Tim Witherspoon: Klitschkos wouldn't have lasted in the 80s

[WelshDevilRob]

“Terrible” Tim Witherspoon Says The Klitschkos “Wouldn’t Have Lasted In The ‘80s”

 

By James Slater: Though every former world champion, or most of them anyway, claims the era he dominated in was the best era, former two-time heavyweight titlist Tim Witherspoon makes an interesting point regarding the Klitschko brothers. Speaking with The Daily Record recently (ahead of a planned trip, with Mike Tyson, to Scotland), “Terrible” Tim said how Wladimir and Vitali have the heavyweight division “sewn up” today, but that they “wouldn’t have lasted in the decade when Mike and I were world champions.”

 

Sure to cause debate, is Witherspoon’s claim a worthy one? Would Drs. Steel Hammer and Iron Fist have coped with the best big men the 1980s had to offer? Remember, the ‘80s produced not only Tyson and Witherspoon, but also Larry Holmes. How would the two brothers have done against the three best heavyweights of that decade?

 

Personally, I think the peak Tyson, from 1988, would have been way too fast for both Wladimnir and Vitali. The speedy wrecking machine that rubbed out Michael Spinks would, in my opinion, have gotten inside the long reach of either brother, and once he was on the inside, Tyson would have gone to work to head and body alike. It would have taken a few rounds to topple the tree, but soon enough the crowd would have been hollering timber! (in the case of Wladimir anyway)

 

I think Tyson would have taken Wladimir out in around two or three rounds (remember what Corrie Sanders did to Wlad?), and I think he’d have hammered away sufficiently at Vitali to pound out a points win. But that’s just my opinion. Still, ask yourself, when has Wladimir or Vitali ever had to cope with anyone with the speed of a Mike Tyson? Never.

 

Larry Holmes, possessing a left jab even greater than Wladimir, would have beaten either brother, too. With his great chin, his superb boxing skills and his big right hand, “The Easton Assassin” would, in my opinion have won decisions against both siblings. They would have been good fights, one with Vitali especially, but Holmes had the tools needed to come out on top.

 

That just leaves Witherspoon himself. Here I feel the Klitshkos would have come out on top. Witherspoon’s feared overhand right might have caused the champions of today a few problems (when has anyone tried this punch against Wladimir or Vitali?), but overall Tim was too unpredictable and often too lazy in his fights to have been able to defeat the well conditioned giants. Witherspoon wouldn’t have been KO’d, though. Not the version that gave Holmes hell for 12-rounds, anyway.

 

Whether you agree with my opinions or not, one thing is definite, it sure would have be fun if the Klitschkos had fighters the calibre of Tyson, Holmes and Witherspoon to face today!

 

Source:

www.eastsideboxing.com

[Johnny Walker]

Tim Witherspoon is wrong. The Klitschko's would have done well in any era. In fact, before all is said and done, both will enhance their respective legacy's. Be proud of these guys; they are educated, decent, stand-up human beings and terrific ambassadors for boxing. They are taking on ALL comers, active, generous (their humanitarian deeds are there to find if you look hard enough) and aside from the general American-generated party line, they are terrific, effective offensive fighters. I for one do not find them "boring". That rumor was started by those that expect a mushroom cloud and multiple knockdowns ala Mike Tyson or MMA. Having come up admiring ALI, and later Holmes and Lennox, I can appreciate what I am seeing from these guys.

 

BTW - simply going by sheer styles, the againg 38-39 year-old Vitali we see today would have thumped the Riddick Bowe of 1992 quite convincingly. Vitali's ability to deflect right hands with his left arm is overlooked....and Bowe threw/telegraphed his overhand right like a baseball bat....just like Witherspoon. In a match-up with Vitali, Bowe would quickly become frustrated with Klitscko's pecking left jab, star swinging that right, start reach more and more..........

 

Of course, such a match-up would have never happened had Bowe been at his peak with the Vitali we see today. He avoided punchers and talented big men he felt were a threat. He left those battles to Lennox. ;)

 

 

Hmmm.......

[davemurphy]

I also disagree with Tim, I think he's doing exactly what a lot of the Contenders do and think the K2's would be easier to hit than they actually are. I don't know if they'd have been Champions in the 80's, but they'd sure as hell have both been in the Top Five and given any of those guys problems.

