31) Muhammad Ali I Points SD 12: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Muhammad Ali I 31 March 1973 California [r1] … Ali with the flicking left … The crowd excited as Ali was pinned in the corner … [r2] … Good left there by Norton … good use of that left … Ali looks sluggish … The right got into Ali and then a left … [r3] … Ali for the first time beginning to dance … [r4] … On the toes … Norton with Ali in the corner … An almost startlingly dull Ali … [r5] … Virtually nothing appears to happen … Nothing like Muhammad Ali … [r6] … Angelo, what is wrong with your fighter? … [r7] … Still no real action … Another tame effort … [r8] … He’s [Ali] holding his mouth … This thing could be a silent movie … [r9] … Norton has controlled Ali … [Ali] taking a risk against the ropes … [r10] … Ali has shown so little … Ali again with the gloves up against the ropes … Norton’s left is getting in there … [r11] … Norton keeps coming at Ali … This round Ali is doing well … [r12] … A tired Muhammad Ali … The aggressor remains Kenny Norton … That right hurt Muhammad Ali … a good right … [5-4 Norton, 6-5 Ali, 7-5 Ali] (Boxers: Ali & Boxers: Norton) US fight commentary, Howard Cosell
32) Muhammad Ali II Lost Points SD 12: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Muhammad Ali II 10 September 1973 California [r1] … Ali snakes in with a left … up on the toes … The best I’ve seen Ali look since going back before the Joe Frazier fight … [r2] … A little shuffle [Ali] … Stalking [Norton] … on the move … good left hand … [r3] … Uppercut [Ali] … Right-left combination [Norton] … Right hand [Ali] … right uppercut … [r4] … Norton ran into a left hook … It’s the old Ali … Ali scores … [r5] … Good drilling left hand [Norton] … good uppercut … Ali hangs on … Good left hook [Ali] … [r6] … Left hook [Norton] … Left hook [Ali] … he’s hurt Norton … [r7] … Good uppercut [Norton] … Ali is hurt … Ali with a combination … What a fight! … Chopping right hand [Norton] … Ali hanging on … [r8] … Another hook to the jaw of Norton … Good combination [Ali] … A left and a right and that sent Ali to the ropes … [r9] … Left-right by Norton … a slashing right hand … Norton has no fear … Right hand by Ali … Fight of the year … [r10] … Don’t they look tired … Ali in command: look at the movement … Good left hand by Norton … [r11] … Left jab [Norton] … Norton going body-hunting … Two hooks [Ali] … [r12] … Ali’s on his toes again … a beautiful combination … Fantastic display by both men … Another left [Norton] … Ali scoring … [6-5 Ali 6-5 Norton 7-5 Ali] US fight commentary
33) George Foreman Lost TKO2: US Fight Commentary TV -
v George Foreman 26th March 1974 El Poliedro Caracas Venezuela [r1] ... Foreman showing the concentration ... There’s a good left and the best right we’ve seen ... [r2] ... Norton working the left jab ... Oh a good right hand ... And it looks like Norton has really been staggered ... Norton goes down again ... Sends Norton tumbling to the canvas ... It is all over. US fight commentary
45) Larry Holmes SD Lost 15: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Larry Holmes 9th June 1978 Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas: If anyone wants to know if Holmes can take it, look at this! Larry Holmes standing up to the very best Ken Norton can offer ... A great fight has come to an end. US fight commentary
[8.5] TIM WITHERSPOON 69-55(38)-13-1: The Ring online -
A natural athlete, Tim Witherspoon had played basketball, football, baseball, tennis and soccer before turning to the sweet science at the belated age of 21. This sharp-shooting Philadelphia product had only a handful of amateur bouts but continued to serve his apprenticeship when he entered the paid ranks in October 1979.
One year later, unbeaten in four professional fights, the baby-faced novice was sparring with his childhood idol, Muhammad Ali, ahead of the faded legend’s infamous bout with WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.
