Was Tim Witherspoon An Underrated Heavyweight Contender..?

Hi started off as an Amercian Footballer player if I remmber rightly? He didn't have many amateur fights either but did spar with Muhammad Ali before his fight with Larry Holmes in 1980. He also was a regular at Joe Frazier's gym too. He challenged Larry Holmes at 15-0 in 1983 and gave him a competitive fight. He beat Frank Bruno however lacked discipline and reportedly threw his next fight with James ' Bonecrusher ' Smith in 1986. I think his lack of discipline and management issues hindered him.

 

I mean most people here would have him in the top 30-40 heavyweights of all time.

Dude was very good. I like him. However, i don't think he ever put all his skills together.

His work rate wasn't great. He could have beaten Holmes if he could sustain a great workrate.

I think he was excellent but i don't think he ever put all his skills together 100%.

In today's era, he would be a top 5 heavyweight. Top 2 if fully motivated.

 

I think he’s gained more appreciation from serious fans as the years go on. But yes. In the thick of things I think he’s underrated. Witherspoon’s style wasn’t pretty and nor was his physique. He often showed up to give a flat performance. But he was ranked for 11 years by ring magazine and for plenty of years by the alpha bet rating. Captured two fragments of the heavyweight title plus a few other small regional belts. gave Larry Holmes one of the toughest fights of his career. Beat Tony Tubbs, Greg Page, James Tillis, Renaldo Snipes, James Broad, Marvin Stinson, Jose Ribalta, Carl Williams, Alfred Cole, Bonecrusher Smith and Jorge Gonzalez . I’m not sure that he’s hall of fame material and I’m guessing most fans would say no. But to me he’s a guy who was close enough to be knocking on the door at least

 

Tim Witherspoon was one of the greatest heavyweight contenders of all time.

 

Very good,imo.

 

I don’t see how he’s underrated. People usually have a high opinion of him on the forums.

 

The best of the "lost generation of the 80s" (all HW champions of the 80s except Holmes Tyson, and Spinks).

 

You think he’s better than Pinklon Thomas?

 

I think he has a better resume than Thomas.

 

I mean, I think Thomas’s dominant win over spoon himself is better than anything Tim has.