Tim Witherspoon

Tim Witherspoon
Tim Witherspoon (left) in 2008 in Apperknowle
Statistics
Real name	Tim Witherspoon
Nickname(s)	Terrible
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height
Reach	78 in (198 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1957-12-27) December 27, 1957 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	69
Wins	55
Wins by KO	38
Losses	13
Draws	1
No contests	0

Tim Witherspoon (born December 27, 1957) is a retired American boxer who fought in the heavyweight division. Witherspoon recorded 55 victories in 69 fights with 38 knockouts and is a two-time former world heavyweight champion, having won the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association championships in his career. At the time of his second title victory, Witherspoon joined Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali as the only fighters to win multiple world heavyweight championships.

Early career

Witherspoon had eight and a half amateur bouts, losing one to Marvis Frazier on decision after getting knocked down.

Making his professional debut with a first-round TKO over Joe Adams on October 30, 1979, Witherspoon quickly rose through the ranks. In 1981, he participated in his first high profile fight, knocking out future world cruiserweight champion Alfonzo Ratliff, after which he was signed by an impressed Don King. Witherspoon was a sparring partner of Ali as he was training to fight Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick. Ali also gave Witherspoon his ring alias of "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon.

In 1982, he was matched with Renaldo Snipes, who had just given champion Larry Holmes a stiff challenge (and knocked Holmes down), and outpointed him over 10 rounds, setting up his own challenge to Holmes.

On May 20, 1983, Witherspoon would have his first attempt at earning a world title by taking on the recognized top man in the division World Boxing Council champion Larry Holmes at the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Witherspoon, a relative unknown, utilized his awkward style and natural physical strength and fought valiantly. However, he lost the fight by a split decision.

However Witherspoon had caused a stir with his showing and the expectations of a potentially glorious career would color what he eventually did accomplish. He returned later in the year to outpoint Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings, who had drawn with Joe Frazier in Smokin Joe's last fight, and win the NABF title impressively with a first round knockout of James "Quick" Tillis.

First Title Reign

In December 1983, Holmes relinquished his WBC title rather than defend against Greg Page, and chose to accept that of the newly formed IBF (International Boxing Federation).

Witherspoon was matched with Page for the vacant title on March 9, 1984. Page, in constant war with promoter Don King, turned up overweight and was outpointed in a close, mauling fight.

Witherspoon's reign as champion would not be long however, as soon he himself was in constant war with King, and on August 31 of that year he was outpointed by Pinklon Thomas via majority decision.

Second Title Reign

In 1985 Witherspoon regained his NABF belt by beating James Broad in two rounds and made a successful twelve round defense against James "Bonecrusher" Smith in his first defense of the belt. This earned him another chance at a heavyweight title and he signed to fight reigning WBA champion Tony Tubbs on January 17, 1986 in Atlanta. Witherspoon won a close fight by majority decision, winning by only one point on one of the scorecards and three on another with one even, to become champion for a second time.

In his first defense of his newly won championship, Witherspoon traveled to London and fought a young up and coming English heavyweight in future world champion Frank Bruno at Wembley Stadium. In the eleventh round of a scheduled fifteen, Witherspoon recorded a technical knockout and did something he had not done when he was champion the first time: make a successful defense of the title after winning it. After defeating Bruno, a rematch with Tony Tubbs loomed but Tubbs pulled out of the fight.

Needing to make a title defense, Witherspoon accepted a second fight with Bonecrusher Smith. Since dropping a lopsided decision in their first matchup (losing every round but one on all three scorecards) Smith had fought four bouts and recorded three wins, all against fringe contenders and journeymen. The fight was scheduled for December 12, 1986 at Madison Square Garden and Witherspoon a heavy favorite against the 17-5 Smith.

Smith decided to take a more aggressive approach against Witherspoon, however, and hurt him with the first punch he threw. Forty-five seconds into the round, Witherspoon dropped to a knee from a flurry of punches but referee Luis Rivera did not call it a knockdown. Thirty seconds after that, Smith felled Witherspoon again. The champion took a standing eight count but Smith took advantage of Witherspoon's unsteady legs and knocked him down a second time moments later. Witherspoon was never able to mount any offense against the challenger and with fifty seconds remaining in the round, Witherspoon hit the canvas a third time and Rivera ended the proceedings. At ringside, HBO commentators Barry Tompkins, Larry Merchant, and Sugar Ray Leonard expressed disbelief at the outcome, with all three calling the bout a major upset.