‘Ali had nothing left,’ said Witherspoon mournfully. ‘I was scared to hit him because he was sick and fragile. That might make people uncomfortable but I’m a witness to what went down in that camp. In a way, Larry was cheated out of making history because his victory over Ali was tainted.
In May 1983, Witherspoon, now 15-0, faced Holmes for the title. In one of the finest heavyweight duels of the decade, Witherspoon matched ‘The Easton Assassin’ from beginning to end and, for many at ringside, including legendary trainer Angelo Dundee, was very unlucky to come out on the wrong end of a split decision.
Witherspoon said, ‘I was unknown and that was just politics. I had no problem dealing with Larry’s style and if you watch the fight, at the end of the first round, I waved my hand to show him that I wasn’t impressed. He had nothing I hadn’t seen before, and I knew he couldn’t do anything with me.’
Holmes relinquished the WBC title in late 1983 and would defend the IBF strap for the remainder of his championship reign. In March of the following year, Witherspoon and fellow American contender Greg Page were matched for the vacant WBC title and ‘Terrible’ Tim prevailed via majority decision.
‘Page was too hung up on trying to be the next Ali,’ said Witherspoon. ‘He was from Louisville, Kentucky, the same place Ali came from, but there was no comparison as fighters. God bless Greg, he had a tragic end to his life and it was horrible when he passed away.’
Inconsistency plagued the remainder of Witherspoon’s own career. He immediately lost the title to Pinklon Thomas, but picked up the WBA version from Tony Tubbs in 1986. Witherspoon also broke British hearts that year when he defeated the beloved Frank Bruno but financial disputes with his promoter, Don King, were now a serious burden inside and outside the ring.
James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith, an opponent he had already beaten, relieved Witherspoon of his second world title (via first-round stoppage) and he would never contend for a championship again.
‘I would never quit though,’ said the former titleholder, who finally retired in 2003. ‘I’m a Philadelphia fighter and we don’t quit when the going get rough. Even today, I’m keen to give back to the game and I have a real talent for coaching in the gym.’
A gifted heavyweight performer for 24 years, Tim Witherspoon (55-13-1, 38 knockouts) discussed the best he faced in 10 key categories. The Ring online article, ‘Best I Faced: Tim Witherspoon’
27) Frank Bruno TKO11: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Frank Bruno 19 July 1986 WBA Heavyweight Wembley Stadium [r1] … Witherspoon comes straight out punching … Bruno goes to the belly … A very fast pace for two big men … Left hook and the right from Witherspoon … Good attack by Bruno … good left hook downstairs … good combination … [r2] … Witherspoon an angry attack … Another right hand bomb [Bruno] … Good right from Bruno and Witherspoon staggers … Good round for Bruno … [r3] … Good attack by Bruno … Good right and that hurt Bruno … Good right from Bruno … some of his best punches … and take some as well … Bruno looking a little puzzled … [r4] … Witherspoon’s in trouble on the ropes … Bruno can’t get leverage … [r5] … The pace has slowed …Good left from Witherspoon … Witherspoon a tough street fighter from Philadelpia … [r6] … I’ve got them dead level … [Witherspoon] walking through the Bruno punches … Controlled fight [Bruno] and plenty of work … [r7] … [Witherspoon] wild with his right hands … cut slightly … He’s hurting Bruno … [Bruno] two good punches … hurt again … [r8] … Witherspoon’s work has slowed … Good right from Bruno … Good right from Witherspoon … Good left hook … storming on … [r9] … Witherspoon is hanging on inside … Witherspoon comes forward with the big attack … good punch … [r10] … Good right and left from Witherspoon … Bruno’s left eye looking in some trouble … These two punching themselves out … [r11] … Bruno now finding it hard to mount an attack … Bruno is hurt … He’s under terrible attack … It’s all over. UK fight commentary, Harry Carpenter