'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon Reflects on his Boxing Career


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'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon Reflects on his Boxing Career

Interview Ken Hissner (Jan 31, 2008) Doghouse Boxing

The City of Brotherly Love has one world champion, in IBF cruiserweight titleholder Steve Cunningham. He is always available to the public. Former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins has a big super middleweight fight coming up. On occasions you will still notice him at a fight. ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier can be seen every once in awhile. He still has that name.

Of all the Philly fighters today the most visible is former two time world heavyweight champion ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon.

Whether it’s at a professional show or an amateur show Witherspoon always has a smile and wave for his many fans. He would be ready at the drop of a hat to fight former champion Larry Holmes who only talks about fighting ‘Big’ George Foreman. The name Witherspoon is not in his vocabulary.

This May will mark 25 years since the night Witherspoon was deprived of the WBC heavyweight championship. Holmes looked like he walked into a beehive. Only when Holmes vacated the title in order not to fight Witherspoon again was there another opportunity to fight for the WBC title. It was March 9, 1984 when he won a majority decision over Greg Page in Las Vegas, Nevada to win his first of two titles. Then losing the title on a controversial majority decision to Pinklon Thomas, again he was deprived of a rematch. He took a different route winning the WBA title from Tony ‘TNT’ Tubbs on January 17, 1986. It happened to be on the birthday of the man he was a sparring partner for up at Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, the self proclaimed ‘Greatest’, Muhammad Ali.

I had the pleasure of talking with the well liked, colorful former two time champion who is training fighters today. He spends his time going between Philadelphia and the United Kingdom working corners and seeking out new prospects.

Ken Hissner: I understand you didn’t have much of an amateur career.

Tim Witherspoon: Just five fights and the last with Marvis Frazier.

KH: Who was your trainer and manager when you first got started?

TW: Clarence Booker was my trainer. We had a falling out when I found out he turned down using me as a sparring partner for Holmes, making good money. Max and Ira Schwartz were my managers.

KH: You scored two first round knockouts at the start of your career. How’d you feel?

TW: I was scared because I was still learning.

KH: You win your first 7 fights, six by knockout, and win a 10 round decision over previously unbeaten Marvin Stinson (12-1-3) who was the former 1976 AAU champion.

TW: I only had 7 days notice, but had fought two weeks prior to the match.

KH: In your 13th fight you stop previously unbeaten Alfonso Ratcliff (13-1) of Chicago, in Atlantic City. This win put you in the ratings.

TW: Being he was taller than me it was a very challenging fight.

KH: You are then matched with top contender Renaldo Snipes (22-1) who was coming off a title fight with WBC champ Larry Holmes. He had Holmes down in the 7th round, but was stopped in the 11th round. Was this considered an elimination match for you?

TW: Yes it was. I was promised a title bout if I won.

KH: It was almost a year before you fought Holmes in your next fight. What took so long for this fight to materialize?

TW: I was showing ‘Lightning’ Bob Smith, a friend of mine, how to throw a left hook. He hit me while I was talking and broke my jaw.

KH: You only have 15 fights and Holmes is making his 15th title defense. How did you overcome such great odds?

TW: I felt in great shape.

KH: It was a hard fought fight and most observers thought there was going to be a new champion announced after the fight. What was going through your mind?

TW: It was an easy fight for me. I out jabbed the jabber. King (promoter Don King) told me ahead of time I would have to knock him out to win.

KH: Just 2 months later you are back in the ring with Jumbo Cummings (15-4-1) who had fought to a draw with ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Why back so soon?

TW: King ordered me to fight that soon. It was an easy fight.

KH: Just two months later you are matched with James ‘Quick’ Tillis (26-3) who had lost a 15 round decision to then WBA champion Mike Weaver. This was for the NABF title. Were you surprised when you stopped him in the first round?

TW: I got an ear infection and had to postpone a fight with Tillis. He bad mouthed me and I got suspended. King got me off the suspension but I had to sign with him. I knew I was going to knock Tillis out.

KH: In March of 1984 Holmes was avoiding rematches with you, and Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams. He was instrumental if the IBF forming and jumped ship. The WBC picked Greg Page and you to fight for the vacant title. You win becoming the WBC champ. How did that make you feel?

TW: I only got a purse of 50k. Page and I had sparred before at Ali’s camp. Winning the title wasn’t all that much.

KH: In your first defense you lose to Pinklon Thomas (24-0-1) by majority decision. Once again, you would not get a rematch.

TW: I thought I won that fight.

KH: You win your next five fights including James Broad for the NABF title and ‘Bonecrusher’, who also had lost to Holmes in a title bout. You earned a title shot at WBA champ Tony ‘TNT’ Tubbs (21-0). You win a majority decision and become a two time champion.

