Tim Witherspoon is a retired American boxer who fought in the heavyweight division…..recording 55 victories in 69 fights with 38 knockouts….and is a two-time former world heavyweight champion….having won the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) championships in his career….and as a result of his second title victory….Witherspoon joined Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali as the only fighters to win multiple world heavyweight championships. Witherspoon also worked in early years, developing skills, as a regular respected sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, who apparently coined the nickname “Terrible” as a compliment…cuz Witherspoon’s style was a pressure fighter….using the unusual cross-arm guard similar to Ken Norton….employing a strong fast overhand right with success.
James Broad was an American heavyweight boxer…. who was an amateur star who made the US Olympic boxing team to represent America in the 1980 Moscow Olympics….who as a pro won the NABF heavyweight title and was a regular sparring partner of a peak Mike Tyson. Nicknamed “Broad-Axe”….Broad turned pro in 1981 and put together 12 wins….including a 4th round knockout of future Heavyweight Champ James “Bonecrusher” Smith. 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…whom he rocked with his signature uppercuts….but was unable to replicate his knockout victory in the amateurs….losing by decision over 10 rounds.
Broad bounced back to outpoint Larry Alexander over 12 rounds in 1983 then knockout contender Eddie Gregg in 8 rounds to win the NABF title in 1984. For his first title defense Broad scaled a whopping 260 lbs and was knocked out in 2 rounds by once and future world champion Tim Witherspoon in 1985….as seen in the video below.
