- 8 months ago
Former WBC Heavyweight Champion takes on James "Bonecrusher" Smith for the NABF Heavyweight Title on HBO Boxing
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00:00For seven years, Larry Holmes has ruled the heavyweight division.
00:00:03Now, in the twilight of his career, we await the end of an era.
00:00:07Tonight, two men who put a scare into Holmes will meet for the NABF title.
00:00:12It was back in May of 83 that Tim Witherspoon had the champion on the ropes in the ninth.
00:00:17But the title slips away.
00:00:19And last November, Bonecrusher Smith equaled that pass.
00:00:22Holmes now has to draw with Smith.
00:00:25So now it is hard to explain Smith's a terrible right hand.
00:00:28That's hurt, Holmes!
00:00:31Now, Holmes is joined by the WBA's Tony Tubbs and the reigning WBC champion Pinklyn Thomas,
00:00:37each with a share of the muddled heavyweight title.
00:00:40Tonight, Pinklyn Thomas returns to the scene of his greatest triumph
00:00:43and faces number one contender, Mike Hercules Weaver, in the first defense of his WBC crown.
00:00:50The rollercoaster ride that is Mike Weaver's career is on an uphill climb,
00:00:54and he looks to regain the elusive title.
00:00:56But, oh, how tough it'll be to take from Pinklyn Thomas.
00:01:01You only got six minutes.
00:01:02You say no 15-round fight?
00:01:03Go ahead.
00:01:04Champ of the world, baby!
00:01:06Thomas put the finishing touches on his Hollywood script
00:01:08by turning from heroin addict to heavyweight champion.
00:01:11The only question that remains is, can he keep the title?
00:01:24Do the basketball, kid.
00:01:25Give me a, give me a, give me a, give me a big guy.
00:01:27I'll make you.
00:01:28One that I'll make you.
00:01:29Tonight, a big night of heavyweight boxing, right here on HBO.
00:01:42A hot desert sun beats down on the famed strip,
00:01:52and we are live from the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada,
00:01:56where HBO Sports presents World Championship Boxing.
00:02:02First, Tim Witherspoon defends his NABF heavyweight title
00:02:05against James Bonecrusher Smith.
00:02:07It's scheduled for 12 rounds.
00:02:10And then the main event, also scheduled for 12 rounds,
00:02:13WBC heavyweight champion Pinklyn Thomas
00:02:15defends his crown against number one contender Mike Weaver.
00:02:21All the airs to a man who everyone says is on his last legs
00:02:25and made their way to this desert outpost of glitz.
00:02:28We're in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Riviera Hotel.
00:02:32Four men hoping for a little notoriety
00:02:34and a little respect.
00:02:38Hello, everybody.
00:02:39I'm Barry Tompkins, along with the champ Sugar Ray Leonard
00:02:41and our own Larry Merchant.
00:02:43We're at the Riviera, a near-capacity crowd.
00:02:46This is the night of the heavyweights.
00:02:48And, Sugar Ray, it seems that we've had this discussion on many occasions.
00:02:51Everybody looking for a successor to Larry Holmes.
00:02:53Are we going to see one tonight?
00:02:54Well, first of all, Barry, this car, this boxing car,
00:02:57has the potential of some exciting fights.
00:03:00And because each fighter carries dynamite in the hands,
00:03:02some dramatic knockouts.
00:03:03I think what's the motivating factor here is the fact that each guy
00:03:06wants to be the successor to Larry Holmes' crown.
00:03:09Larry Merchant, it's really almost getting to be a game.
00:03:11Everybody sits around and waits for Larry Holmes,
00:03:13who everybody, of course, agrees is preeminent amongst the heavyweights,
00:03:17to fall.
00:03:17But we keep going back into the same old mix
00:03:19to find somebody who's going to make him fall.
00:03:22Well, I think there's a kind of unofficial, ongoing tournament
00:03:25to decide the next champion,
00:03:27because everybody knows that Larry Holmes is not going to get in the ring
00:03:30with someone who is capable of being the next champion.
00:03:34In fact, Larry Holmes has what I would call a least-wanted list.
00:03:38The opponent he least wants to get in the ring with,
00:03:41and Pinklin Thomas is probably on top of the list.
00:03:44Tim Witherspoon is near the top of the list.
00:03:46But enough of that.
00:03:47We do have four big, powerful battleships out there tonight.
00:03:51They'll be throwing the big stuff,
00:03:53and I'm really curious to find out which of them will be afloat when it's all over.
00:03:57One other thing.
00:03:58We're going to have an announcement of a major fight
00:04:00that was signed just hours ago between our fights tonight.
00:04:04All right, let's talk first, then, about the first port of call.
00:04:07Tim Witherspoon and James Bonecrusher-Smith.
00:04:09Two guys who have been there before.
00:04:12Two guys who have been close.
00:04:13After tonight, one will look ahead, and one can look behind.
00:04:19Let's meet the NABF champion.
00:04:23Hi, I'm Terrible Tim Witherspoon,
00:04:26the once and future heavyweight champion of the world.
00:04:30It's been a long, tough road back for the former WBC heavyweight champion.
00:04:35First burst upon the scene with a stunning performance against Larry Holmes.
00:04:39It was a privilege for me to fight Larry Holmes.
00:04:44Well, the great Larry Holmes, the great fighter he is,
00:04:49you know, that night when I fought him, I was dreaming.
00:04:51I pray every night after that to fight him again because it was so easy.
00:04:55I felt as though I wanted to fight,
00:04:57but I know that the judges are not going to go against him,
00:05:00and he has a great record like that.
00:05:02And, you know, it's going to be hard for the judges to make a close fight and go in my direction.
00:05:08It didn't, and Holmes escaped with a split decision.
00:05:11But when Holmes was stripped,
00:05:12Tim fought Greg Page for the vacant WBC crown.
00:05:16I couldn't make no mistakes with him.
00:05:18And he was more a tough fight to me than all my fights,
00:05:21due to the fact that he was young and talented.
00:05:23Things that I never dreamed of, you know,
00:05:25is really happening in my life today.
00:05:28So Tim Witherspoon was anointed heavyweight champion,
00:05:31but he soon turned his back on promoter Don King.
00:05:33And just five months later,
00:05:35a despondent Witherspoon lost his title to Penguin Thomas.
00:05:40I'll walk over him next time.
00:05:42I knew that I made my mistake by doing certain things in the fight.
00:05:47You know, and he got it, he deserved it,
00:05:48but he's going to never give me a chance again.
00:05:50Penguin Thomas is a good fighter.
00:05:52He worked real hard, but he can't beat me.
00:05:54With newfound confidence,
00:05:56Witherspoon marched into Buffalo and destroyed James Broad.
00:06:00It was a matter of experience and testing each other
00:06:02and seeing who really has the heart to go through the test.
