Tim Witherspoon vs Wlad Klitschko

Well, with only 15 fights behind him, Tim managed to go 15 rounds with a rather lively Larry Holmes and penetrated his jab and boxing stance quite well. He knocked a very strong prime version of Frank Bruno, and bested an unbeaten Tubbs. He defeated Greg page when he was at his best, and was ducked by everybody. Tim possesed the full package: Power, size, reach, chin, and an awkword philly style that most couldn't figure out too easily. Sure he wasn't invincible, but fighters who were less durable and generally in a lesser class have gone the distance with Klitschko and on other occasions, handed him his lunch. There are only two key factors here, that would be issues for Witherspoon, 1. Would he be in top shape? and 2. Would his right hand be sufficient to KO Wlad who was mainly suseptible to lefts?

I think its possible that a peak Witherspoon could have been the best heavyweight in the current picture.

 

I'm a big Vlad fan and I regard him as being an all-time top 40 heavyweight. However I think Witherspoon would have been a very dangerous and risky fight for Vlad. There is a serious chance that Witherspoon could have beaten Klitschko.

I am assuming that Witherspoon fights his best here, as he did on rare occassions during his prime in the early and mid-80s. Tim would have to be in shape.

Overall, I would rate Vlad as a slight favorite to beat Witherspoon. My guess is that it would be another of Vlad's very, very cautious fights. He would remain at a distance from Tim and pick away at him with his jab. Vlad would dodge or block Witherspoon's punches and he would take absolutely no chances by throwing his own right hand. He would probably win this fight on points.

But like I said, I rate Vlad as being only slightly better than Witherspoon. In my opinion, there is a very serious chance that Witherspoon would come over the top with his right hand and knock Vlad out. Witherspoon had the speed and athleticism to score with this punch against Klitschko.

If Witherspoon were to win, I imagine him knocking out Vlad in a come-from-behind kind of way after losing the eary and middle rounds to Klitscho in a tactical fight.

Witherspoon was one hell of a fighter when he wanted to be.

 

'Spoon, close UD. Have to say I agree with much of mr magoo's summary. :good

 

This is how I see the outcome as well.

 

Witherspoon was always a could have been, he was never in top shape, most of his wins were split decisions, Greg Page,Tony Tubbs,Renaldo Snipes,Carl Williams,Mike Williams, he also lost a few the same way Larry Holmes,Pinklon Thomas,Everit Martin, I would have to say his biggest wins were over Frank Bruno tko 11 and Jose Luis Gonzales ko 6 but he was also KO'd by Bone clutcher Smith in 1 RD lost UD to Ray Mercer. A lot of Tims fight were horible to watch Tubbs,Page, he came in with Man boobs and was listless, if you look at his record he seems durable because only Smith flattened him in his prime, but if you watch his fights,slow, leaning heavys, Page,Tubbs,Etc... Vlads fight vs Sultan a couple of weeks ago was more exciting than most of Tims fights, they were terrible..When Tim was in shape he could catch some with his overhand roundhouse right which had power but Tim was not known for him punch output....Vlad would Jab his head off and one of those rocket rights would end the evening for Tim, who was one of the lasiest of all time Vlad KO 1-8 over TERIBLE TIM

 

Sounds right to me. :good An in shape Witherspoon is formidable (i had the Holmes fight a draw - six for each), but i think Wlad is a step above.

 

in a way, tim is the perfect guy to beat wlad. he had good upper body movement and he was good at getting under his opponents jab then coming over with that big right.

now unless wlad can hurt him early with the left hook (which is possible when spoon comes up from his crouch) and do a bonecrusher smith on him, this would would spell trouble for wlad.

spoon took frank brunos best shots, so i guess its pretty sure he could take wlads power.

i would see this short and explosive.

wlad would start pumping that jab overtime always looking to catch spoon with that left coming up.
spoon comes out bobing and weaving, looking to get under the jab.

i see spoon getting hurt and maybe even cut toward the end of round one, maybe even taking a knee.
round 2, wlad looks to close the show, but spoon inches closer, getting in some right in to wlads body, followed by wlad holding on to him in close.

wlad starts looking uncomfortable, as he always does when someone hits him back and he loses his stride.

having surprisingly lost the second round, wlad looks to establish control by backing up spoon. but suddenly spoon would counter one of wlads left hooks with that overhand right and wlads goes to both knees.

he scrambles up inside the count, but again has that fainting kind of look on him he had in the brewster fight.
he´d try to hold on for dear life, but spoon would wrestle free, finally nailing wlad and clubbing him to the ground the way he put away jorge luis gonzales.

as the doctor rushes in, so does vitaly, screaming something in ukrainian about wlad having been drugged during his nutsack implantation surgery and that the CIA, FBI, OSAMA BIN LADEN and even attilla the HUN being in on it and he will avenge his brother!!!!

two days later however, the fight between spoon and vitaly gets canceled cause vitaly again breaks his back while giving his brother a hot oil rubdown during some Photoshoot for some arty and certainly NOT GAY magazine.

 

Spoon by Knockout.

 

A prime, in-shape Spoon would have been tough for anyone to beat. I think he would have stopped Wlad late in the fight.

 

I go with Tim , Don King ruined Witherspoon career ,as he did quite a few others ,at the top of his game he stops Wlad imo.