Tony Tucker vs Tim Witherpsoon

[Titan1]

Could Witherspoon overcome Tucker's boxing ability and win a decision?

[mr. magoo]

my answer is yes. In fact, I think that the possibilty of a prime and well trained spoon even scoring a knockout, although unlikely, isn't entirely out of the question. Tucker indeed survived a prime Tyson and young Lewis, but Spoon had an awkeword style that might tend to fluster Tucker. Witherspoon also defeated a far greater list of opponents than Tony did by the time they were both at their peaks in the mid to late 80's. Tucker's only wins up to 1987, were Buster Douglas, James Broad and an aging Jimmy Young. Witherspoon defeated Tubbs, Page, Snipes, Bruno, Smith, Broad, and Tillis. Plus he lost a razor thin decision to Larry Holmes. Spoon had way more experience than Tucker had, and a style that he had never before seen.

Spoon by wide decision.

[JohnThomas1]

my answer is yes. In fact, I think that the possibilty of a prime and well trained spoon even scoring a knockout, although unlikely, isn't entirely out of the question. Tucker indeed survived a prime Tyson and young Lewis, but Spoon had an awkeword style that might tend to fluster Tucker. Witherspoon also defeated a far greater list of opponents than Tony did by the time they were both at their peaks in the mid to late 80's. Tucker's only wins up to 1987, were Buster Douglas, James Broad and an aging Jimmy Young. Witherspoon defeated Tubbs, Page, Snipes, Bruno, Smith, Broad, and Tillis. Plus he lost a razor thin decision to Larry Holmes. Spoon had way more experience than Tucker had, and a style that he had never before seen.

Spoon by wide decision.

I just can't see Spoon being any chance at all of stopping Tucker. He shrugged off some great shots vs a motivated Douglas, went a good 12 vs peak Tyson with a broken hand and survived a young Lewis when over the hill. Spoon IMO has next to no chance of a stoppage.

[mr. magoo]

I just can't see Spoon being any chance at all of stopping Tucker. He shrugged off some great shots vs a motivated Douglas, went a good 12 vs peak Tyson with a broken hand and survived a young Lewis when over the hill. Spoon IMO has next to no chance of a stoppage.

And I agree that it would be highly unlikely, yet not impossible. Spoon was leagues above Douglas, and had size and skills that were disimilar to that of mike Tyson.

That said, I think a decision would go to Witherspoon regardless of no stoppage.

[brooklyn1550]

Witherspoon by UD

[ChrisPontius]

I just can't see Spoon being any chance at all of stopping Tucker. He shrugged off some great shots vs a motivated Douglas, went a good 12 vs peak Tyson with a broken hand and survived a young Lewis when over the hill. Spoon IMO has next to no chance of a stoppage.

I don't see him stopping Tucker either, a prime Tucker (whenever that was) was very hard to stop.

I do see him beating Tucker handily though, 8-4 at least.

[My dinner with Conteh]

Witherspoon UD. A much more seasoned all-round fighter.

[Holmes' Jab]

Could Witherspoon overcome Tucker's boxing ability and win a decision?

Yep. 'Spoon by wide UD, he's just much better. :good

[Luigi1985]

I don´t know why Witherspoon is so overrated, perhaps because of the Holmes-fight. But style-wise he´s just not a good matchup for Larry, whether at what time of career. Tony was a big skilled fighter with a big reach, he also had a good chin, and very good power. I would favour him to UD Tim slightly, but I´m high right now, so I don´t know for sure...

[Holmes' Jab]

Tucker was a big, average Jock (who happened to merely hang in there with Tyson, dropping a mile wide decision). His winning performances against any half decent opposition weren't too impressive either.

Witherspoon is simply the better fighter. I don't think he stops Tucker inside the distance, but he'd still get the judges' nod comfortably nonetheless.

[Luigi1985]

Tucker was a big, average Jock (who happened to merely hang in there with Tyson, dropping a mile wide decision). His winning performances against any half decent opposition weren't too impressive either.

Witherspoon is simply the better fighter. I don't think he stops Tucker inside the distance, but he'd still get the judges' nod comfortably nonetheless.



But Witherspoon was an inconsistent fighter, who almost every time lost his big fights. I don´t know, I don´t see this matchup so one-sided like the most of you guys here.

[Tony]

I'd predict Tucker by slim UD.

Tucker had advantages in reach and quickness, so he'd be able to land the jab and the straight right hand first. The most similar guy Tim faced was Pinklon Thomas, and Thomas outpointed him. Tucker had as much ability as Thomas, plus was a little bigger and a little quicker. Tim could beat taller boxers who couldn't take his punch (Carl Williams), and he could outwork boxers who were fatter and more out of shape than he was (Greg Page and Tony Tubbs), but I don't think Tucker fits either category. In his prime, he had a solid chin -- if Tyson and Lewis couldn't stop him, I don't think Witherspoon would -- and while he never seemed all that thrilled to be fighting, when he was under 240, he was in shape. Against a strong, awkward, throw occasional bombs guy like Witherspoon (Oliver McCall), he did just enough to win, and I'd expect the same result.

It wouldn't be a thriller, though.

[C. M. Clay II]

Could Witherspoon overcome Tucker's boxing ability and win a decision?

Essentially, this is a "Tyson vs. Holmes" thread, isn't it?:yep

[Mendoza]

I think Witherpsoon would win as he had the better jab, the better right hand, and the better defense. Witherspoon via UD.

[JohnThomas1]

Spoon was leagues above Douglas


Well i am assuming both come in tip top so would disagree with this heavily. Douglas had some scary assets and talent, and quite a few would argue he was more talented than Witherspoon perhaps. Trouble was Douglas came into fights fully motivated and in shape even less than Witherspoon and had even less consistency. I still think Witherspoon gets a bit overrated on his superb showing vs a Holmes who was aging and often struggled to get up for unheralded opposition and fought down a bit. Douglas has that one absolutely standout performance too of course. To sum up, Witherspoon has the overall more consistent and solid career but with both at their rare pinnacle i think Douglas has just as much talent. Mentally is where he lacked, severely.

[Holmes' Jab]

Spoon was leagues above Douglas

Disagree.

A prime Witherspoon and Tokyo Douglas are pretty close to call in terms of ability. Oh and '87 version Douglas was handily outboxing Tucker 'till he ran out of steam (gave up). :good

[The Kurgan]

I think Terrible Tim would be too assertive, too busy and too adept with the jab for Tucker. As always, Tucker would have his moments and maybe even shake Tim up a bit, but would ultimately never get into the fight mentally.

Tim Witherspoon by UD.