00:06:06And that was a test for me to regain things that I lost.
00:06:11And it was a test for him to go on a bigger and better thing.
00:06:14And he lost his test, and I passed mine.
00:06:18But tonight, a new challenger emerges,
00:06:21one who is no stranger to the role of spoiler.
00:06:23Hi, I'm James Bonecrusher-Smith,
00:06:26and I will be the future heavyweight champion of the world.
00:06:29Like his opponent, James Bonecrusher-Smith
00:06:32first gained the recognition of the boxing world
00:06:34by fighting champion Larry Holmes.
00:06:36November 9th of 1984 turned into a bloody war.
00:06:40I was ready to take Larry Holmes that night.
00:06:43I was able to connect with my right hand.
00:06:46Well, I had a great opportunity
00:06:48to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
00:06:51Because of the cut, I fell short.
00:06:53Just four months later,
00:06:54the reigning WBA champion Tony Tubbs
00:06:56was just too tough to handle.
00:06:59It's tough coming off a loss to Larry Holmes.
00:07:01I didn't realize I was emotionally and mentally down.
00:07:04It turned out that I was.
00:07:07And Tony Tubbs won the decision,
00:07:0910-round decision.
00:07:10Then in April, Bonecrusher came into Buffalo
00:07:12and took apart Jose Rebalta.
00:07:14And he was just trying to survive.
00:07:17Knocked him down twice in the first round.
00:07:19I was trying to knock him out.
00:07:20I guess I was trying to knock him out too much.
00:07:22And he went for 10 rounds with me.
00:07:23But I won the decision.
00:07:25That brings us to a matchup between two powerful heavyweights.
00:07:28Both with a keen understanding of what it takes to become a champion.
00:07:32I feel like I am the hardest punching heavyweight in the world.
00:07:36He's not a good defensive fighter.
00:07:39He can easily be hit.
00:07:40Tim's going to have a little problem though
00:07:42when I start hitting him
00:07:43because he don't usually run that much.
00:07:46There's going to be curtains.
00:07:47I'm going to be right there for him.
00:07:48If you want to try to trade,
00:07:50I'll trade with him.
00:07:51But I'm going to block most of them hard punches
00:07:53that he's expecting to land on me.
00:07:55I think it will start off bombs away.
00:07:57But something is going to happen early.
00:07:59I'm going to get by this guy
00:08:00because I really want to get these other guys
00:08:02that got the belts.
00:08:04And I won't achieve nothing until I get there.
00:08:07If I'm successful in getting myself
00:08:09back to the point where I need to be,
00:08:12then I don't think I have any problem
00:08:14I can come with this one now.
00:08:18Both men already in the ring.
00:08:19Let's take a look at the tail of the tape.
00:08:20And there's really little to choose.
00:08:22Larry Merchant referred to them as battleships.
00:08:24I think that's exactly right.
00:08:25One thing to note,
00:08:26Bonecrusher Smith at 30 years old,
00:08:28a latecomer to the sport of boxing.
00:08:29Both men big, long reach,
00:08:31very comparable fighters,
00:08:32I would have to think, right?
00:08:33Well, with Smith,
00:08:34he started out very late in his career.
00:08:36But he's big.
00:08:37I think with heavyweights,
00:08:38they don't need that much experience,
00:08:39just power and a lot of determination.
00:08:41They have a couple of opponents in common.
00:08:43Let's take a look at them.
00:08:44James Broad, of course.
00:08:46And interesting to note,
00:08:47James Bonecrusher Smith
00:08:48was knocked out by James Broad.
00:08:50But I really think it was
00:08:51a much more well-conditioned James Broad
00:08:53than the one that fought Tim Witherspoon.
00:08:55And of course,
00:08:55both were defeated by Larry Holmes,
00:08:58who was considered the champion's champion.
00:09:00And that was in Smith's first professional fight.
00:09:02Here's our HBO punch stat.
00:09:05And Tim Witherspoon
00:09:06and his fight against Pinklin Thomas
00:09:08threw about 50 punches each round,
00:09:11landed about 20,
00:09:12about 40% of his punches.
00:09:13And there's James Smith
00:09:16in his fight with Larry Holmes.
00:09:18He threw 47,
00:09:19but landed only 12,
00:09:2025%.
00:09:22But of course,
00:09:22that was against Larry Holmes.
00:09:26And here's the way the rules will go tonight.
00:09:28It's a 10-point must system.
00:09:29Three judges scoring the fight.
00:09:30The referee does not score the fight.
00:09:32No standing gate count.
00:09:33You can only be saved by the bell
00:09:34in the final round of the fight.
00:09:35And the ring doctor
00:09:36can stop the fight
00:09:38without discussion with anyone else.
00:09:40Let's go to the ring announcer now.
00:09:41Chuck Hall for the announcement of the fighters.
00:09:43Bring him in, let him get cold.
00:09:45We're still from God damn.
00:09:46Keep it on here.
00:09:47Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
00:09:48Welcome to the superstar theater
00:09:50of the Riviera Hotel and Casino,
00:09:52where tonight,
00:09:53Don King Productions,
00:09:55in association with the Riviera Hotel,
00:09:57presents the return of Body and Soul,
00:10:00a night of world championship boxing.
00:10:03These bouts are sanctioned
00:10:04by the Nevada State Athletic Commission,
00:10:06Sig Rogich Chairman,
00:10:08Errol Buck Executive Secretary,
00:10:09with commissioners at ringside,
00:10:11Mr. Art Lurie,
00:10:13Mr. Dwayne Ford,
00:10:14and Mr. Freddie Little.
00:10:16The officials assigned
00:10:17by the Nevada State Athletic Commission
00:10:19for the next contest of the evening,
00:10:21the judges are Dick Cole,
00:10:23John McSweeney,
00:10:24and Dave Moretti.
00:10:25The timekeeper is Mike Morabino,
00:10:27counting at the knockdowns,
00:10:28Al Bysik,
00:10:29the attending physicians at ringside,
00:10:31Drs. Donald Romeo,
00:10:33and Flip Momansky,
00:10:34and your referee is Richard Steele.
00:10:40Representing the North American Boxing Federation
00:10:42at ringside this evening
00:10:43is Mr. Bob Bussey,
00:10:45the president.
00:10:47This bout,
00:10:48a distance of 12 rounds
00:10:49for the North American Boxing Federation
00:10:52Heavyweight Championship.
00:10:55Introducing,
00:10:56in the blow corner,
00:10:58from Magnolia,
00:10:59North Carolina,
00:11:00weighing 228 and three-quarter pounds.
00:11:04He has a professional record
00:11:05of 15 wins,
00:11:06three defeats,
00:11:07with 12 KOs.
00:11:08He is ranked number nine
00:11:09by the WBA.
