Ex-Champ Terrible Tim Witherspoon Calls Out Ex-Champ Tony Tubbs for Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media boxing Correspondent
When it rains, it pours. A Detroit promoter is interested in staging a ‘Legends of Boxing’ card at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. A sponsor has expressed interest in getting on board. Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley has called out Thomas Hearns for a third match between the two multiple division champions at cruiserweight. Former world heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs called out former world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. Former world cruiserweight champion Robert Daniels then called out Tony Tubbs.
In the latest development in the still evolving Detroit ‘Legends’ boxing card, former World Heavyweight champion ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who won the final 15 round professional bout ever fought by decision over Tony Tubbs, is calling out Tubbs, 47-10 with 25 knockouts, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the ultimate grudge rematch. While acknowledging Tony Tubbs still has great boxing skills, Witherspoon stated in an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media yesterday he wanted an eight round rematch with Tubbs, and would beat Tubbs in Detroit in a war.
Witherspoon’s autobiography ‘Terrible Times’ was published in limited form in 2014.
Witherspoon and Tubbs will be going head to head this weekend at the former world heavyweight champions get together at Saturday Fight Night on September 5, 2015, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Vitali Klitschko, Michael Spinks, ‘Neon’ Leon Spinks, Riddick Bowe, Mike ‘Hercules’ Weaver, Bruce Seldon, Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer, Michael Bentt, James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith, Roy Jones Jr., Lamon Brewster, Chris Byrd, Pinklon Thomas, John Ruiz, Iron Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are among the former champions who will be present at the event.
Robert Brizel: “Tony Tubbs says he beat you the first time you guys fought.”
Terrible Tim Witherspoon versus Tony TNT Tubbs, 15 Round WBA World Heavyweight Title Bout, last 15 rounder in history, January 17, 1986, at The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o9FxEb4mI8 Referee: Nate Morgan
Tim Witherspoon: “I beat Tony in January 1986 for the title. I got the belt. I got the World Boxing Association version of the world Heavyweight championship. Tony lost. I was the third person to regain the world heavyweight title, after Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali. I had beaten Greg Page in March 1984 to win the vacant World Boxing Council version of the World Heavyweight title. May my friend Greg Page rest in peace.”
Robert Brizel: “You versus Tony Tubbs was the last 15 rounder world title bout. Correct?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Yes, it was.”
Robert Brizel: “You and Tony were the last 15 round fighters.”
Tim Witherspoon: “Yeah. The last ones.”
Robert Brizel: “Who were your boxing trainers back then?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Louis ‘Whit’ Lowery (who passed away in February 2015) and Slim Jim Robertson (who passed away in November 2004).”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about your first world title challenge against 42-0 Larry Holmes, which resulted in a 15 round split decision victory for Holmes.”
Tim Witherspoon: “Slim Jim was my main trainer back then, along with Aaron Snowell, who later went to train Mike Tyson.”
Robert Brizel: “Were you robbed against Holmes?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Yes. I was robbed! I haven’t met a person yet who said I lost to Holmes. Larry said to the news media in the ring after the bout that I told him he won, which was a lie. In the ring I said (to him) you are a liar, I didn’t say that. I raised my hands up as the final bell sounded and walked to his corner. I threw my hands up in victory. I knew I won. I knew I was the new kid on the block. Holmes was looking to break Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record, (and) who’s this kid coming out of nowhere, but I enjoyed whipping his (Larry’s) butt. That would be a bigger rematch (me versus Larry Holmes) but he will never take it.”
Robert Brizel: “In May 1996 you fought Jorge Luis Gonzalez, the Cuban amateur champion, right after Gonzalez lost his world title challenge to Riddick Bowe. Was he overconfident?”
Tim Witherspoon: “What affected me (impacted me the most) was his cockiness and disrespectful attitude. I didn’t think he knew how to be civilized with his opponents, and enjoy his fans. Some people don’t know how to deal with success, and be humble, and he didn’t have that understanding. After I stopped him, he was a little better!”
Robert Brizel: “Have you seen or spoken to Tony Tubbs since you two fought in January 1986?”