Post championship career

Following the end his second title reign, Witherspoon spent years warring with Don King in court. Avoided by numerous big name fighters, Witherspoon would fight scarcely, in varying shape and form. In 1991 won the USBA heavyweight title by defeating fellow contender Carl "The Truth" Williams but lost a points decision to journeyman Everett Martin.

In 1993 Don King settled out of court and paid Witherspoon a million dollars. By 1994 a new and in-shape Witherspoon was back, winning five fights in a row by knockout. Aged 38 he was inked by HBO and matched in high-profile fights with cruiserweight champion Al Cole and the Cuban amateur Jorge Luis González, both of whom he defeated comprehensively. Later in the year he was matched with Ray Mercer but lost a disputed 10-round decision.

After that loss Witherspoon laid off a year, and when he came back he was outpointed convincingly by the slick Larry Donald on HBO, and, in 1998, lost a close decision when outworked by New Zealander Jimmy Thunder before travelling to Poland to be outpointed by Andrew Golota.

The 43-year-old Witherspoon resurfaced in 2001, knocking out the prospect David Bostice in one round, outpointing Cuban southpaw contender Eliecer Castillo and Syrian Ahmed Abdin, before his revival was ended by hard hitting heavyweight Lou Savarese who stopped him in five rounds.

Witherspoon also competed in Cedric Kushner's 2003 Thunderbox Heavyweight Tournament, "Fistful of Dollars," but at 45 looked his age and lost in the opening stages.

Tim now resides in an area around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he trains boxers, including his son, lightweight Tim Witherspoon Jr and many others. He has also trained Light Heavyweight champion Clinton Woods in the U.K.

In 2014 Tim witherspoon will be publishing his book with the help of British entrepreneur Kevin Baker and ghost writer Ryan Danes.

