the best version of tim witherspoon vs the buster douglas that beat tyson

I think 'inconsistent' is the best possible word to use when describing both of these fighters. Even in his 'prime' Witherspoon was utterly destroyed by "Bonecrusher" Smith, who he had already beaten. One could argue that by the time he lost to journeyman Everett Martin in '92, Terrible Tim's short peak was already finished. I'd put Witherspoon at his best right around the losses to Holmes and Thomas in the mid 80s. After that he looked very beatable against Frank Bruno, who tired in the later rounds before falling victim to a Witherspoon TKO. Probably his most impressive win was a 1-round blowout of James "Quick" Tillis, who'd go on to take Tyson the distance several years later.

Douglas, on the other hand, had racked up back-to-back wins with a KO against young prospect Mike Williams, who'd taken Witherspoon the distance in an SD, and decisions over Berbick and McCall, quality 80's heavyweights, prior to the Tyson fight.

If we put the 1984/5 version of Witherspoon against the Tyson version of Douglas, I see the longer-armed Douglas hurting Witherspoon early and often from the outside on the way to a UD victory. Witherspoon's travesty of a showing against Bonecrusher Smith was hardly Witherspoon at his best; aside from that he was very durable, taking Bruno's best shots for a good 8-9 rounds before the muscle-bound Brit ran out of gas. That having been said, the Douglas that fought Tyson was a boxing machine fueled by a complex mixture of emotion that forced him to put on the performance of a lifetime for just one fight.

 

I think Tim Witherspoon 1983 - 1986 from about the Holmes fight to the Tubbs win, would have pounded out a decision or even scored a late stoppage. Both men were inconsistant, but I think Tim had the overall better body of work during their perspective primes. If we look at how he thoroughly troubled Holmes for 12 rounds, losing by a split decision, it gives us the blueprint for how he'd beat a rangy boxer trying to keep him at bay with the jab. Douglas was only truly spectacular for one evening against a foe who was not fighting to win. His decision wins over declining versions of Berbick, Page and an unknown McCall don't say much. He was also known for quitting when the going got rough.

 

I would say the version of Douglas of one particular night (Tyson, of course) would have beaten any version of Witherspoon.

But Tim had more depth, as far as performances are concerned. So the greater chance is that it would be a win for Witherspoon.

 

Witherspoon would either stop Douglass late, or outwork him for the unanimous decision.

 

This is a very tough fight to call. Both were underachievers who could have accomplished so much more if they only lived up to their potential consistently. Spoon at his best vs the Douglas of Tokyo would have been fascinating match...I'll say that much. I don't know who would win, though.

 

buster wins it.....:good:good

 

Tim wins.

 

I don't think Douglas was much better than night than others, I just think he had the style matchup to look better. He was bigger and just as fast and Mike was not concentrating on training as much. This same Douglas in Tokyo would have been stopped easily by Mike in 1987 or so.

 

the best version of witherspoon was the version who beat james smith on points. People will say it was the version who faced holmes but while he looked good enough to win holmes's edge in experience and competitiveness at world level evened things up and ultimatly eclipsed how good tim looked outboxing holmes for short spells. Against smith witherspoon boxed a masterclass the whole fight. smith was kept outside and was beat up each time he tried anything - it should and could have been stopped. witherspoon got himself into a groove and had nothing coming back against smith. witherspoon started exactly as good against pinklon thomas but entirely lost his way once thomas got his jab working in round 3. Witherspoon looked good enough to turn things around at any point but thomas kept him honest the whole time and it never happened. Douglas, if we are talking tokyo Douglas or even mike williams douglas was game and tough enough to match thomas for jabs, infact mike williams took a good and light witherspoon to a SD not long before douglas pounded him. So I feel Douglas post Tucker beats witherspoons best. Douglas was driven and ground out some good, well rounded wins in competative fights in the year or so befeore Tyson. Beating page, Tubbs and Bruno is not out of douglas's scope during that period.