00:11:11Ladies and gentlemen,
00:11:12here is James Bonecrusher Smith.
00:11:20And in the red corner,
00:11:22from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
00:11:24weighing 221 and one-quarter pounds.
00:11:28His professional record
00:11:29consists of 20 wins,
00:11:30two defeats,
00:11:31with 14 KOs.
00:11:33Here is the North American
00:11:35Boxing Federation
00:11:36Heavyweight Champion,
00:11:39Terrible,
00:11:40Tim Winterspoon.
00:11:53Richard Steele will be the referee
00:11:55in this.
00:11:55Let's listen.
00:11:56I want to remind you,
00:11:58obey my commands at all times.
00:12:00Is there any questions?
00:12:02Shake hands,
00:12:02good luck to both of you.
00:12:08And so we are set to go,
00:12:0912 rounds,
00:12:10and a very big fight
00:12:11for both men.
00:12:14James Bonecrusher Smith
00:12:16said,
00:12:16look for something
00:12:17to happen early.
00:12:17I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
00:12:19Well,
00:12:19one thing about
00:12:20Bonecrusher Smith,
00:12:21he wants to punch.
00:12:22He wants to stand
00:12:23toe-to-toe
00:12:23and go for it.
00:12:25He is a banger.
00:12:26There's no question about it.
00:12:27You have the idea
00:12:28that Witherspoon,
00:12:28even though he said
00:12:29he wouldn't be,
00:12:30will be a little bit
00:12:31more patient.
00:12:38What you should look for
00:12:39in Witherspoon,
00:12:40once he's frustrated,
00:12:41and I'm going by his fight
00:12:43with Pinklin Thomas,
00:12:45he tends to telegraph
00:12:46his punches.
00:12:46A lot of winging,
00:12:47lubing punches,
00:12:48but quite devastating
00:12:49if they should land.
00:12:51And James Smith
00:12:53can hit
00:12:54and can hurt.
00:12:57But by the same token,
00:12:58he can cut also
00:13:00and does frequently.
00:13:02That is the biggest
00:13:02handicap that James Bonecrusher
00:13:04has.
00:13:04He's prone to cut
00:13:05and he suffered
00:13:07a nasty cut
00:13:08in his fight
00:13:08with Larry Holmes.
00:13:10So the key for him
00:13:12is to stick that jab out
00:13:13and not get hit
00:13:14by any unnecessary punches.
00:13:16I noticed in the
00:13:19Pinklin Thomas
00:13:19and Tim Witherspoon fight,
00:13:22the jab of Pinklin Thomas
00:13:23bothered Witherspoon
00:13:24tremendously.
00:13:27So that's the key punch
00:13:28for Bonecrusher,
00:13:29the yet left jab.
00:13:32Witherspoon has been
00:13:33on again,
00:13:33off again,
00:13:34and you haven't really
00:13:34known which Tim Witherspoon
00:13:36is going to show up.
00:13:37Now which one we see
00:13:38tonight remains to be seen.
00:13:43Good body shot
00:13:44by Witherspoon.
00:13:46Wild left hand.
00:13:49It's almost inevitable
00:13:50something's going to happen
00:13:51once these guys get inside
00:13:52and start throwing
00:13:53those big punches.
00:13:55With Witherspoon,
00:13:56his left hook
00:13:57is quite potent.
00:13:59Actually,
00:13:59there is already
00:14:00a redness
00:14:01along the left side
00:14:02of the face
00:14:02of James Bonecrusher-Smith
00:14:04this early
00:14:04in the first round
00:14:05and a little swelling
00:14:07under the eye.
00:14:14Witherspoon is attacking
00:14:15the body of Smith
00:14:17and he claimed
00:14:18that to be a big mistake
00:14:19and something he didn't do
00:14:20against Pinkler-Thomas.
00:14:25Both these men,
00:14:26of course,
00:14:26had their chance
00:14:27against Larry Holmes.
00:14:28Punching it out.
00:14:36Witherspoon being
00:14:36very effective
00:14:37with a jab
00:14:38to the left side
00:14:39of the face
00:14:39of Smith.
00:14:49Wooden's more
00:14:49very effective
00:14:50once he's got
00:14:51the nation's balance
00:14:52to stay inside
00:14:53and work the man's body.
00:14:55The better shot
00:15:00there in the first round
00:15:01thrown by
00:15:02Tim Witherspoon.
00:15:03One pull.
00:15:03Tim Witherspoon
00:15:23had clear command
00:15:24in that round.
00:15:25I counted
00:15:26six hard body
00:15:27punches that he landed.
00:15:29That's a devastating total
00:15:31this early
00:15:31in the fight.
00:15:33Look good?
00:15:34Yeah, man.
00:15:36You're going
00:15:37out there
00:15:37with that right hand.
00:15:37When you're going
00:15:38out there
00:15:38with that right hand,
00:15:39take that left hook
00:15:39and bring it back
00:15:40on top.
00:15:40Okay, Tim?
00:15:41You got that left hook
00:15:42in motion.
00:15:44You know what I'm saying?
00:15:44Because he's trying
00:15:44to challenge you
00:15:45with the right hand.
00:15:46Okay.
00:15:47Go over top
00:15:47with that left hook.
00:15:49You got to take
00:15:49that left hook
00:15:50over top.
00:15:52Okay, man.
00:15:53Side to side,
00:15:54left hook.
00:15:55Right hand over.
00:15:56And then there's
00:15:57James Bonecrusher-Smith.
00:15:59You know what I mean?
00:16:01Emil Griffith
00:16:02is his trainer.
00:16:04Come on.
00:16:10Come on.
00:16:10My face.
00:16:13Come up, came out.
00:16:19Bonecrusher-Smith
00:16:20obviously looking
00:16:21to land a big right
00:16:22hand.
00:16:23Tim Witherspoon
00:16:23corner telling him
00:16:25to throw the left hook
00:16:26over it.
00:16:27Well, you can see
00:16:28that Bonecrusher
00:16:29is susceptible
00:16:30to a left hook
00:16:31because he constantly
00:16:32drops that right hand.
00:16:34And Witherspoon
00:16:34corner wants him
00:16:35to get inside
00:16:36and just turn
00:16:36that left hook over.
00:16:38A very good first round
00:16:39for Tim Witherspoon.
00:16:40Best I've seen him have,
00:16:41in fact,
00:16:41any time we've seen him.
00:16:49Witherspoon's fighting
00:16:50a very effective
00:16:50defensive fight so far, too.
00:16:52Look at his right hand, Ray.
00:16:52Well, we have a good shot
00:16:53here of the right hand
00:16:55of Bonecrusher-Smith.
00:16:56He knows the way
00:16:56he carries it down.
00:16:57He drops it at times.
00:16:59So left hook
00:16:59will definitely
00:17:00come into play.
