Who beats Tim Witherspoon out of the alltime best 100 HWs

You need to list the fighters in tiers :yep

 

brian london on any list is magical

 

When considering this, please keep in mind that Tim's career best performance may have been against Holmes.

Following Larry's ninth round right hand bomb off the ropes, Witherspoon took his foot off of the accelerator. When asked why, he in effect stated that he thought he had it in the bag. [I've always suspected the real reason is that shot hurt 'Spoon more than he'll ever admit, turning him from "Terrible Tim" into "Timid Tim."] Witherspoon's reasoning as expressed to the reporters is daft and delusional for any challenger of such an established champion to indulge in and act on.

Larry ALWAYS fought as if he was the challenger who had to win it. That's why 15 of his failed challengers failed to last the distance. [As for those who did reach the final bell, Berbick only aimed to last the distance, getting shut out in the process, Cobb also got shut out, Rodriguez aimed for the distance in a 12 round shutout loss, 'Spoon had a 12 round challenge, and Carl Williams came at the tail end of his eight year reign.] This is also why Larry sustained only two absolutely conclusive defeats in his entire long career. [Tyson and Holyfield obviously. The argument has been made that he should have been awarded the decision in four of his five official decision defeats. Michael Spinks II and Nielson are particularly controversial.]

Because he was such a phenomenal natural athlete, I don't believe Tim ever had that chip on his shoulder "go for it" mentality. With his power, there's no way he should have a lower knockout percentage than Holmes if he'd applied himself with the same kind of commitment Larry did. He was the only one defeated by Everett Martin in the midst of what otherwise would have been a 14 fight losing streak by Bigfoot. Ridiculous.

I thought he was clearly out hustled inside by Snipes in the match which got him to Larry, but the idea of a rematch between Holmes and Renaldo was clearly untenable, so Snipes would have had to stop 'Spoon to win.

Really, Tim simply did not have the heart and hustle to legitimately defeat well conditioned all time heavyweights noted for heart and the ability to recover from a good shot. [I'll reiterate here that I do not consider him to have legitimately defeated Snipes.] A 15 round rematch between Witherspoon and a healthy Holmes not afflicted with dehydration inducing dysentery would not have been a pleasant experience for Tim. The Weaver who successfully defended the WBA Title against Coetzee and Tillis would have bested him. He won the WBC Championship via MD over Page, the WBA Title via MD over Tubbs, and the USBA Championship via SD over Carl Williams. Who's his best scalp in a stoppage win, his only successful world title defense against a highly susceptible and notoriously vulnerable Bruno [while obviously not in the peak condition of the Holmes challenge]?

Unlike, say, Arguello, he was simply not a compelling title challenger, and he dethroned only two defending champions via controversial decisions.

Potential, not self-actualization, defines him and his career. It was what it was. He didn't come remotely close to making the most of himself that he could, because he didn't have the focus in his head, or fire in his heart and belly to do so. [That's part of why guys like Marciano and Frazier are so admired. They actually took advantage of their limitations with unparalleled focus, concentration and dedication.]

The Buster Douglas of Tokyo beats him. Witherspoon never put it all together like that for an individual performance. I'd also take the Michael Spinks of Holmes I, Cooney and Tangstad over him by decision.

For this thread, the question should be reversed. "Who does Tim Witherspoon beat out of the all time best 100 HWs?" That should shrink the list of names considerably, and make it much easier and simpler to answer. [Unlike this reply!]

 

the top tier would guys beat him and most of the dominant champions, Tim had talent but was an under achiever, most of the big fights he won were close SD IMO he never really stepped up to his best but he was a solid contender but below the top guys

 

Who ?

 

I don't know if I agree with everything written here, but still a very good post nonetheless.. I never really thought about a Witherspoon vs Weaver match. Hercules fought with incredible tenacity from 1978-1981 and would have been a formidable opponent for most guys. At one point I would have picked Tim to beat him, but looking at it more closely I'm not so sure anymore. Weaver was serious business in the ring.

 

Well by that is there anyone who wouldn't best him? You might as well add Jack Bodell to that list!

 

Might be Jack....

 

About 50% of that list i reckon...
almost beat Holmes ( should have been a draw)
He did beat Smith and Tubbs ,Page

 

gooney!

 

I think he beats at least two thirds of the men on THAT list while giving the remaining third fits in competitive losing efforts. Of course this is assuming that he is at his best for those meetings.

 

:good