[Johnny Walker]

I also disagree with Tim, I think he's doing exactly what a lot of the Contenders do and think the K2's would be easier to hit than they actually are. I don't know if they'd have been Champions in the 80's, but they'd sure as hell have both been in the Top Five and given any of those guys problems.

 

Agreed. I don't say either would be champ in any given era....only that they'd be rated very highly...at the least...and that they'd be noticed. Certainly in the 80's....at the least....they'd take their turns with the bong known as the WBA heavyweight title. ;)

[davemurphy]

I also disagree with Tim, I think he's doing exactly what a lot of the Contenders do and think the K2's would be easier to hit than they actually are. I don't know if they'd have been Champions in the 80's, but they'd sure as hell have both been in the Top Five and given any of those guys problems.

 

Agreed. I don't say either would be champ in any given era....only that they'd be rated very highly...at the least...and that they'd be noticed. Certainly in the 80's....at the least....they'd take their turns with the bong known as the WBA heavyweight title. ;)

 

LOL, the Bong known as the WBA title. Great Line!! Nobody could seem to defend the thing.

[Wheelchair]

And the WBA belt is just as big a joke now.....

[donlevy]

The 80's produced alot of talented heavyweights - they just had their own personal problems that took away their best days in the ring.That era of heavyweights was so wide open,and lacked so much consistency that any genuinely talented heavyweight could have atleast picked up a title.

 

 

Vitali looks good againt slow,easy to hit plodders,but against elusive,fast boxers,he looks awkward,frustrated and is nowhere near as elusive a target.

 

 

Wlad is a better boxer but lacks a chin and any sort of stamina.Peter brought alot of pressure early in his rematch with Wlad,and while Wlad dealt with it,he looked uncomfortable fighting at that pace.I think a guy like Witherspoon,who is unorthadox,has a good defense,good speed and power could pose alot of trouble for Wlad.

[Johnny Walker]

And the WBA belt is just as big a joke now.....

 

Yes....and possibly bigger given the last decade.

[Johnny Walker]

The 80's produced alot of talented heavyweights - they just had their own personal problems that took away their best days in the ring.That era of heavyweights was so wide open,and lacked so much consistency that any genuinely talented heavyweight could have atleast picked up a title.

 

 

Vitali looks good againt slow,easy to hit plodders,but against elusive,fast boxers,he looks awkward,frustrated and is nowhere near as elusive a target.

 

 

Wlad is a better boxer but lacks a chin and any sort of stamina.Peter brought alot of pressure early in his rematch with Wlad,and while Wlad dealt with it,he looked uncomfortable fighting at that pace.I think a guy like Witherspoon,who is unorthadox,has a good defense,good speed and power could pose alot of trouble for Wlad.

 

Good points. Keep another thing in mind, Peter has nowhere near Spoon's ring generalship or ring intelligence.

[Wheelchair]

Withersoon was a good fighter, he beat Holmes but didn't get the decision, he was the first man to beat Tony Tubbs, and he very craftily KO'd Bruno.

 

A very underrated fighter.

[donlevy]

Could have had a better career without all the out-of-the ring issues with the whole court deal with Don King.

[Wheelchair]

Could have had a better career without all the out-of-the ring issues with the whole court deal with Don King.

 

Indeed. The fight I would have been interested to see would have been a prime Witherspoon vs Tyson. A good it would have been IMO.

[battlingsiki]

Witherspoon talking sense. The Klitchko's are average at best. The 80's group would have short circuited the Robot brothers. 2010 versions of the male stepford wives! Mutton dressed as Lamb -that is the reality. Witherspoon v Klitchko's like comparing Gold with soil. The voice of reason in a age of delusion. Thanks Tim!

[Johnny Walker]

Witherspoon talking sense. The Klitchko's are average at best. The 80's group would have short circuited the Robot brothers. 2010 versions of the male stepford wives! Mutton dressed as Lamb -that is the reality. Witherspoon v Klitchko's like comparing Gold with soil. The voice of reason in a age of delusion. Thanks Tim!

 

You are better than that, BS.

 

The Klitschko's are NOW becoming more recognized for being above average, if only begrudgingly. Vitali's return after four years off, and at an advanced age for the ring, no less, was damned impressive....especially when you consider the caliber of opposition he has been facing since that return. As for Wlad, he is fighting better now at 34, an age where Holmes, Louis and Ali were fading and sputtering.