Tim Witherspoon: Yeah. I’ve spoken to him on the phone. I’ve seen him twice in 25 years.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me your evaluation of Tony TNT Tubbs as a boxer.”
Tim Witherspoon: “Tony is an intelligent boxer, and I respect his skills.”
Robert Brizel: “Tony felt he got robbed of a ten round decision against Riddick Bowe.”
Tim Witherspoon: “Some people say Tony had the edge in that (the Bowe) fight.”
Robert Brizel: “You were going back and forth to England, living in England off and on for 10 years. Why?”
Tim Witherspoon: “I had offered to train World Light Heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, and I brought him back from Sheffield to train with me in Philadelphia. So I started interacting with my British contacts. It was nice over there for me, when I went over and beat Frank Bruno to retain my WBA title at Wembley Stadium in London in July of 1986. Because I beat Bruno, people over there asked me to come back, and talk to bullied kids. Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield came over too. The British people are very warm people, and really support their sportsmen. Muhammad Ali came over. I met Henry Cooper. I have a daughter over here, and a grandson over there. I stay at a boxing promoter’s house when I go over there. I know everybody in England, my expenses were always met. I also traveled to Ireland five times.”
Readers Note: Clinton Woods held the International Boxing Federation World Light Heavyweight title from 2005 to 2008, when he lost his title to Antonio Tarver. He failed to regain the vacant IBF title against Tavoris Cloud in 2009 and retired.
Robert Brizel: “Can you beat Tony Tubbs in a rematch?
Tim Witherspoon: “I believe I can if I am in good shape. I did some charity exhibitions a year and a half ago, some young kids tried to hurt me, and I dropped them..”
Robert Brizel: “Can you win an eight rounder against Tony Tubbs?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Yes I can!”
Robert Brizel: “Do you still have power?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Yeah. I still have power. I’m working out (now) training with 6’5” amateur Julio Licero. This kid can punch like George Foreman, big and strong.”
Robert Brizel: “Tell me about the heavyweight champions weekend at Hard Rock.”
Tim Witherspoon: “Next week we (many former heavyweight champions) will be down at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. It’s gonna be all the (former) heavyweight champions of the world. I’ll be there, and Tony Tubbs should be there. Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, everybody, (but) not Ali due to health reasons.”
Robert Brizel: “What was it like to fight Tony Tubbs?”
Tim Witherspoon: “It was hard to get a good shot off on Tubbs. He slides off punches and he’s hard to hit. Right about now he’s up in age. Tony still has skills. I don’t look out of shape. I have to get down in weight. I still run, use the treadmill, lift weights, chop wood, and train with my fighters. Tubbs is clever, slick and sly. It will be a difficult fight with Tony because of it.”
Robert Brizel: “How are you with fighting Tony Tubbs again?”
Tim Witherspoon: “Me and him cool. I’d rather fight (a rematch with) Larry Holmes. Good luck, it’s gonna be a real challenge to fight Tony again. I have to be on my Ps and Qs, it’s gonna be a great fight! Tony Tubbs is one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever fought. I’m really gonna have to get in in shape, really good shape, to do battle. This is his chance to regain what he (Tony) felt he won all those years ago.”
Robert Brizel: “How do you feel about going eye to eye with Tony again in the ring?”
Tim Witherspoon: “We get along outside the ring. I didn’t mind trying to knock him out, (and) he didn’t mind trying to knock me out. This is a good example to younger fighters about how boxing should be. Me and Tony (we) were friends. We tried to kill each other in the ring. We were trying to hurt each other, and when it was over, we had nothing but love.”
Robert Brizel: “How will the rematch will Tony Tubbs go?”
Tim Witherspoon: “If this rematch fight goes off, it’s gonna be a war! When the smoke clears, we’re still friends. Whatever he lost in the past, I’m willing to give him a rematch.
And if he wins, which he won’t, that void in his life from when the world heavyweight championship was taken away from him, will be filled if he wins. Just like Greg Page, I beat him the first time. Then we fought a second time, I had back problems. I was winning the rematch. I came back to the corner and said my back was killing me, I was hurting that bad and I gave up. Greg Page was jumping up and down. It redeemed him. So if Tony Tubbs wants that chance (of recognition), this is that chance.”
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