Why didn't Tyson-Witherspoon happen, and how would it go down?

Tucker was not considered limited at the time of the fight.
He was not even a massive underdog.

 

LOL, a limited guy like Tua took Lewis the distance, a limited guy like the Mohawk took lewis the distance, a limited guy like Mercer took Lewis the distance and so on and on...would you like me go any further and provide Holmes limited opposition he went the distance with ? Ali maybe ?

Fact : the Tucker fight was almost a shut out which by any means except Planet Zog is as convincing as it gets. As someone already mentioned, Tucker was not thought as a push over, was not a terrible underdog and had the tools which all those Tyson career experts claim to "trouble" him, size, height, jab and chin. The scores clearly proved so called experts wrong.

As far as Witherspoon is concerned, Tyson was not with King at that time and the fight could have been made but there were bigger fish aka more $$$ to fry. Witherspoon was considered another could have would have but just was unable to put it all together, his convinient excuse was always King but where a will is a way and Spoon never had much will.

While Tim had good fundamentals and pop but he lacked speed and had a rather methodical approach. He would have serious trouble with Mikes speed and would have tried to fight him instead to box and both plays right into Tyson hands. He also could be outhustled as evidenced years later when he was staging a comeback and while clearly declined he should not have lost to career stepping stone Bigfoot Martin on the USA network.

 

Tucker was considered a big underdog, Tyson was at best 1/10.......

 

Witherspoon in his prime had good hand and foot speed. He gave Holmes problems because of it. I think your judgind the older fatter Witherspoon.

 

Not so. I saw Witherspoon in 1987 vs some undefeated fighter, and he looked sharp as a tack. Spoon was not always out of shape while Tyson was champion.

Had Don king dared to risk a match, I betcha 'Spoon would have showed up in shape.

 

I do not know, I saw him against Villegas in February 88, and he looked awful labouring to a late stoppage, and he looked in fair shape for Tim.....

 

The fight I speak of wa the Mike Williams fight. Williams was undefeated. Witherpsoon looked great at 217 pounds. Watch it sometime, you'll be impressed.

 

Tyson would have beaten Witherspoon, probably by stoppage. He took out other durable top of the line heavies from the same era quite easily.

Witherspoon would have been more dangerous probably, with his subtle skill, excellent power and willingness to throw a sneaky potshot here and there. I say probably because there's also a chance Witherspoon might clam up a bit like some others when confronted with the Tyson aura and fury.

 

Right. Witherspoon was not enough "above and beyond" the rest of the 80s pack to pose a real threat to prime Tyson.

 

Points taken- near enough every fighter has had a fight whereby a supposedly lesser fighter lasted to the final bell against them at least once or a few times. All I was saying was Witherspoon could've lasted till the final bell as opposed to the KO1/early KO predictions some Tyson nuthuggers might give. He's definitely a better fighter than alot Tyson faced. At his best he'd prove a tricky assignment for a fair few.

 

He would have had to realise his absolute potential to have any chance whatsoever vs peak Tyson. He was so far from realising it it's hard to imagine what he could have been. We know how good Tyson was however. His combination of speed and power would have troubled Tyson but his defense reliance on reflex more than sound technical skill would have been trouble.

 

More like bad blood between King and Witherspoon rather then King being afraid to put Tyson in against.

Witherspoon was not above the level of other guys Tyson fought and beat in that period.

There was no reason for team Tyson to fear Witherspoon.

 

Yet rumors around 1989/1990 said that they were.

 

I know it sounds silly, I am probably way off the mark, but I think even in 87/88 Page would of given Tyson hell, even dare I say it, had Tyson's number.

For whatever reason, Page was seemingly not intimidated by Mike, whether that was decking him in public sparring, or busting him wide open.

I know it is just sparring; and perhaps a ridiculous hunch (after all Brewster sparked Lennox in sparring, but if that match happened, I know who I would have the mortgage on), but I take Page if I could get 25-1 or better.