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Holmes vs. Witherspoon 1983

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    #1

    Holmes vs. Witherspoon 1983

    How did you guys have this fight? I thought that despite his inexperience, Tim really took it to the champ. Holmes showed great heart after being rocked in the 9th, however.

    What ever happened to Tim after this fight? The tops of the heavies at this time basically became overshadowed by the middleweights, and later by Tyson.
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    #2
    Originally posted by Brassangel View Post
    How did you guys have this fight? I thought that despite his inexperience, Tim really took it to the champ. Holmes showed great heart after being rocked in the 9th, however.

    What ever happened to Tim after this fight? The tops of the heavies at this time basically became overshadowed by the middleweights, and later by Tyson.
    I think Tim could have actually took the fight. He had Holmes basically out on his feet in I think the ninth, and by the 15th round, Witherspoon actually looked like Holmes himself and Holmes was trying to catch him.

    However, in all fairness to Holmes, Larry was past his prime by this time.

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      #3
      some thought Witherspoon beat Holmes, and so was Carl williams getting robbed by decision to Holmes. I didnt saw both fights.

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        #4
        It's too bad Witherspoon didn't get a rematch, though. He really gave it to Holmes and deserved a second chance.

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          #5
          I agree. It certainly would have made for a solid rivalry given that nothing else was happening then.

          Is it really fair to say that Holmes was beyond his prime? I mean, he was in his twenties when he fought Ali, and this was only 3-4 years later, wasn't it?

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            #6
            It was a close hard fought fight. Holmes showed good survival skills like he displayed when shavers hurt him. I think Holmes deserved the nod in the end but it was close.

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              #7
              Originally posted by Brassangel View Post
              How did you guys have this fight? I thought that despite his inexperience, Tim really took it to the champ. Holmes showed great heart after being rocked in the 9th, however.

              What ever happened to Tim after this fight? The tops of the heavies at this time basically became overshadowed by the middleweights, and later by Tyson.
              I remember watching this fight live and thinking Witherspoon deserved the win and there was a bit of controversy at the time when Holmes was awarded the decision.

              If my memory serves me correctly, Holmes complained afterwards that he was too light and blamed his performance on this.

              In any event Witherspoon had a style that was bound to give Holmes trouble. A tight cross-arm defence, good jab, decent counterpuncher and strong with a good chin.

              I've rewatched the fight many times since, and while Tim put pressure on Larry he didn't put enough 'punching pressure' on Holmes and didn't quite let his hands go enough, otherwise he might have won the decision.

              Witherspoon was inexperienced and this likely cost him the fight. A rematch should have been a natural but afterwards Holmes starting calling out for a Cooney rematch. Homes was notorious for not rematching with difficult title fight opponents as well as defending against inexperienced challengers.

              After the Witherspoon fight Holmes had a falling out with the WBC/Don King and the title was vacated. Witherspoon won the vacant crown with a decison win over Greg Page. Holmes went on to defend the IBF belt, the only won he wore at the time.

              Witherspoon was promoted by Don King and 'managed' by Don's son Carl King who took alot of Witherspoon's money and basically left him sour, and unmotivated. When Witherspoon found out that Frank Bruno (who challenged Witherspoon for the WBC belt) cleared more money after their fight, it was the beginning of the end for Tim.

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                #8
                Originally posted by Brassangel View Post
                I agree. It certainly would have made for a solid rivalry given that nothing else was happening then.

                Is it really fair to say that Holmes was beyond his prime? I mean, he was in his twenties when he fought Ali, and this was only 3-4 years later, wasn't it?
                He was almost 31 when he fought Ali and about 33½ when he fought Witherspoon. After having 42 fights, and 14 title defenses, I'd say he was on the decline by this time.

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                  #9
                  I guess I forgot that Holmes didn't truly reach the top until he was almost through the 'norm' of prime fighting years.

                  To SABBATH: It's true, he really didn't let his hands go enough, especially when he had Holmes wobbling in the 9th. He sort of picked and poked which gave Larry adequate time to counter with those strange, sideways haymakers he started throwing.

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by Brassangel View Post
                    To SABBATH: It's true, he really didn't let his hands go enough, especially when he had Holmes wobbling in the 9th. He sort of picked and poked which gave Larry adequate time to counter with those strange, sideways haymakers he started throwing.
                    Ironically the only judge that scored the fight for Witherspoon scored the 9th round even.

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