Tim Witherspoon vs Jeff Sims - Two big HW bombers clash in early 90's TV bout

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Mar 6, 2018.


  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Jeff Sims is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting and enigmatic heavyweights of the past 30+ years. Certainly among the most troubled. Guy made Sonny Liston look like a straight laced citizen.

    Sims was initially a sparring partner of an older Muhammad Ali and a young Gerry Cooney. He gained a degree of infamy after splitting Ali's lip badly during a heated sparring session, resulting in Ali growing a mustache to hide the cut that would leave him with a scar. He was at one time, for a brief period, a top ten heavyweight.

    Sims learned how to fight while incarcerated for manslaughter, arrested for the crime at the age of 17 after a childhood and young adult life spent in destitute poverty. He supposedly quickly took to boxing within prison and accumulated a 21-0 record with 21 first round knockouts.

    Sims was pretty old in this fight, seemingly unable to throw a right hand. He had been in a car crash that resulted in one of his shoulders and arms having to be rebuilt. He was also carrying several bullets in his body at this point, a result of numerous "disputes" over his life.

    Tons of good information on Sims in this broadcast and in this early 80's article. I've always had an interest in the man and his unskilled but seemingly huge power, being compared to the likes of Shaver's while he was coming up by pundits and trainers.

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    http://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/27/sports/sports-of-the-times-bulletproof-boxer-is-healthy-again.html
     
  2. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I also love watching Terrible Tim ply his wares and skills... I can't see many punchers catching him cold in hypothetical match ups, honestly. Look at how relaxed he is in the ring, and how well he sees and navigates around all incoming fire... Certainly one of the most skilled heavyweights of the past 30 plus years. Just because he didn't dance like Ali or jab like Holmes doesn't mean he wasn't exceptionally skilled, albeit in a much quieter and loud manner.
     
  3. joebeadg

    joebeadg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I really like Tim, he is like Jimmy Young, but with big power. He was a VERY skilled boxer, when he was on
     
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  4. JC40

    JC40 Boxing fan since 1972 banned Full Member

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    G'day fellas, judging from his public persona Witherspoon always seemed like a really nice bloke to me.

    As you guys noted he was a very crafty fighter, almost Archie Moore like with his fight ending power ( his right hand was a real bomb ) , cross armed defense and extremely relaxed ring demeanor.

    Bruno vs Witherspoon is an all time classic as far as the " fat, outta shape " guy actually coming home with a full sail in the later rounds vs a human "Adonis" who looked like he would never get tired.

    Never judge a book from it's cover...
     
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  5. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    "splitting Ali's lip badly during a heated sparring session, resulting in Ali growing a mustache to hide the cut that would leave him with a scar."

    Russell. Good info...I always wondered why Ali was sporting that mustache for awhile.
     
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  6. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sims beat Texan Nick Wells back in 1980 as a pro. Nick Wells was a great amateur in the mid-70's of the Duane Bobick / Barry Yates/ Teo Stevenson Era, and put some whippings on the young Larry Holmes as an amateur if I remember correctly.
     
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  7. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I believe Wells knocked out Holmes twice as an amateur, a sticking point/factoid that critics and detractors of Holmes used to routinely bring up during his ascent through the ranks. He was Larry's amateur boogey man, much like Mark Wills would become a perpetual thorn in Greg Page's professional side. Same situation as Hearns/Barkley, really.

    Sometimes, there's just a guy out there with a quarter of your talent who's still going to beat you every time out for one reason or another.
     
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  8. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    The Moore comparison is a great one, but Spoon really does feel like a super sized Mongoose... both in terms of most of his fight ending power being in one hand despite both actually being able to punch with either, their respective zen like calmness in the ring, the cross armed defense,

    Funny enough Moore had his own "Bonecrusher" sized mishap, being stopped in a one round blitzing by a fighter named Leonard Morrow. I guess it really can happen to anyone, sound as your defense is, and whether you're a blown up LHW or flirting with being a super heavyweight...
     
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  9. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Concur. I was going to use the same verbiage above ^, but being a Texan, I
    am not a "wordsmith" like you. (lol)
     
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  10. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Hahah, I'm a New Englander and can barely speak functional English half the time... :risas3:
     
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  11. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What did the media call that "snowstorm" that hit New England recently ?
    Something like a Bomb-Storm, or other nonsense. Kinda like a F-5 tornado out in West Texas
    refered to as a minor "whirlwind" came through the North Forty out on the Ranch last night.
     
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  12. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I'm smack dab in the middle of Connecticut... :scared1

    They're talking about 10 inches of snow starting tomorrow afternoon. Hoping I don't lost power (Would mean I wouldn't be able to post with all you excellent gentlemen tomorrow afternoon and evening, you included Longhorn! :hang)
     
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  13. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ha. Thanks for the info. Will keep on eye on CT weather situation over next few days. (from afar).
     
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  14. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Anyone watching and enjoying the fights I've been posting? Trying to dig up stuff on the obscure side, with interesting fighters and bouts. Also trying to stoke the fires of nostalgia for posters here...
     
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  15. JC40

    JC40 Boxing fan since 1972 banned Full Member

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    Stay safe you guys, being an Aussie from the large tropical state of Queensland I have only seen snow once in my life when I went down to the ACT to have some hols with the wife. We went n visited the well named " Snowy " :rolleyes: mountains.

    Those blizzards look pretty damn ugly.
     
    Last edited: Mar 6, 2018
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