Tim Witherspoon

Tim Witherspoon (born December 27, 1957) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2003. He was a two-time world heavyweight champion, having held the WBC title in 1984, and the WBA title in 1986. He beat heavyweight world champions Greg Page, James Smith, Tony Tubbs, Frank Bruno and cruiserweight world champions Alfonzo Ratliff and Al Cole. He is best known for his fight against undefeated heavyweight world champion Larry Holmes in which he lost by split decision. Witherspoon also worked as a regular sparring partner for Muhammad Ali.

Professional career

Early years

Witherspoon had six amateur bouts, losing the last 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 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 complimentary ring alias of "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon.

Witherspoon vs. Larry Holmes: WBC heavyweight title

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 gave Holmes all he could handle, including rocking him badly in the ninth round, before losing a disputed twelve round split decision.

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.

Boxing Style

Like other Philadelphia fighters, such as George Benton, Witherspoon was known for his use of the Philly Shell. Witherspoon would switch between the Philly Shell and the cross-armed guard depending on what punches he was defending against. Witherspoon used this defense in conjunction with rubber necking, which is turning the head to reduce the impact of punches, and effective counterpunching.

Life after boxing

Witherspoon resides near 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 UK.

In 2014, Witherspoon published his book with the help of British entrepreneur Kevin Baker and ghost writer Ryan Danes.

Professional boxing record

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Age

!Location

!Notes

|69

|Loss

|style="text-align:left;"| Brian Nix

|SD

|10

|Mar 15, 2003

|style="text-align:left;"|

|68

|Loss

|55–12–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Lou Savarese

|TKO

|5 (12),

|Sep 22, 2002

|style="text-align:left;"|

|67

|Win

|55–11–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Ahmed Abdin

|UD

|10

|May 18, 2002

|style="text-align:left;"|

|66

|Win

|54–11–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Darroll Wilson

|KO

|2 (10),

|Mar 10, 2002

|style="text-align:left;"|

|65

|Win

|53–11–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Ed White

|TKO

|1,

|Jan 18, 2002

|style="text-align:left;"|

|64

|Win

|52–11–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland Woods

|KO

|1 (10),

|Jul 29, 2001

|style="text-align:left;"|

|63

|Loss

|51–11–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Monte Barrett

|SD

|10

|Jun 28, 2001

|style="text-align:left;"|

|62

|Win

|51–10–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Danny Wofford

|TKO

|3 (10)

|Apr 13, 2001

|style="text-align:left;"|

|61

|Win

|50–10–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Elieser Castillo

|MD

|10

|Mar 31, 2001

|style="text-align:left;"|

|60

|Win

|49–10–1

|style="text-align:left;"| David Bostice

|TKO

|1 (10),

|Feb 22, 2001

|style="text-align:left;"|

|59

|Win

|48–10–1

|style="text-align:left;"| David Smith

|TKO

|2 (10),

|Jul 8, 2000

|style="text-align:left;"|

|58

|Draw

|47–10–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Mike Sedillo

|12

|Apr 29, 2000

|style="text-align:left;"|

|57

|Win

|47–10

|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Ballard

|KO

|Feb 25, 2000

|style="text-align:left;"|

|56

|Loss

|46–10

|style="text-align:left;"| Greg Page

|RTD

|7 (10),

|Jun 18, 1999

|style="text-align:left;"|

|55

|Loss

|46–9

|style="text-align:left;"| Brian Nielsen

|TKO

|4 (10)

|Apr 16, 1999

|style="text-align:left;"|

|54

|Loss

|46–8

|style="text-align:left;"| Andrew Golota

|UD

|10

|Oct 2, 1998

|style="text-align:left;"|

|53

|Loss

|46–7

|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmy Thunder

|UD

|10

|Apr 7, 1998

|style="text-align:left;"|

|52

|Loss

|46–6

|style="text-align:left;"| Larry Donald

|UD

|12

|Dec 13, 1997

|style="text-align:left;"|

|51

|Win

|46–5

|style="text-align:left;"| Levi Billups

|TKO

|1 (10),

|Nov 4, 1997

|style="text-align:left;"|

|50

|Loss

|45–5

|style="text-align:left;"| Ray Mercer

|UD

|10

|Dec 14, 1996

|style="text-align:left;"|

|49

|Win

|45–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Jorge Luis González

|TKO

|5 (10),

|May 10, 1996

|style="text-align:left;"|

|48

|Win

|44–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Al Cole

|UD

|10

|Jan 12, 1996

|style="text-align:left;"|

|47

|Win

|43–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Tim Puller

|TKO

|2 (10),

|Nov 14, 1995

|style="text-align:left;"|

|46

|Win

|42–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Everton Davis

|TKO

|7 (10),

|Oct 31, 1995

|style="text-align:left;"|

|45

|Win

|41–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Jesse Shelby

|TKO

|1 (10)

|Mar 24, 1995

|style="text-align:left;"|

|44

|Win

|40–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Nathaniel Fitch

|TKO

|6 (10)

