This 12 round NABF Heavyweight Championship fight was fought the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, NY on April 29, 1985…..and featured another really good heavyweight during the “golden age of boxing” (1964 – 1995)…..who is being forgotten far too rapidly in boxing history…..for Terrible Tim was a really good heavyweight boxer….and had he fought in other eras….he might have held a title….cuz it is this lil ole chiweenie Sportsphile’s opinion that Witherspoon might have given the Jersey Joe Walcotts’, Ezzard Charles’ and Lee Savolds’ of the championship rhealm a real challenge….but he fought in the at a time when boxing legends were fighting boxing legends….Ali vs Frazier, Foreman vs Tyson, Holmes vs Holyfield.
Terrible Tim Witherspoon is an American former professional boxer….who competed from 1979 to 2003….becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion….having held the WBC title in 1984….and the WBA title in 1986…..as he joined Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali as the only boxers to win multiple world heavyweight championships at the time of his retirement with a career record of 55 wins 38 KOs 13 Losses 1 Draw.
Witherspoon also worked as a regular sparring partner for Muhammad Ali. Witherspoon’s style was that of a pressure fighter while using an unusual cross-arm guard similar to Ken Norton….with a strong and fast overhand right….as seen during the 2nd round of this fight below.
Nicknamed “Broad-Axe”….James Broad turned pro in 1981 and put together 12 wins, including a 4th round knockout of future Heavyweight Champ James “Bonecrusher” Smith….however, his weight was already a problem at this early stage of his career….but Broad worked down to 228 for his first big fight against fellow undefeated prospect Marvis Frazier….as “Broad-Axe” rocked Frazier with his signature uppercuts….but was unable to replicate his knockout victory in the amateurs….when he was outworked by Frazier over 10 rounds….to lose by unanimous decision. Broad bounced back to outpoint Larry Alexander over 12 rounds in 1983….then he knocked-out contender Eddie Gregg in 8 rounds to win the NABF title in 1984….but as “Broad-Axe” ballooned to a whopping 260 pounds for his first title defense against Terrible Tim Witherspoon….and was knocked out in 2 rounds by the future world champion in 1985…..as seen in this video herewith.
This fight gives obvious evidence of Time Witherspoon’s talent as a heavyweight boxer…. cuz Jame “Broad-Axe” Broad was a good fighter in bad shape….so, any way you cut the pie…..this fight is well worth the watch.