00:17:03And Witherspoon
00:17:04just bullying
00:17:05his man into the ropes.
00:17:06Tim Witherspoon
00:17:06looking all the part
00:17:07of a very effective
00:17:08heavyweight fighter here.
00:17:10Good right hand
00:17:11by Witherspoon.
00:17:12Those are the looping
00:17:13punches by Witherspoon,
00:17:15but I don't think
00:17:15it's frustration
00:17:16at this point.
00:17:17And another good right hand
00:17:19that Smith
00:17:19is hurt by that.
00:17:20But Smith turns
00:17:21Witherspoon into the ropes
00:17:22and comes right back.
00:17:24Tim Witherspoon
00:17:25got his attention.
00:17:27And another good shot
00:17:28by Witherspoon.
00:17:30I don't think
00:17:31Smith is too steady
00:17:32right at the moment.
00:17:33Well, he was hit
00:17:34by a pretty good
00:17:34right hand
00:17:35by Witherspoon.
00:17:37He was shaking.
00:17:37I still think
00:17:44Smith is a little bit
00:17:45rubber-legged here.
00:17:48He doesn't think
00:17:49like the ball
00:17:50that's brought
00:17:51Larry Holmes.
00:17:52No, he doesn't.
00:17:52He's not as aggressive
00:17:53and he doesn't appear
00:17:55to be as confident
00:17:55as he was.
00:18:02Don't push.
00:18:03Don't push.
00:18:03Keep in mind now
00:18:08that ball-crusher Smith
00:18:09has a devastating
00:18:11right hand.
00:18:12He's able to hurt
00:18:13Larry Holmes
00:18:13with that punch.
00:18:14But he seems to be
00:18:15throwing a lot of
00:18:16arm punches here tonight.
00:18:17He's not putting his body
00:18:18and not getting enough
00:18:20leverage behind his punches
00:18:21whereas Witherspoon
00:18:22is throwing his entire body.
00:18:25He's put everything
00:18:25behind him.
00:18:26Witherspoon is just
00:18:27missing some of those punches.
00:18:28There's another big
00:18:29right hand by Tim Witherspoon.
00:18:30And another one.
00:18:35And Smith just doesn't
00:18:38seem to be able
00:18:38to do anything
00:18:38about stopping.
00:18:40Witherspoon is missing
00:18:41with the left hand
00:18:42but even so
00:18:43he's setting it up
00:18:43for the right.
00:18:49Witherspoon's defense
00:18:50is quite difficult
00:18:51to penetrate.
00:18:53He keeps that chin
00:18:54tucked in.
00:18:57And when he gets
00:18:59inside he uses
00:18:59his shoulders.
00:19:00So his football career
00:19:07has come into play here.
00:19:10Former tight end.
00:19:14Smith just looks
00:19:14a little bit befuddled
00:19:15by Tim Witherspoon.
00:19:17Witherspoon having it
00:19:17all his own way here.
00:19:18with the right hand.
00:19:31He needs to turn the fight
00:19:34around with a big punch.
00:19:35I'm hitting him.
00:19:38That's Emil Griffin
00:19:42and the former
00:19:43well-awaited middleweight
00:19:43champion talking.
00:19:44Then talk to my top
00:19:45with the right hand.
00:19:47Don't back up.
00:19:50Take the power
00:19:50from him.
00:19:52Now let's take a look
00:19:53early in the round.
00:19:55There was the punch
00:19:56that Tim Witherspoon threw.
00:19:57It landed solidly
00:19:58but high on Smith's head
00:20:00which is why he was able
00:20:01to get away with it.
00:20:03about an inch and a half
00:20:07lower and I'd be in the ring
00:20:08interviewing Tim Witherspoon.
00:20:10I'm going to push him off
00:20:11for you.
00:20:12Okay.
00:20:14Come on now.
00:20:15Come on let's go.
00:20:20That statistic
00:20:21that you just saw
00:20:22is pretty indicative
00:20:23of how the fight is gone
00:20:24for James Bonecrusher-Smith
00:20:25so far.
00:20:2620% effectiveness.
00:20:28Emil Griffin
00:20:29Bonecrusher-Smith's trainer
00:20:32suggested that he
00:20:34don't back up
00:20:35and once
00:20:36we'll get on
00:20:37to push him off.
00:20:40Witherspoon
00:20:45very confusing defense
00:20:46for Bonecrusher-Smith.
00:20:48Watch it.
00:20:49And those are very good
00:20:50instructions by Emil Griffin
00:20:51because once
00:20:52Witherspoon gets to the side
00:20:54it's in his favor
00:20:55because that's his fight.
00:20:58Bonecrusher should keep
00:20:59his man at base
00:20:59with the left jab.
00:21:10That looping right hand
00:21:14of Witherspoon
00:21:14is getting closer
00:21:15and closer
00:21:15trying to find his mark
00:21:17on the chin of Smith.
00:21:18Let him go, Smith.
00:21:19Let him go.
00:21:23Smith largely
00:21:24ineffective so far.
00:21:26Pawing right hand
00:21:27that time.
00:21:27Come on.
00:21:27Punch it get out.
00:21:28Punch it get out.
00:21:29And he does seem
00:21:32to be throwing
00:21:33a lot of arm punches
00:21:34does he not, Ray?
00:21:35Well, he's not putting
00:21:36any power behind
00:21:37his punches
00:21:37mainly because he gets
00:21:38up on the ball
00:21:39of his feet
00:21:39and taking away
00:21:40his power.
00:21:41He's a big man
00:21:42so he should have
00:21:43more power.
00:21:45And another good
00:21:46left hand
00:21:47by Witherspoon.
00:21:56Witherspoon has
00:21:58somewhat of a
00:21:58pick-a-boo style
00:21:59like Floyd Patterson
00:22:01and with that
00:22:02looping right hand
00:22:04which made
00:22:05Kim Norton famous
00:22:05he was known for.
00:22:13Well, it makes
00:22:14that right hand
00:22:14of James
00:22:15Boncresher-Smith
00:22:16very difficult
00:22:17to penetrate.
00:22:17That was up
00:22:18on the glove.
00:22:23Smith does not
00:22:24seem to be
00:22:24enjoying his fight.
00:22:26Keep moving in front.
00:22:27Keep moving in front.
00:22:28Mend up.
00:22:29Brake.
00:22:29Step back quick.
00:22:42Good right hand
00:22:43to the body
00:22:44by Witherspoon.
00:22:48You notice that
00:22:49Smith is like
00:22:50pouring that left jab
00:22:50and trying to
00:22:51drop that bomb
00:22:52with the right hand.
00:22:53But what he's
00:22:54in store for
00:22:54is a common
00:22:55right hand
00:22:55by Witherspoon
00:22:56over that left jab.