|Dec 17, 1994

|style="text-align:left;"|

|43

|Win

|39–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Sherman Griffin

|TKO

|3 (10),

|Aug 12, 1994

|style="text-align:left;"|

|42

|Win

|38–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Tony Willis

|UD

|10

|Aug 25, 1992

|style="text-align:left;"|

|41

|Loss

|37–4

|style="text-align:left;"| Everett Martin

|SD

|10

|Jul 21, 1992

|style="text-align:left;"|

|40

|Win

|37–3

|style="text-align:left;"| James Pritchard

|UD

|10

|Mar 23, 1992

|style="text-align:left;"|

|39

|Win

|36–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Jimmy Lee Smith

|KO

|1 (10),

|Feb 4, 1992

|style="text-align:left;"|

|38

|Win

|35–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Art Tucker

|TKO

|3 (12),

|Sep 10, 1991

|style="text-align:left;"|

|37

|Win

|34–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Carl Williams

|SD

|12

|Mar 8, 1991

|style="text-align:left;"|

|36

|Win

|33–3

|style="text-align:left;"| José Ribalta

|MD

|10

|Jul 19, 1990

|style="text-align:left;"|

|35

|Win

|32–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Greg Gorrell

|TKO

|3 (10),

|Mar 12, 1990

|style="text-align:left;"|

|34

|Win

|31–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Jeff Sims

|5 (10),

|Jan 11, 1990

|style="text-align:left;"|

|33

|Win

|30–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Anders Eklund

|KO

|1 (10),

|Oct 19, 1989

|style="text-align:left;"|

|32

|Win

|29–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Larry Alexander

|SD

|10

|Jan 27, 1989

|style="text-align:left;"|

|31

|Win

|28–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Mauricio Villegas

|TKO

|9 (10)

|Feb 17, 1988

|style="text-align:left;"|

|30

|Win

|27–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Mike Williams

|SD

|10

|Oct 14, 1987

|style="text-align:left;"|

|29

|Win

|26–3

|style="text-align:left;"| Mark Wills

|TKO

|1 (10),

|Aug 4, 1987

|style="text-align:left;"|

|28

|Loss

|25–3

|style="text-align:left;"| James Smith

|TKO

|1 (15),

|Dec 12, 1986

|style="text-align:left;"|

|27

|Win

|25–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Frank Bruno

|TKO

|11 (15),

|Jul 19, 1986

|style="text-align:left;"|

|26

|Win

|24–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Tony Tubbs

|MD

|15

|Jan 17, 1986

|style="text-align:left;"|

|25

|Win

|23–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Sammy Scaff

|TKO

|4 (10),

|Oct 12, 1985

|style="text-align:left;"|

|24

|Win

|22–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Larry Beilfuss

|TKO

|1 (10),

|Sep 6, 1985

|style="text-align:left;"|

|23

|Win

|21–2

|style="text-align:left;"| James Smith

|UD

|12

|Jun 15, 1985

|style="text-align:left;"|

|22

|Win

|20–2

|style="text-align:left;"| James Broad

|KO

|2 (12),

|Apr 29, 1985

|style="text-align:left;"|

|21

|Win

|19–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Mark Wills

|TKO

|9 (10),

|Mar 25, 1985

|style="text-align:left;"|

|20

|Loss

|18–2

|style="text-align:left;"| Pinklon Thomas

|MD

|12

|Aug 31, 1984

|style="text-align:left;"|

|19

|Win

|18–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Greg Page

|MD

|12

|Mar 9, 1984

|style="text-align:left;"|

|18

|Win

|17–1

|style="text-align:left;"| James Tillis

|TKO

|1 (12),

|Sep 23, 1983

|style="text-align:left;"|

|17

|Win

|16–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Floyd Cummings

|UD

|10

|Jul 16, 1983

|style="text-align:left;"|

|16

|Loss

|15–1

|style="text-align:left;"| Larry Holmes

|12

|May 20, 1983

|style="text-align:left;"|

|15

|Win

|15–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Renaldo Snipes

|10

|Jun 5, 1982

|style="text-align:left;"|

|14

|Win

|14–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Luis Acosta

|KO

|2 (10),

|Mar 30, 1982

|style="text-align:left;"|

|13

|Win

|13–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Alfonzo Ratliff

|TKO

|7 (10),

|Dec 5, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|12

|Win

|12–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Curtis Gaskins

|KO

|2 (8)

|Nov 17, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|11

|Win

|11–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Jerry Williams

|TKO

|8 (10)

|Jul 30, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|10

|Win

|10–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Bobby Jordan

|KO

|4 (10)

|Jun 17, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|9–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Dave Johnson

|UD

|Apr 11, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|8–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Marvin Stinson

|10

|Feb 7, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|7–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Ed Bednarik

|TKO

|1,

|Jan 24, 1981

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|6–0

|style="text-align:left;"| James Reid

|TKO

|6 (8)

|Dec 11, 1980

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|5–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Oliver Wright

|TKO

|2 (8)

|Oct 24, 1980

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|4–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Charles Cox

|KO

|Jul 20, 1980

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|3–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Robert Evans

|May 9, 1980

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|2–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Robert Ritchie

|Apr 26, 1980

|style="text-align:left;"|

|Win

|1–0

|style="text-align:left;"| Joe Adams

|1,

|Oct 30, 1979

|style="text-align:left;"|

References

External links

"Terrible" Times: A Life of Tim Witherspoon at boxing.com