Lets say these two get it on around 1983 abouts. Weaver was always dangerous. Carl "the truth" Williams got iced with one brutal punch from Hercules when he rushed in to finish him. You ever see those Nike t-shirts that say: "Lazy but Talented?" That was Spoon' to a tee. So much talent but not great focus or work ethic. His right hand was a dangerous weapon and his jab and overall boxing skills were superior to Weaver. But Weaver was never out of a fight because of his great one-punch power. A focused Witherspoon dominates Weaver. Proof that boxing is not a body-building contest as Weaver had the superior physique.
I like Weaver who had the better work rate and fitness. Witherspoon had talent but once he moved up in class his best wins were SD's while Weaver showed late power. Weaver had the better class wins Tate,Coetzee,Williams....I think the post Holmes Weaver can score a KO over Witherspoon or a decisive win but Weaver also had his erratic moments (sometimes politics) so this would be interesting
I'd be rooting for Weaver, but I think Witherspoon could probably take him out. Mike was tough but could definitely be hurt by a sudden bomb, something Tim was very capable of delivering. I think Witherspoon has a better chance of landing the big shot first.
1983 Weaver would have waxed him in my opinion, he was the better all around fighter, had a higher work rate, and in 83 was the more experienced fighter... A lot of folks like Witherspoon on this board they can have him, i didn't think much of him, especially after getting blasted out in 1 round by Smith, and losing to Everett Martin...
The punch the Witherspoon defense is open for is the left hook. He sure does a good job on slipping rights but Weaver never was never quick enough to throw right hand leads. Not until late in a fight when he'd get the other guy's handspeed down to hi. and then that opponent was in big big trouble Exchanging with Mike late. I think He hurts Tim with that devastating left hook to the breadbasket. He was the best bodypuncher in the division. Everyone else was a headhunter though. But I think Tim and his conditioning do not like a diet of body shots from this guy. He gets hurt and slows down and Weaver finishes him off the second half od the fight.
Have to go with Spoon. In my eyes he was just a better fighter, although he was inconsistent and unpredictable. But a Witherspoon at his best (which I assume is the version we are talking about) was a very, very good fighter and a handful for almost anyone. Weaver happens to be a favourite of mine, but he was a little - well, not fragile - but his whiskers weren't the stoutest. He was also a horrifically slow starter usually and even at his best had a low workrate. Hell of a puncher and a decent technician, but he had some quite glaring flaws. I think Tim is more well-rounded. My pick is Witherspoon by stoppage, although I can't pick a round.
Another thing to consider is that Witherspoon was a fast starter and Weaver was a slow starter. I think 'Spoon gets him early, with that sneak overhand right he had. Surprisingly quick it was, and he was a good finisher.
The more responses I read, the more I'm leaning towards Witherspoon. But I don't think it would be an early round knockout, especially if these two were prime. Tim was taken the distance or into the later rounds by most of his best opponents and Weaver really fought in some serious wars with top flight guys. This is a tough fight.
Wow. I never thought about this match-up before. Considering how late in life both guys fought, it's kind of surprising they never met. Totally even fight. I could see either guy winning a decision or either guy scoring a knockout at any time. It would've been a tremendous fight.
Weaver makes it close, but, back then, Witherspoon had the best chin around for a top notch heavy, and would win a decision.
I'd like to pick Weaver, but my gut is telling me not to. Weaver got KTFO a lot. He went 6-6 (4) thru his first 12 pro fights and was stopped 4 times. He won his next 8, 4 by KO... nothing really worth mentioning at this point, nothing very positive anyway. He lost 2 close 12 round decisions back to back including one to an undefeated Leroy Jones. He won his next 5 by KO including KO5 Bernardo Mercado and KO9 Stan Ward (who he had lost a close decision to in their first fight). He stopped Ward in the 9th round again a few years later. Next up was Larry Holmes in 1979 for the WBC HW world title. Weaver did well but was stopped in the 12th round. He won his next 5, 3 by KO including wins over Scott LeDoux W12, John Tate KO15 (for the WBA HW world title), Gerrie Coetzee KO13, and James Tillis W15. He lost the title by 1st round stoppage (B.S. stoppage) to Michael Dokes in 1982. He drew with Dokes after 15 rounds (in their rematch) and many felt Weaver should have regained the title. The did not fight a 3rd time. Politics man, politics! He went 4-3 (3) in his next 7 and was stopped twice. He gave Pinklon Thomas a tough fight before being stopped in the 8th round (for the WBC HW world title). He stopped Carl "The Truth" Williams in the 2nd round. He was stopped by Bonecrusjer Smith in the 1st round. He also lost a SD to a young Razor Ruddock in 1986. I could see Weaver catching an out of shape Witherspoon with a big shot and ending it by KO. My gut tells me Witherspoon by decision or late round KO though.
