Do you consider Tim Withersoon an ATG?

I hear that his beard could shave itself.

 

Tim Witherspoon could on his night beat nearly anybody man he just had a lot of political troubles. Really top shelf pro.

 

There are more respectful ways of wording it.

 

Not. I look at it similarly to Norton♣; Norton needed IMHO just one more win over Ali, Holmes, Frazier or Foreman and he would be ATG.
Witherspoon was missing AT LEAST ONE more such victory.
♣ that "one" victory of Norton could have been the fight Ali Vs. Norton 3, but... I'm not writing boxing history.

 

Great fighter, but not ATG, I partially blame Don King for what happened to Tim which is an entire thread in itself.

 

Clearly a talented fighter that is good to watch when he was on, but didn't really separate himself from the other top contenders of the 80's. Talented but inconsistent was the key description for a bunch of them.

Too bad he lost the second fight against Smith. A keyed up Witherspoon would have made for a much better fight than Tyson-Smith (doesn't say very much, though) and I think 'Spoon might have had some good rounds. I don't think anyone believes he would beat, or even make it particularly close against, that version of Tyson, since he wasn't an ATG.

 

I think with more discipline & without the problems with King he maybe could've been. He was a very good fighter.

 

Where’s the respect for real World Champions if we’re going to slap the title on every Joe who holds a corrupt belt?

 

Hi Buddy.
I mean its your opinion but " great " fighter, this ablate is banded too often for my mind, great fighters + Greb, Langford, SRR, Armstrong, Duran, Ali, etc, etc, but that's just my opinion.
stay safe Totentanz, chat soon.

 

Hes good enough to beat ATGs whether or not he is one is tough. I would rank him as the 5th best 80s HW but besides Holmes and Tyson is anyone else an ATG at HW from this period? Hes a symbol for his era where everyone had padded records and got upset in one of their few big fights. He was the best fighter Holmes defended against in the 80s and hes the only one of the mid 80s alphabet champs that didn't lose to Tyson. I consider Tucker the best of this group but have Witherspoon 2nd. No unavenged stoppage losses until 1999.

His resume is not bad he has virtually everything except the lineal belt and almost got that. At the start of Witherspoons career the WBA and WBC belts were the only world titles and he got both of them. He got the NABF/USBA double. Has 7 or 8 wins over HW contenders. Not fighting Tyson actually helps him because hes the best fighter Tyson didn't beat from the period. When he lost his belt to Smith in 86 his resume was actually pretty great. The issue is what happened next which regardless of whose fault it is leads fans to look at his career with dissapointment rather than appreciation. But its not a bad resume at all especially for his period. He should be in the HOF some day.

I voted yes because he had 0 votes and whether he is an ATG or not this should be close not a 100-0 sort of thing.

 

With Witherspoons first belt he at least had a lineal argument if you thought he beat Holmes.

 

I didn’t say anything of the sort but your tone is belittling in my estimation and I think it’s a rude thing.

 

He certainly does YouTube's better than many boxers. And he's posted in here.
So props are in order, but not an ATG designation.

 

I suppose I keep great as a bit of a lower title than others do, if not alongside two other words in front of it. I think the term that I'd use for the fighters that you speak of is legendary.
I appreciate it, you're the man.

 

It’s not meant as a sleight against Witherspoon. It’s just frustrating to hear everyone called a world champion. The fans should be more discerning.