"Page vs. Spoon" in 1984 / HBO...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MRBILL, Nov 10, 2009.


Page 1 of 2
  1. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    Folks,

    I am catching a buzz with some whiskey and I'm gonna do a review of the WBA title fight from '84 that featured Tim Spoon and Greg Page.......... Spoon is in at 220 pounds, while Page in his first title shot is a slobbish / heavy 239 pounds...........

    Greg Page starts fast by circling and jabbing, but as I recall, his 239 pounds catches up to him and he begins to back to the ropes and allows Tim Spoon to attack and pile up points........ Tim Spoon looks solid, while Page has some excess girth and jiggly tit action going on........

    Anyway, we all know know that Spoon simply was in better shape in 1984 and he totally out-worked Greg Page in most of the rds........ Spoon gets the decision after 12 rds, but Page whines about being reamed....... In my book, it was NO robbery; Page choked in the moment of truth.......
    :yep:good

    MR.BILL

    Note:

    The rematch of 1999 was pathetic, yet Page got his revenge......... Spoon was hopeless and burned out by 1999......... Spoon came into the ring for that rematch looking for some rent money......... Page honestly came to win, even though he too was an aging old fart with diminished skills........ Page got a mid-rds TKO win.............
    :shock::hat
     
    MRBILL, Nov 10, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 10, 2009
    #1
  2. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    C'mon, I know these two fights were NOT great or overly exciting, but they were notable..........

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 10, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 10, 2009
    #2
  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

    58,748
    21,578
    Nov 24, 2005
    I think beating Page arguably gave Witherspoon a good claim to being the world's top heavyweight. Seeing as he had given Holmes hell himself, then beat the man who Holmes was refusing to fight, while Holmes registered wins over Scott Frank and Marvis Frazier !

    Page came in disgraceful shape.
     
    Unforgiven, Nov 11, 2009
    Unforgiven, Nov 11, 2009
    #3
  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    True, but 5 months later on HBO, Spoon did a sleepwalking stint in looking lousy against Pinklon Thomas to blow his newfound WBC title......

    MR.BILL:bbb
     
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    #4
  5. turpinr

    turpinr Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,227
    1,253
    Feb 6, 2009
    what went wrong for witherspoon ??
    i thought he was the stand-out heavy pre tyson:bbb
     
    turpinr, Nov 11, 2009
    turpinr, Nov 11, 2009
    #5
  6. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,110
    25,266
    Jan 3, 2007

    Agreed,

    I don't think any man truly had a strong claim to being the best heavyweight in the world from the years of 1984-1986. Witherspoon, however may very well be a good candidate. While Larry Holmes was certainly the lineal claimant, he had been stripped of a belt, was facing lesser opposition, and even getting his way in some questionably close decisions. From 84' to 86', Spoon had fought Greg Page, Tony Tubbs, Frank Bruno, and Pinklon Thomas. of those four, Holmes had ducked at least two, while spoon had beat 3 of them in world title fights, and fought the last to a majority decision loss. Holmes at this time, was facing the likes of James Smith, David Bey, Carl Williams and Michael Spinks who defeated him. Spinks was a lightheavy who deserved the nod in his first fight with Holmes, while Bey, Williams and Smith were basically nobodies with like a combined 45 fights between the three of them.

    If we're talking about who the best heavyweight was from around 1978-1983, then its Holmes by a country mile. From 1984-to the time that Tyson took over the division, I'd say it was open game.
     
    mr. magoo, Nov 11, 2009
    mr. magoo, Nov 11, 2009
    #6
  7. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    "Holmes, Spoon and Thomas" were the BEST heavies from 1984 to 1986........... "Tubbs and Page" were the runner-up dudes.......... Michael Spinks was a poser at heavyweight............ I had Holmes winning the '86 rematch by several points......... "Smith, Berbick and Bey" were also in the race back then as well....... Mike Weaver was fading but still dangerous............. Carl Williams, Tony Tucker and Buster Douglas were either brittle or lazy, but quite skillful...........

