Larry Holmes failing to take on # 1 contenders

Holmes has the shittest Heavyweight title reign resume ever.

 

I feel Witherpsoon did not show up for that fight. It could have been a fix. That was Witherspoon's lone Ko loss in his prime.

An motivated and in shape Witherspoon could fight and give Tyson far more trouble than Tills did. Yes-- Spoon box, punch, counter punch, play defense, had a great chin, good size, and IMO would not freeze vs Tyson.

I think team Tyson and Don King did not want to risk their golden goose vs Witherspoon.

 

I'm enjoying this debate about one of my all-time favorites and thought I'd add some information and make a few points...

Here's a look at Larry Holmes' opponents' Ring's Ratings from the "period ending" issue immediately before his defenses:

Evangelista (6)
Ocasio (5)
Weaver (eight)
Shavers (3)
Zanon (7)
Jones (6)

For these six fights Holmes was listed as Number 1 contender, first under Ali, then under "Title Vacant". After Weaver beat Tate, Holmes was given status as Champion as he'd already beaten new WBA champ Weaver.

LeDoux (10)
Ali (5)
Berbick (RIP)(7)
Spinks (3)
Snipes (10)
Cooney (3)
Cobb (9)
Rodriguez (unranked)
Witherspoon (10)
Frank (unranked)
Frazier (10)
Smith (9)
Bey (3)
Williams (12)
Spinks (Lt. Heavy champ)

Regarding Holmes' lack of defenses against top Ring Magazine contenders, I look at it like this: For my own historical information, I use the Ring rankings for comparison rather than rankings from the organizations. I feel that they are a better indicator of contenders' actual abilities. That said, I understand that Holmes and other organizational champs had to defend their titles based on organizational ratings. At that time Holmes was not fighting WBA (or later, WBC) titleholders to unify the belts, for various reasons. (I do partially blame Holmes for this, along with Don King and the governing bodies).

It's really too bad that these organizational fractions had to happen. It could have been a really really nice era had Holmes defended against Dokes, Coetzee, Page and Thomas. Perhaps Holmes would've lost one or more of those fights, but I'd bet he'd win the rematches.

Some other points -

Holmes was supposed to fight Jimmy Young in March '79, but Young blew it by losing to Ocasio twice. Holmes was also scheduled to give Norton a rematch, but Norton was blasted out by Shavers and drew with LeDoux.

Someone earlier stated that HBO rejected Holmes-Weaver and that it was shown on ABC's Wide World Of Sports. Actually, at that time, those glorious years between Ali-Norton III and Leonard-Duran I, all the big fights were shown on free network television in the US, including the biggest in terms of general public anticipation, Ali-Spinks II. Holmes-Weaver was REJECTED by the broadcast networks and was shown on HBO instead. HBO got the networks' rejections. A year or so later the tables turned and HBO established itself as a premier boxing channel.

Here's those 1986 Ring Rankings again. Look at how many TYSON fought! (as indicated by * )
Heavyweights Michael Spinks, Champion*
Mike Tyson
James (Bonecrusher) Smith*
Pinklon Thomas*
Tim Witherspoon
Tony Tubbs*
Trevor Berbick*
James (Buster) Douglas*
Tony Tucker*
Frank Bruno*
Tyrell Biggs *

Not bad!

 

That's just a superb read mate.

 

Bull**** there is no evidence of Tyson ducking Witherspoon in the 80s. Witherspoon had his chance to fight Tyson but blew it by losing to Bonecrusher.

 

Not the very worst, anyway.

 

Witherspoon had a habit of showing up for a fight with man-boobs, he came into the ring out of shape a he was lucky he fought non-punchers or guys that were happy to do the lean fest. Tims most impressive performances were over Gonzales and a green Bruno but a lot of TIm's wins and loses were by the SD verdict....lack of effort?....Lazy? either way, he did not really perform....Bonecrusher had decent power and some size but he was no killer, he just picked up the pace on Tim in the 1st rd and took him out of there...Tim had 1 pace Slow and slow and steady...he had tools but his effort in the training camp and energy in the ring made Max Baer look like the energy bunny

 

There was never going to be a fight between Tyson and Witherspoon. Don King blatantly told Witherspoon that he was going to lose the Smith fight, and so Tim threw the fight. In the years that followed. Tim's ratings would continue to drop despite winning fights. Lesser challengers climed the ratings and faced Tyson, regardless of having lost to Witherspoon.

These are facts.....

 

that was no lay down, Tim got shook and went down 3 times, he got bum rushed and he did not really expect Boneclutcher Smith to start so fast...Tim wanted to do the Witherspoon waltz

 

Th fight was a fix, and Tim later told others that it was.

 

He went down 3 times and Smith came on fast, Tim was cold and half tittied, There was no value in having Boneclutcher win, he was a big amatuer with no appeal and the fight was not like Ali/Liston 2, Tim went down and was shook...

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Classic humour Bummy, loved it hahahahaha

 

The more I think of the 80's an the NON acheievers...who just chose the path of least resistance...Thomas was a talent but went back on Herion...Tubbs was fast but was fat and Lazy....Page when he showed up showed us he had skills and power..but he hardly was in top form...Mike Dokes...Dynamite My Cokes.......Coetzee had power but was one dimentional...Berbick was nothing but he did train harder than the rest and stayed clear of the strong stuff...Witherspoon was on slow motion and in most of his fights signed the Silent agreement with his opponent not to hit each other.....Wasted Talent...Cooney Coke and Booze.....Holmes trained but was overprotected and King avoided a serious challenge ...it was not a good era for the serious fight fan

 

Until Mike Tyson came along. Tyson rescued the heavyweight fight scene and restored the fans' interest in the game. He unified the titles in such a short period of time, and he won spectacularly. Holmes probably hates Tyson for stealing much of his 80's thunder! LOL