Thomas - Witherspoon, Under Rated Classic

I watched this fight recently, it was a very good fight between two good fighters.

 

Witherspoon looked the better fighter until Thomas got his jab going. Witherspoon could not get set after that.

 

No disrespect to Berbick,but Thomas had slipped alarmingly since the Witherspoon fight.

 

I also think Berbick's awkward style to go along with great strength gave Thomas trouble. Also I think it just wasn't a good night for Thomas and it was a particularly good night for Berbick leading to the upset. After the Berbick fight Thomas never really was the same. Apparently he got heavy into drugs for a while before staging a comeback. I thought he performed well in his fight with Tyson though being destroyed in the end he had a few good rounds against a prime Tyson but no good performances would follow the Tyson fight and he was easily destroyed by a number of up and coming heavyweights.

 

Witherspoon was in good shape but he's timing and balance seemed off. He didn't look as good as he had against Holmes.
But I credit most of that to Pinklon Thomas.

 

Good fight.

 

I had Witherspoon winning it 120:118 due 2 winning d 1st 2 rds & d rest wer iven

 

I watched it about a year ago. Both men appeared to be in good shape and were busy for most of the evening. Witherspoon seemed to have an issue with blinking his eye, and Ray Leonard even commented on it. Wonder if he got thumbed. I gave Tim the first two rounds, but Pinklon took over from there

 

I don't know the whole story, but people have mentioned that apparently Thomas's heroine problem had started taking its toll by 1986 and began effecting his performances. That's here say though.

 

Thomas has said he didn't start using drugs (heroin and cocaine) again until 1988 or '89. He was going through some serious business problems and a divorce in '85 and '86. He also thought he could sing.
I think the Weaver fight might have taken something out of him too. It was a bit of a war.

He certainly looked bad against Berbick, and steadily worse in his fights after that.

 

I don't really know that much about Pinklon Thomas. But in the Witherspoon fight as well as a few clips that I've seen of him earlier he looked like a sharp talent. Excellent Jab and boxing skill. Shame he couldn't keep that going a bit longer.

 

Yeah, he was an excellent fighter for a short period.
Check out the Weaver fight if you haven't seen it. His fights with Tillis and Coetzee are pretty good too.