Professional boxing record

55 Wins (38 knockouts, 17 decisions), 13 Losses (4 knockouts, 9 decisions), 1 Draw [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Rounds	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	55–13–1	Brian Nix	SD	10	15/03/2003	Grand Casino Pavilion, Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
Loss	55–12–1	Lou Savarese	TKO	5 (12)	22/09/2002	Table Mountain Casino, Friant, California, United States	For vacant WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
Win	55–11–1	Ahmed Abdin	UD	10	18/05/2002	Silver Star Casino, Choctaw, Mississippi, United States
Win	54–11–1	Darroll Wilson	KO	2 (10)	10/03/2002	Green Valley Ranch resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	53–11–1	Ed White	TKO	1 (?)	18/01/2002	Sports Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Win	52–11–1	Cleveland Woods	KO	1 (10)	29/07/2001	Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, United States
Loss	51–11–1	Monte Barrett	SD	10	28/06/2001	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, United States
Win	51–10–1	Danny Wofford	TKO	3 (10)	13/04/2001	Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, United States
Win	50–10–1	Elieser Castillo	MD	10	31/03/2001	Bally's Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	49–10–1	David Bostice	TKO	1 (10)	22/02/2001	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	48–10–1	David Smith	TKO	2 (10)	08/07/2000	Monroe, Louisiana, United States
Draw	47–10–1	Mike Sedillo	PTS	12	29/04/2000	St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda	For NBA Heavyweight Title.
Win	47–10	Joe Ballard	KO	1 (?)	25/02/2000	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	46–10	Greg Page	RTD	7 (10)	18/06/1999	Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Loss	46–9	Brian Nielsen	TKO	4 (10)	16/04/1999	K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Loss	46–8	Andrew Golota	UD	10	02/10/1998	Hala Ludowa, Wroclaw, Poland
Loss	46–7	Jimmy Thunder	UD	10	07/04/1998	Harrahs Casino, Cherokee, North Carolina, United States
Loss	46–6	Larry Donald	UD	12	13/12/1997	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	For WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title.
Win	46–5	Levi Billups	TKO	1 (10)	04/11/1997	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States	Billups down twice during the bout.
Loss	45–5	Ray Mercer	UD	10	14/12/1996	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	45–4	Jorge Luis Gonzalez	TKO	5 (10)	10/05/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
Win	44–4	Alfred Cole	UD	10	12/01/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
Win	43–4	Tim Puller	TKO	2 (10)	14/11/1995	Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States
Win	42–4	Everton Davis	TKO	7 (10)	31/10/1995	Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win	41–4	Jesse Shelby	TKO	1 (?)	24/03/1995	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	40–4	Nathaniel Fitch	TKO	6 (10)	17/14/1994	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	39–4	Sherman Griffin	TKO	3 (10)	12/08/1994	South Padre Island, Texas, United States
Win	38–4	Tony Willis	UD	10	25/08/1992	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss	37–4	Everett Martin	SD	10	21/07/1992	The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Win	37–3	James Pritchard	UD	10	23/03/1992	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	36–3	Jimmy Lee Smith	KO	1 (10)	04/02/1992	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	35–3	Art Tucker	TKO	3 (12)	10/09/1991	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Retained USBA Heavyweight title.
Win	34–3	Carl Williams	SD	12	08/03/1991	The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Won USBA Heavyweight title.
Win	33–3	Jose Ribalta	MD	10	19/07/1990	Kingdome, Seattle, Washington, United States
Win	32–3	Greg Gorrell	TKO	3 (12)	12/03/1990	Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Win	31–3	Jeff Sims	RTD	5 (10)	11/01/1990	Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	30–3	Anders Eklund	KO	1 (10)	19/10/1989	Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	29–3	Larry Alexander	SD	10	27/01/1989	Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	28–3	Mauricio Villegas	TKO	9 (10)	17/02/1988	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
Win	27–3	Mike Williams	SD	10	14/10/1987	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	26–3	Mark Wills	TKO	1 (10)	04/08/1987	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Witherspoon swarms all over Wills who fails to punch back and is stopped on his feet.
Loss	25–3	James Smith	TKO	1 (15)	12/12/1986	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	Lost WBA World Heavyweight title.
Win	25–2	Frank Bruno	KO	11 (12)	19/07/1986	Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom	Retained WBA World Heavyweight title.
Win	24–2	Tony Tubbs	MD	15	17/01/1986	The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, United States	Won WBA World Heavyweight title.
Win	23–2	Sammy Scaff	TKO	4 (10)	12/10/1985	National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom
Win	22–2	Larry Beilfuss	TKO	1 (10)	06/09/1985	Tamiani Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, United States	Beilfuss down twice during the bout.
Win	21–2	James Smith	UD	12	15/06/1985	Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained NABF Heavyweight title.
Win	20–2	James Broad	KO	2 (12)	29/04/1985	Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States	Retained NABF Heavyweight title.
Win	19–2	Mark Wills	KO	9 (10)	25/03/1985	Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
Loss	18–2	Pinklon Thomas	MD	12	31/08/1984	Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Lost WBC Heavyweight title.
Win	18–1	Greg Page	MD	12	09/03/1984	Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won vacant WBC Heavyweight title.
Win	17–1	James Tillis	TKO	1 (12)	23/09/1983	Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, United States	Won vacant NABF Heavyweight title. Title had been vacated by Michael Dokes when he won the WBA title.
Win	16–1	Floyd Cummings	UD	10	16/07/1983	Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Cummings was down in the second round.
Loss	15–1	Larry Holmes	SD	12	20/05/1983	Dunes Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For WBC Heavyweight title.
Win	15–0	Renaldo Snipes	MD	10	05/06/1982	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	14–0	Luis Acosta	KO	2 (8)	30/03/1982	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	13–0	Alfonzo Ratliff	TKO	7 (10)	05/12/1981	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	12–0	Curtis Gaskins	TKO	2 (?)	17/11/1981	Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	11–0	Jerry Williams	TKO	8 (10)	30/07/1981	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	10–0	Jerry Williams	KO	4 (10)	17/06/1981	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	9–0	Dave Johnson	UD	8	11/04/1981	Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York, United States
Win	8–0	Marvin Stinson	PTS	10	07/02/1981	Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win	7–0	Ed Bednarik	PTS	10	24/01/1981	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	6–0	James Reid	KO	6 (?)	11/12/1980	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	5–0	Oliver Wright	TKO	2 (8)	24/10/1980	Martin Luther King Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	4–0	Charles Cox	KO	5 (?)	20/07/1980	Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, United States
Win	3–0	Robert Evans	UD	6	09/05/1980	Great Gorge Playboy Club, McAfee, New Jersey, United States
Win	2–0	Robert Ritchie	KO	1 (?)	26/04/1980	Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
Win	1–0	Joe Adams	TKO	1 (?)	30/10/1979	Forum, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, United States

External links

• Professional boxing record for Tim Witherspoon from BoxRec

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Michael Dokes Vacated	NABF Heavyweight Champion September 23, 1983 – March 9, 1984 Vacated	Succeeded by James Broad
Preceded by Larry Holmes Vacated	Heavyweight boxing champion (WBC) March 9, 1984 – August 31, 1984	Succeeded by Pinklon Thomas
Preceded by James Broad	NABF Heavyweight Champion April 29, 1985 – January 17, 1986 Vacated	Succeeded by Larry Alexander
Preceded by Tony Tubbs	Heavyweight boxing champion (WBA) January 17, 1986 -December 12, 1986	Succeeded by James 'Bonecrusher' Smith

==References==