What if, instead of facing Bonecrusher Smith in 1987, Mike Tyson fought Tim Witherspoon in a 12 round bout instead? Who would've won?
Tyson by KO around 6. Witherspoon would’ve come to fight unlike Smith but was a mess around this period. If Smith took him out in 1 round who’s to say Tyson wouldn’t have repeated it. My feeling is that Tim would’ve come in far better shape against a killer like Tyson but eventually Mike would end him.
Tyson by mid round KO Witherspoon was a mess mentally and physically at that point in his career from getting shafted by Don King.
Agreed. A more interesting prospect is the motivated Witherspoon of 95/96 vs post prison Tyson. I think Tyson wins still but much more competitive
I think Tyson would win, but not by knockout, but like in the fights against Tony Tucker and Bonecrusher Smith. Of course I'm talking about the year 1987.
If both men show up 100% then I can see a very good fight with Mike Tyson coming out on top either by decision or late stoppage.
If we are talking about a motivated Spoon it's going to be the hardest fight Mike faces in the 80s. Later in the fight Tyson would get into one punch mode after he finds himself eating the jab one too many times. Tim still gets rocked hard in the early rounds and loses most of them but he starts landing his overhand and jab starting around round 8. He actually slows Mike way down but by the 11th he starts slowing down himself and it's too late. The last round is mostly two tired fighters with not a lot of snap trying to find the one punch and having to hold a bunch. Tyson takes the decision, but it's close and overall he didn't look good doing it. They're both swelled up some.
Tim at his best would be a handful for any heavyweight from any era. He was a top quality heavyweight - nearly stopped Holmes in 9th round (Mills Lane was hovering not far away from intervening) Tim vs M Tyson would have been a good fight.