00:22:59He needs to
00:22:59snap that jab out
00:23:00because the way
00:23:02he throws
00:23:02is so easy
00:23:02to be counted.
00:23:04Tim Witherspoon
00:23:05being very patient
00:23:06and definitely
00:23:07the harder
00:23:07of the two
00:23:08punchers
00:23:08so far.
00:23:08Smith seemed to get into it a little bit
00:23:31at the end of that round
00:23:33but so far I have a shutout
00:23:35in favor of Witherspoon
00:23:38and there's Pinklin Thomas
00:23:41the WBC heavyweight champion
00:23:44in his dressing room
00:23:45getting taped
00:23:46for his first defense
00:23:49of the title
00:23:51surrounded by others
00:23:56but alone with his thoughts
00:24:08and there's some celebrities
00:24:11Don King and Diane Keaton
00:24:14the well-known boxing performer
00:24:18Muhammad Ali
00:24:20and Larry Holmes
00:24:23and we come to the fourth round
00:24:27I want to take a moment to pass on
00:24:28our best wishes to Shelley King
00:24:30the wife of Carl King
00:24:31the manager of Tim Witherspoon
00:24:32she was seriously injured in an automobile accident
00:24:34she of course has our best wishes
00:24:36for a speedy recovery
00:24:37Bone Crusher Smith on the left
00:24:44he takes a hard right hand
00:24:45and he's hurt
00:24:46and he's over the left stand
00:24:47of Smith
00:24:49Smith is definitely hurt
00:24:50he's ready to go
00:24:51Witherspoon on top of him
00:24:53Smith trying to fight him off
00:24:54watch the right hand again
00:24:57Barry
00:24:57he's trying to
00:24:59Barry he's trying to measure his man
00:25:00now he shouldn't
00:25:01now Witherspoon should not get frustrated
00:25:03and overhanging guys
00:25:05he should take his time
00:25:05and make his punches land
00:25:07he still has Smith
00:25:10in a bit of trouble here
00:25:11Smith trying to get his legs back
00:25:13Smith is gone
00:25:15he just fell back just then
00:25:19his legs are gone now
00:25:21legs are stiff
00:25:21this one's a matter of time
00:25:24Witherspoon being very patient
00:25:26it won't take much
00:25:29and another right hand
00:25:31Smith in a whole heap of trouble here
00:25:35and another good right hand
00:25:40no spring at all
00:25:42to Bone Crusher's legs
00:25:43this just
00:25:46it's enough time
00:25:46to get him out of there
00:25:47watch the elbow
00:25:48watch the elbow
00:25:48Witherspoon not wasting any punches
00:25:52he knows there's a ways to go
00:25:53if Smith does get through it
00:25:54there's a right hand
00:25:55and a left hand
00:25:57big punch by Witherspoon
00:25:59Smith holds on
00:26:00trying to fight his way out of it
00:26:04if he can
00:26:05he's got more than a minute
00:26:08to get through
00:26:08there's no sting at all
00:26:10in the punches of Bone Crusher Smith
00:26:11and what Witherspoon should be doing
00:26:15now working the body
00:26:16if he's not going for the head
00:26:17he shouldn't waste
00:26:18those unnecessary punches
00:26:19Smith breathing hard
00:26:22he's on rubber legs
00:26:23he's up against the ropes
00:26:24just trying to lean on Witherspoon
00:26:26and weather the storm here
00:26:28in the fourth round
00:26:29he is a hurting puppy
00:26:33by missing all those punches
00:26:34he's becoming armed with
00:26:35there seems to be a cut
00:26:36on the left eye of Bone Crusher Smith
00:26:39you're holding
00:26:40good body shot
00:26:43just as you said Ray
00:26:44you need to stay on that body
00:26:46you can't miss the body
00:26:47the body doesn't move
00:26:48and another left hand
00:26:49and he wobbles back again
00:26:51a right hand by Witherspoon
00:26:52Witherspoon would definitely
00:26:55be tired after this round
00:26:57once you get out
00:26:59once you get out
00:27:00quite arm-weary
00:27:0220 seconds remaining
00:27:03come on you guys
00:27:05you're holding
00:27:05it was my mistake
00:27:06there is not a cut
00:27:07on Smith
00:27:09and the fifth just pawing
00:27:12just pawing
00:27:13he's got no gas
00:27:14in the tank here
00:27:15but he may get
00:27:17through the round
00:27:18watch your hands
00:27:20watch your hands
00:27:21he let him get away
00:27:23oh and a big right hand
00:27:25at the bell
00:27:26James Bone Crusher Smith
00:27:31may not get high marks
00:27:33for his skill in that round
00:27:35but certainly for his hurt
00:27:37he went through about
00:27:38two minutes after he was hurt
00:27:40he seemed to be held on his feet
00:27:42I know what you're doing right
00:27:43let's hear Emil Griffin
00:27:44I'm supposed to try
00:27:44now
00:27:45go out there now
00:27:46and punch now
00:27:48okay
00:27:48go out there now
00:27:50and punch
00:27:50quickly take over
00:27:52so let's push you back
00:27:54use your right hand
00:27:56there's the punch
00:27:58that started that round
00:27:59in Tim Witherspoon's favor
00:28:02and late in the round
00:28:04a fraction of a second
00:28:06after the bell
00:28:07he hit him another right hand
00:28:10it's interesting that
00:28:12advice from Emil Griffin
00:28:13it's the advice from a champion
00:28:15the champion
00:28:15which Emil Griffin was
00:28:17thinks in terms of
00:28:19I'm going to go out there
00:28:20I'm going to go out there
00:28:20and reassert myself
00:28:21I'm not going to run
00:28:22I'm not going to clutch
00:28:23and I think it's the best
00:28:25possible advice at this point
00:28:26right
00:28:27well especially for Bone Crusher
00:28:29he has to get in there
00:28:29and initiate some type of respect
00:28:31I think at this point now
00:28:33because a lot of punches
00:28:34this is a great opportunity
00:28:37once Bone Crusher Smith head clears
00:28:39to get on top of him
00:28:41I think Witherspoon is
00:28:42a little arm weary
00:28:43from all those punches thrown
00:28:44this is the fifth round
00:28:46and we'll see if Smith has anything left
00:28:49good body shot
00:28:56very good body shot
