the most part Mathews was matched against men whose styles made him look good , face first men like Murphy,his manager turned down a chance at Lhvy king Maxim, a good boxer. What are Mathews best wins? Muscato had lost his last 6 . Nardico was a decent Lhvy,but nothing more. Beshore was a cut prone trial horse. Marshall had been ko'd in his last 2 fights,known to do business, he was an over the hill super middle. Basora was a middle who had lost his last 4. Layne was permanently diminished after Marciano belted him out. I'm always puzzled by the praise old Harry gets. Don Cockell,Don bloody Cockell, beat Mathews 3 times!
So Matthews win over Lloyd Marshall doesn't set you alight? Need I remind you, Marshall KOd Ezzard Charles