 

I'll say it here; head to head either Klitschko would take the aforementioned trio to the brink. Styles make fights and both would e a difficult night for any big man in history.

 

There is NOTHING average about these two guys and the heavyweight division isn't as bad off as some would like to make out. It is devoid of color, yes, but not of talent....especially at the top.

[davemurphy]

Could have had a better career without all the out-of-the ring issues with the whole court deal with Don King.

 

True, Don. But I'll always have a fond place in my heart for Tim Witherspoon as the one fighter that stood up to Don King and didn't just take being screwed over.

[Wheelchair]

The early 80's WBA champs would have been easy meat for Vitali, but I'm not so sure about Wladimir.

[donlevy]

True, Don. But I'll always have a fond place in my heart for Tim Witherspoon as the one fighter that stood up to Don King and didn't just take being screwed over.

 

 

 

He does deserve respect for standing his ground,putting his career on hold for something that he felt passionately about.I listened to a online radio interview Witherspoon did with on the ropes radio a year back.He said that he was offered a title shot against Tyson during his troubles with King but turned it down because of the court case - or something like that.

 

 

Have you watched the dispatches special that Jack Newfield did for Channel 4 a few years back Dave? Witherspoon is featured quite prominently in this special.Very good watch,and I'd guess if you're familiar with Jack Newfield you'd know what it was about.

 

 

Rockytony67 uploaded a copy if you've not seen it.

[davemurphy]

True, Don. But I'll always have a fond place in my heart for Tim Witherspoon as the one fighter that stood up to Don King and didn't just take being screwed over.

 

 

 

He does deserve respect for standing his ground,putting his career on hold for something that he felt passionately about.I listened to a online radio interview Witherspoon did with on the ropes radio a year back.He said that he was offered a title shot against Tyson during his troubles with King but turned it down because of the court case - or something like that.

 

 

Have you watched the dispatches special that Jack Newfield did for Channel 4 a few years back Dave? Witherspoon is featured quite prominently in this special.Very good watch,and I'd guess if you're familiar with Jack Newfield you'd know what it was about.

 

 

Rockytony67 uploaded a copy if you've not seen it.

 

Yeah, Don, I did see that. That's also the one where Newfield showed up at a Press Conference for a Tyson fight and got escorted off the premises by security just for being there. It's a shame that Jack didn't live long enough to see King reduced to being a second tier promoter without any big mealtickets, he'd have loved this grin//

[Mooreman]

I think that both brothers would have fared well in any era, especially when you consider how much bigger they are than all the former champs. New technology has allowed this. So if you factor everything we have now into the equation then the Klits would have been very competetive with ANY champ, but if your going on Natural talent and ability then they would probably fall some way short.

 

I agree though, they are a credit to their sport. I'd be proud if two Irish brothers were destroying any heavyweight around, wouldnt matter what way they did it. Th English are a bit contradictory when it comes to the Klits, Lewis was hardly the most exciting guy around as brilliant as he was, yet the public soaked it up, and he wasnt really fully English. So slagging the Germans over loving the Klits is the ultimate contradiction!

 

I find that most true boxing fans have at least got respect for the brothers, whereas the bandwagoners hate them and dont know why.

[Johnny Walker]

The early 80's WBA champs would have been easy meat for Vitali, but I'm not so sure about Wladimir.

 

Not sure Tubbs would have been easy for Vitali, based on styles. I think Spoon would have been, again, based on styles.

[WelshDevilRob]

Fitness wise they certainly shame most of the 80's lot but on talent I think they are behind a fair few of them.

[londoner]

The 80s had Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, James Smith, Trevor Berbick, Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Gerry Cooney, Michael Spinks, Tyrell Biggs, Carl Williams, Donovan Ruddock, James Buster Douglas, Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas, James Broad, Greg Page, James Tillis.

 

Aside from Tyson who was a monster in the 80s, who couldn't the Klitschkos have beaten? They might have even beaten Tyson. I mean sure he had one of the biggest punches of all time but could he land on Vitali, for example? I'm not sure they'd have been long reigning champions but they'd have probably won titles, especially Vitali who has a solid chin and big punch.