TW: Broad was an easy fight. As far as winning the title it was pretty good. The purse was only 30 or 40k. I think I took 5k home with me.

KH: You travel to London in your first defense against Frank Bruno (28-2, 27 KOs) whose only loss is to James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith. You stop him in the 11th round of a very close fight. Word is he made more money than you did.

TW: My purse was 90k and his was 900k.

KH: You are put in a rematch with ‘Bonecrusher’ and get knocked down three times in the first round and again find yourself without a title. What happened?

TW: I was supposed to fight Tubbs again. I was not in the proper shape to fight Bonecrusher. Tubbs withdrew days before the fight. This is what brought about the lawsuit against King, Jose Torres, New York commissioner and the WBA.

KH: You filed a 25 million dollar lawsuit and are probably the only boxer to win a lawsuit against King.

TW: That is another story, for another time.

KH: You win eight easy fights in a row and are matched with Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams (23-3) in March of 1991 for the USBA title. You win a split decision. Tell us about it.

TW: We were both in good shape. He jabbed good. Two young lions fought like it was a world title match.

KH: Three wins follow this fight and you suddenly lose to Everett ‘Bigfoot’ Martin (17-14-1) who was on a nine fight losing streak. What happened?

TW: My promoter Dennis Rappaport was talking too much trash about Michael Moorer and we were fighting in Detroit. It got the local people upset. I thought I won the fight but think his talking might have influenced the judges.

KH: Seven straight wins and you are matched with the former Olympic Gold medalist Jorge Luis Gonzalez (24-1), the big Cuban. You stop him in the 5th round.

TW: He was so arrogant how he was going to knock me out. It felt good beating him.

KH: Next you fight Ray Mercer (23-4-1) who was coming off a controversial loss to Lennox Lewis. You lose a decision. Tell us about it.

TW: Mercer said to me after the fight “they did it to me with Lennox, now they are doing it to you.” I won that fight.

KH: After a win you go on a five fight losing streak including being stopped by Brian Nielsen in Denmark. It improved his record to 49-0.

TW: They talked about Marciano’s record before the fight. I got knocked down and the ref stopped the fight.

KH: Six more wins in a row and then a controversial split decision loss to Monte Barrett (24-2). I watched it on television and thought you got robbed.

TW: I thought I won, too.

KH: Four wins in a row and you are matched with big Lou Savarese (42-4). I had been talking to you at an amateur show in Fairless Hills just before that. You made fun of how big I got and I looked at you and thought “the shape you are in, you could be in for a big surprise with hard punching Savarese.” He stopped you in the 5th round.

TW: I had him really hurt in the first round and let him off the hook.

KH: In November of 2002 you enter Cedric Kushner’s Thunderbox Tournament. To the winner goes 100k. You lose to Israel Garcia (14-1) in the first match.

TW: They were all 3 round fights and I needed the money. I thought I won.

KH: Six months later your career ending fight with Brian Nix (17-10) and you lose a split decision. Did you know that would be your last fight?

TW: No because at numerous times since, I had fights postponed.

KH: You are 50 years old and I still see you sparring at the Shuler’s gym with young boxers like Eddie Chambers.

TW: I still help out the young guys like Chazz Witherspoon and Chambers. When I train fighters I like to get in there with them.

KW: Without going into it too deep I know you worked with now former IBF junior middleweight champ Kassim Ouma and current IBF light heavyweight champ Clinton Woods but no longer work with either.

TW: My former manager Tom Moran and I did a lot of work getting Clint Woods a title fight with the IBF. We were on the phone with them for hours. He did most of the work. Dennis Hobson, Jr. was with us and he gave up and left. Hobson got all the credit and that is how he ended up getting Ricky Hatton under contract. Hobson then gets me out of the Woods corner. Through James Rowan the co-manager of Ouma I was able to work the corner with former champ Johnny Bumphus in Florida. I bring Moran into the picture and he starts rumors that Bumphus and I are arguing. That was not true. Bumphus and I always got along. Now Moran has Ouma.

KH: Believe me, I know how it is. I was a promoter and manager. It’s a dirty business. I know you tried your hand at promoting with Mike Fingerman in October of 2006.

TW: We just did one show together. I thought I was going to fight on the card to help out but I didn’t fight. Mike and I are still good friends.

KH: I see your son Tim, Jr. (0-1) is fighting again. How is that going?

TW: He is fighting April 12th in Richmond, Virginia.

KH: That’s funny. Your 2nd fight was also in Virginia. Lynchburg, Virginia. Tim
it’s always my pleasure whenever I see you. There is always a smile, hand shake, or a wave. The people in boxing love you.

TW: You know I am always available to you. Just give me a call.