00:28:57right to the ribs
00:28:58Bone Crusher Smith
00:28:59another good left hand
00:29:05by Witherspoon
00:29:06and a body shot
00:29:07to the right hand
00:29:08when both
00:29:10when the fighters
00:29:11inside
00:29:13that's when
00:29:14Emil Griffin
00:29:15wants Smith
00:29:16to push his man off
00:29:17in the clinch
00:29:19Smith a pawing jab
00:29:30and Witherspoon
00:29:31looking for the right spot
00:29:32come on punch
00:29:36and get out you guys
00:29:36punch
00:29:37great
00:29:37cut that clinch
00:29:38with Witherspoon now
00:29:39he's waiting for that second win
00:29:41trying to regain it
00:29:44and see normally
00:29:49after throwing so many punches
00:29:50it takes about a good minute
00:29:51before that second win
00:29:53comes into play
00:29:53left hook
00:29:57a little bit short
00:29:58and there's a good right hand
00:30:05right at the top of the head
00:30:06Smith might have taken
00:30:17Witherspoon's best
00:30:18but the cumulative effect
00:30:20seems that it will have an effect
00:30:21it will have an effect
00:30:22on the outcome of the fight
00:30:23it's going to weigh him down
00:30:24no question about it
00:30:25you can't take too many
00:30:27of those right hands
00:30:28to the head
00:30:28especially if Bob
00:30:30puncher like Witherspoon
00:30:31puncher get out
00:30:35puncher get out
00:30:36don't let him go
00:30:38Smith has been hit
00:30:39by a lot of big bombs
00:30:41by Witherspoon
00:30:42but don't count him out
00:30:43now because he has
00:30:43a lot of power
00:30:44in his right hand
00:30:45although we have not
00:30:46seen it yet
00:30:47Smith's just having trouble
00:30:50getting through the defense
00:30:51of Tim Witherspoon
00:30:52Witherspoon's jabbed
00:30:53better than I've seen it
00:30:55Smith's with that right hand
00:30:56ball trust can move
00:30:58his head very well
00:30:59good upper body movement
00:31:01he's using it well
00:31:02Smith's not really
00:31:19heeding the advice
00:31:19of Emile Griffin
00:31:20in his corner
00:31:20seems to be kind of
00:31:21just trying to get it all
00:31:22back together
00:31:23in this round
00:31:24Jim Witherspoon
00:31:26still throwing a shutout
00:31:28combination
00:31:36combination
00:31:37okay
00:31:38you're talking about
00:31:39combination
00:31:40and the other shot
00:31:41coming to you
00:31:41okay
00:31:42you're doing one shot
00:31:44every time now
00:31:45you gotta put some
00:31:45combination together
00:31:46if you wanna get him out
00:31:47of here
00:31:47understand me
00:31:47here's our punch stat
00:31:50the cumulative total
00:31:51of punches
00:31:52through this fight
00:31:52Kim Witherspoon
00:31:53has thrown 234 punches
00:31:55landed 141
00:31:5660%
00:31:57that's a lot of punches
00:31:59in a heavyweight fight
00:32:00through six rounds
00:32:02alright
00:32:02so you gotta put pressure
00:32:04on this guy
00:32:04okay
00:32:04keep punching at him
00:32:05alright
00:32:06stop it
00:32:06combination
00:32:08alright
00:32:08good fight
00:32:09yeah
00:32:10all you gotta do
00:32:10is keep pressing
00:32:11him
00:32:11just punching at him
00:32:12alright
00:32:12Kim Witherspoon
00:32:14wants to go out
00:32:15and count the house
00:32:16talk to the critics
00:32:17see whether they
00:32:18like what's happening
00:32:19he's always very
00:32:21concerned about
00:32:22looking good
00:32:22as well as winning
00:32:23he's always been
00:32:24that way
00:32:24in fact
00:32:27he has stated
00:32:29we asked
00:32:29whether or not
00:32:30the fight
00:32:31was exciting
00:32:31when he put
00:32:32Pinkman Thomas
00:32:33so he's definitely
00:32:37concerned about
00:32:38his performance
00:32:38well so far
00:32:40it's been pretty
00:32:40impressive
00:32:40now you have to
00:32:41allow for
00:32:42what's in front of him
00:32:43and how good
00:32:45or how bad
00:32:45James Bonecrusher
00:32:46Smith is
00:32:46is really still
00:32:48subject to some
00:32:49questions
00:32:49but Witherspoon
00:32:50has been
00:32:50impressive
00:32:50tonight
00:32:51I'm waiting
00:32:56for a right hand
00:32:58thrown by Bonecrusher
00:32:59to land
00:33:00on his chin
00:33:00and see how
00:33:01he reacts
00:33:02to it
00:33:02because quite
00:33:03naturally
00:33:03Witherspoon
00:33:04has hit Bonecrusher
00:33:05with some dynamite
00:33:06shots
00:33:06and Smith
00:33:08has shown
00:33:08his durability
00:33:09by standing
00:33:10right hand
00:33:14back Smith
00:33:15off of him
00:33:15that hurt him
00:33:16again
00:33:16got a thumb
00:33:20in the eye
00:33:21too
00:33:21and I'm sure
00:33:22that Smith
00:33:22is going to
00:33:23complain loudly
00:33:23about that
00:33:24it was a left
00:33:26hand
00:33:26and it definitely
00:33:27bothered Smith
00:33:27you can see him
00:33:28rubbing his right
00:33:28eye
00:33:29not the first
00:33:36time Witherspoon
00:33:37has been accused
00:33:37of that
00:33:38incidentally
00:33:38he has also
00:33:39to be the accuser
00:33:40good exchange there
00:34:04but Witherspoon
00:34:05again
00:34:05getting the better
00:34:05of it
00:34:06good head movement
00:34:11by Tim Witherspoon
00:34:12Witherspoon
00:34:13was instructed
00:34:13in his corner
00:34:14to throw some
00:34:15combinations
00:34:16guys
00:34:16he wants to
00:34:16get his man
00:34:17out of there
00:34:17because it's a
00:34:19pattern that
00:34:19there's not
00:34:19going to be
00:34:19one punch
00:34:20that will
00:34:20stop
00:34:21or knock out
00:34:22Bonecrusher
00:34:23Smith
00:34:23and Smith
00:34:28is actually
00:34:29getting a few
00:34:29more punches
00:34:30in
00:34:30on the head
00:34:31of Tim
00:34:31Witherspoon
00:34:32they are not
00:34:32tremendously
00:34:33effective punches
00:34:34but nonetheless
00:34:34he hasn't been
00:34:35able to penetrate
00:34:35that defense
00:34:36at all
00:34:36prior to this
00:34:37round
00:34:37right hand
00:34:39by Witherspoon