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    #7
  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,110
    25,266
    Jan 3, 2007
    There were a few more names mentioned in your post than need be I think.

    Tim Witherspoon and Larry Holmes were the two real combatants for #1 between the years of '84-'86. Pinklon Thomas had a word in the matter as well, as he did happen to beat Witherspoon, but the thing that keeps him behind the aformentioned names, is that his victory over Spoon was the only real win of note within that two to three year time frame. It's basically the same reason why I don't have Spinks as being rated very high either, despite his win over Holmes. Tim, on the otherhand was regularly fighting ( and beating ) the upper tier of the division, and sometimes that can trump the results of a single head to head meeting.
     
    mr. magoo, Nov 11, 2009
    mr. magoo, Nov 11, 2009
    #8
  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,354
    Jun 29, 2007
    I tend to think Witherspoon was the best around for a short moment in time from 1985-1986. Tyson should have fought Witherpsoon in 1987 or 1988.
     
    Mendoza, Nov 11, 2009
    Mendoza, Nov 11, 2009
    #9
  10. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,667
    2,153
    Aug 26, 2004
    Page was not always in top fprm but I think he had the better talent of the 2 when he was, Page had a good chin, good feet, and good punch and fast hands, Witherspoon had a good punch and some skills, neither was an over acheiver
     
    Bummy Davis, Nov 11, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Nov 11, 2009
    #10
  11. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008

    I agree...... But its strange how Page was seemingly better at a slobbish looking 235 to 242 pounds during his youth........ His best fights were at them weights.........

    Page was limp as a dick after hardcore sex at 221 pounds when he lost to Berbick in Vegas back in '82......... After the loss, Page said 221 was too light and he felt weak............. I merely think Page lost them extra 15 pounds rather too quickly and that did drain him........... But 221 to 226 pounds was where he needed to be...........

    By the early 1990s, Page was indeed keeping trim, but by then he was faded and slipping badly.......... My last tape on file with Page was his TKO loss to "Dull" Razor Ruddock on Showtime from 1992............ Page was about 34 and in good shape, but Ruddock was too young and strong at that time..........
    :rasta:deal:hat

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    #11
  12. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,372
    473
    Oct 6, 2004
    :patschYou cant be serious.

    His first round KO loss to Smith put a serious dent in any chance that Tyson had of fighting him. Was it the Mark Wills, Mike Williams or Mauricio Villegas fights that put him back up on the map?
     
    Boilermaker, Nov 11, 2009
    Boilermaker, Nov 11, 2009
    #12
  13. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    1st round KO loss to Tyson? WTF? I assume you mean Smith in LATE '86??

    MR.BILL

    P.S.

    Spoon first showed signs of being a pig / slob against Bruno at 233 pounds in the summer of 1986... Later with Smith at 235 to cap off the year..... Spoon was kool at 227 for Tubbs in early 1986...
     
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    #13
  14. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,372
    473
    Oct 6, 2004
    Oops.

    I liked Witherspoon and hated Tyson. Always thought/hoped that Witherspoon would beat him or at least be the best challenger at this time. but the reality is that Tim was ready to fight Tyson but he got KOd in a round by Bonecrusher. This finished him. If he came back and avenged this loss, or at least beat a live challenger then he could have had not a mega fight, but at least a pretty decent pay day with Tyson. But he never earned a fight with tyson.
     
    Boilermaker, Nov 11, 2009
    Boilermaker, Nov 11, 2009
    #14
  15. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    21,116
    110
    Oct 9, 2008
    I agree---to a wide extent................. Spoon's career was gay between 1987 thru 1991...... The wins over "Ecklund" and "Carl Williams" were good wins to keep himself alive......... Perhaps even his harpooning of James "Broad Ass" Broad was good, as well.?.?.? Spoon was skilled with talent, but by 1986, he became a lazy slob...... Peace..

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 11, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 2