00:34:40again
00:34:40most of those
00:34:42right hands
00:34:43thrown by
00:34:43Witherspoon
00:34:44have landed
00:34:45flush on the
00:34:46chin of
00:34:46Bonecrusher
00:34:47Smith
00:34:47and he remains
00:34:49standing
00:34:49but I think
00:34:52what you're going
00:34:52to see eventually
00:34:53in the later
00:34:53rounds
00:34:54if he should
00:34:54go that far
00:34:55is to wear
00:34:55and tear
00:34:55Smith looks
00:35:00like a
00:35:01tired fighter
00:35:02and he has
00:35:03taken
00:35:03I'm awfully
00:35:04good punches
00:35:05I'm not too
00:35:20sure but
00:35:20Witherspoon
00:35:21is not a little
00:35:21tired either
00:35:22that was
00:35:24Smith's best
00:35:25round
00:35:25I don't know
00:35:26if I'm being
00:35:26charitable
00:35:26but I'm giving
00:35:27it to him
00:35:28let's see
00:35:29what happens
00:35:30in his corner
00:35:30regarding
00:35:31his right eye
00:35:33which was
00:35:33thumbed
00:35:35you've got to
00:35:36go to work
00:35:37you've got to
00:35:38go to work
00:35:38come on
00:35:41you've got to
00:35:42work
00:35:43again
00:35:43I've got to
00:35:44go to work
00:35:45go to work
00:35:46with this
00:35:46man
00:35:47come on
00:35:50you can do it
00:35:51now
00:35:51let's do it
00:35:52let's see if we
00:35:54can catch
00:35:54that
00:35:55thumbing
00:35:56there it was
00:35:57right there
00:35:58you can see
00:35:58Smith
00:35:59rubbing his
00:36:00eye
00:36:01it seemed to
00:36:02be
00:36:02an inadvertent
00:36:03thumb
00:36:04I would
00:36:08say it
00:36:08had to
00:36:08be
00:36:08inadvertent
00:36:09would you
00:36:09Ray
00:36:09just
00:36:10tell
00:36:10it
00:36:10to be
00:36:10lost
00:36:11don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:14don't
00:36:15don't
00:36:15don't
00:36:16graduate
00:36:16of
00:36:16Shaw
00:36:16college
00:36:17business
00:36:18administration
00:36:19so he has
00:36:20something to
00:36:21fall back on
00:36:22beside the
00:36:22season's
00:36:23red trunks
00:36:23which he is
00:36:25reluctant to
00:36:26do at this
00:36:26point
00:36:27has not
00:36:27done
00:36:27that
00:36:27so we'll
00:36:34see what's
00:36:34left here
00:36:35for James
00:36:36Bonecrusher
00:36:36Smith
00:36:36lest you
00:36:37think he
00:36:37can't go
00:36:38get a
00:36:38man
00:36:38the late
00:36:38rounds
00:36:39you only
00:36:39have to
00:36:39harken
00:36:39back to
00:36:40that fight
00:36:40with a
00:36:41young
00:36:41upcoming
00:36:42Englishman
00:36:42when he
00:36:43was behind
00:36:44all of the
00:36:45way
00:36:45and knocked
00:36:46his man
00:36:46out
00:36:46Frank
00:36:48Bruno
00:36:48was the
00:36:48fighter
00:36:49knocked
00:36:49him
00:36:49out
00:36:49in the
00:36:50tenth
00:36:50and
00:36:50final
00:36:51round
00:36:51the
00:36:53points
00:36:53that
00:36:54have
00:36:54been
00:36:54landed
00:36:55on the
00:36:55chin
00:36:56and ribs
00:36:57of Bonecrusher
00:36:58Smith
00:36:58and have
00:36:59shaken him
00:37:00but I
00:37:00think if
00:37:01if the fight
00:37:01somebody stopped
00:37:02it would be
00:37:03to do the
00:37:04cuts
00:37:04Smith is
00:37:15thinking in
00:37:16there
00:37:16I mean
00:37:16he's trying
00:37:16to find
00:37:17an area
00:37:17exposed area
00:37:18who's got
00:37:19that bomb
00:37:20he actually
00:37:21has looked
00:37:22stronger in
00:37:22the last
00:37:22couple of
00:37:23rounds
00:37:23than he
00:37:23did
00:37:23in the
00:37:25third
00:37:26and fourth
00:37:26round
00:37:26maybe
00:37:31that
00:37:31his
00:37:32opponent
00:37:32has
00:37:32lost
00:37:33about
00:37:33a half
00:37:33a step
00:37:34here
00:37:34I love
00:37:35those
00:37:35body shots
00:37:36thrown
00:37:36by
00:37:36Woodenstone
00:37:36they are
00:37:38so effective
00:37:38especially
00:37:40in the
00:37:40late
00:37:40rounds
00:37:41and when
00:37:41you fight
00:37:41a big
00:37:42man
00:37:42like
00:37:43Bonecrusher
00:37:44those
00:37:44body
00:37:44shots
00:37:45they
00:37:46take
00:37:47their
00:37:47toes
00:37:47couple
00:37:51jams
00:37:51by
00:37:51Woodenstone
00:37:52keep
00:37:56him
00:37:56close
00:37:56keep
00:37:57him
00:37:57close
00:37:57keep
00:37:59him
00:37:59close
00:37:59still a
00:38:06little bit
00:38:07of swelling
00:38:07under the
00:38:07left eye
00:38:08of James
00:38:08Bonecrusher
00:38:09Smith
00:38:09that looks
00:38:10a little bit
00:38:10closer to
00:38:10opening up
00:38:11than it did
00:38:11earlier
00:38:12come on
00:38:12where can
00:38:13get out
00:38:13where can
00:38:13get out
00:38:13well in the
00:38:16early rounds
00:38:16you saw a very
00:38:17aggressive
00:38:17Tim Witherspoon
00:38:18but now
00:38:18he's facing
00:38:20himself
00:38:20and for very
00:38:21good reasons
00:38:22because he
00:38:22threw so many
00:38:23punches
00:38:23those last
00:38:24two rounds
00:38:25always hard
00:38:28to tell
00:38:28as to
00:38:29how tired
00:38:29Tim Witherspoon
00:38:32is because
00:38:32he has a
00:38:33propensity
00:38:33to breathe
00:38:33through his
00:38:34mouth
00:38:34we've seen
00:38:34him do
00:38:35that on
00:38:35numerous
00:38:35occasions
00:38:36and he's
00:38:36doing
00:38:36again
00:38:37now
00:38:37there seems
00:38:39to be an
00:38:39abrasion
00:38:39of the
00:38:40left eye
00:38:41of Bonecrusher
00:38:44Smith
00:38:44a little
00:38:46bruised
00:38:47coming down
00:39:00toward
00:39:0120 seconds
00:39:01remaining
00:39:02good
00:39:09jab
00:39:09then
00:39:09downstairs
00:39:10by Tim
00:39:11Witherspoon
00:39:12Smith
00:39:13again
00:39:13throwing
00:39:13punches
00:39:14mostly
00:39:14with his
00:39:14arms
00:39:15not
00:39:15really
00:39:15snapping
00:39:16the
00:39:16punches
00:39:16and there
00:39:32is Mike
00:39:32Weaver
00:39:33the
00:39:33challenger
00:39:34for
00:39:36Pinkman
00:39:36Thomas'
00:39:37title
00:39:37the
00:39:38once
00:39:38perhaps
00:39:38the
00:39:39future
00:39:39heavyweight
00:39:39champion
00:39:40might be
00:39:44the first
00:39:44man to
00:39:45hold
00:39:45the WBA
00:39:46and the
00:39:48WBC
00:39:48title
00:39:49should he
00:39:49win
00:39:49and in our
00:40:04next fight
00:40:05or the fight
00:40:05after this
00:40:06heavyweight
00:40:06fight
00:40:06in August
00:40:07Jose Luis
00:40:08Ramirez
00:40:09lightweight champion
00:40:11challenged
00:40:12challenged
00:40:12by Hector
00:40:12Camacho
00:40:13Hector
00:40:15Camacho
00:40:15chance to be
00:40:17the most
00:40:17exciting
00:40:17fighter
00:40:18in the
00:40:18ring
00:40:18and we
00:40:24start the
00:40:25eighth round
00:40:25here in
00:40:26Las Vegas
00:40:26Tim
00:40:27Witherspoon
00:40:27white
00:40:28trunks
00:40:28James
00:40:28Bonecrusher
00:40:29Smith
00:40:29red
00:40:29trunks
00:40:30white
00:40:30stripe
00:40:30it's been
00:40:31a fight
00:40:31that has
00:40:31pretty much
00:40:32belonged
00:40:32to Tim
00:40:33Witherspoon
00:40:33trying to pick
00:40:36up the pace
00:40:36a little bit
00:40:37here early
00:40:37in the eighth
00:40:38round
00:40:38witherspoon
00:40:42left hand
00:40:58counterpunch
00:40:59well of course
00:40:59he can't get that
00:41:00right hand through
00:41:01he's been trying
00:41:01for the past
00:41:03seven rounds
00:41:03but that right hand
00:41:04he has to land
00:41:06on the chin
00:41:06of Witherspoon
00:41:07it's a style
00:41:09of Witherspoon
00:41:09that's really
00:41:10frustrating
00:41:11wrong question
00:41:13good right hand
00:41:23by Witherspoon
00:41:23through the body
00:41:24punch it out
00:41:25punch it out
00:41:26don't hold him
00:41:32don't hold him
00:41:32and after a
00:41:34pretty furious
00:41:35start to this
00:41:36eighth round
00:41:36the pace
00:41:37is dragged
00:41:37down considerably
00:41:38more holding
00:41:40going on
00:41:41good body shot
00:41:41and behind
00:41:42it a right hand
00:41:42don't hold it
00:41:43don't hold it
00:41:43Witherspoon
00:41:44might possibly
00:41:44be able to
00:41:45put Bonecrusher
00:41:46down by body shot
00:41:47because he's
00:41:48landed some
00:41:49dynamite punches
00:41:50to the head
00:41:50of Bonecrusher
00:41:51he has
00:41:52and Bonecrusher's
00:41:53legs don't seem
00:41:53too solid
00:41:54and really haven't
00:41:55since all that
00:41:56serious damage
00:41:56earlier
00:41:57but one right hand
00:41:58that Witherspoon
00:41:58was able to land
00:41:59to the body
00:42:00of Bonecrusher
00:42:00it appeared
00:42:01that it bothered
00:42:02him for a while
00:42:02looping right hand
00:42:09that time
00:42:09now see the left hook
00:42:15of Witherspoon
00:42:15was very effective
00:42:16and this corner
00:42:17is expecting to
00:42:18throw it again
00:42:18I guess he's waiting
00:42:21for an opportunity
00:42:22but the opportunity
00:42:23is there
00:42:24because again
00:42:24you see the right hand
00:42:25that's dropping
00:42:26the Bonecrusher
00:42:26Smith just seems
00:42:30to have lost
00:42:31a lot of the starch
00:42:32right hand
00:42:35that might have been
00:42:36his best punch
00:42:37of the fight
00:42:37actually
00:42:37it was a grazing
00:42:39punch there
00:42:39it landed on the
00:42:40shoulders
00:42:40of Witherspoon
00:42:42I like when
00:42:51Witherspoon throws
00:42:52a jab
00:42:52to the hand
00:42:53and delivers
00:42:53the right hand
00:42:54to the body
00:42:54but what he should
00:42:55do should follow
00:42:56with the left hook
00:42:57I think that
00:42:58combination there
00:42:58would get through
00:42:59there's the left hook
00:43:03you notice the right
00:43:03hand
00:43:04most of the time
00:43:05it lands to the body
00:43:06and the left hook
00:43:09will be
00:43:09will be perfect
00:43:19Smith just that pawing
00:43:20jab
00:43:20it just doesn't look
00:43:21like Smith has
00:43:22much left here
00:43:22give them a second
00:43:23hit him with one
00:43:24you start
00:43:27you stop
00:43:27it
00:43:28close
00:43:29in his butt
00:43:30in his butt
00:43:30he's
00:43:31back
00:43:31come on
00:43:32he had to say
00:43:32come on
00:43:32get his thigh
00:43:33in his butt
00:43:34come on
00:43:35he ran
00:43:36This is a nice round you're going to do.
00:43:40A few more rounds.
00:43:42Two more rounds.
00:43:44This is a nice round, okay?
00:43:46What did you prove?
00:43:48You got to prove.
00:43:50You hit them with one choosing that goes while you stop.
00:43:52Keep doing it!
00:43:54You won this bet.
00:43:56Let's take it!
00:43:58He didn't give it to you.
00:44:00He told you that.
00:44:02I want you to show him you're taking.
00:44:06Keep going, Jimmy.
00:44:08Put down a press on me.
00:44:10Put down a press on me.
00:44:12Put down a press on me.
00:44:14Press on.
00:44:16Left, right, left, right.
00:44:24Weary.
00:44:26Appears hurt.
00:44:28But I think the faith he has in his power keeps him going in the hope that he'll land one big punch.
00:44:32I think that's exactly right.
00:44:34He just doesn't look like he has anything left.
00:44:36Even in a corner, it looked like he was in a daze.
00:44:40But we'll see.
00:44:42He just barely grazed the chain of ball crusher.
00:44:48The eyes bothering the right eye.
00:44:50That was another good left hand.
00:44:51I don't think he ever saw that left hand coming.
00:44:52That was something that was starting to bother ball crusher again.
00:44:56He's blinking now.
00:44:57Yes, he is.
00:44:58Trying to just dig down.
00:44:59He takes the right hand.
00:45:00Smith trying to fight back.
00:45:01Missing wildly.
00:45:02And there's a big left hand.
00:45:03Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:04And there's a big left hand.
00:45:05Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:06And there's a big left hand.
00:45:07And there's a big left hand.
00:45:08Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:13And there's a big left hand.
00:45:14And there's a big left hand.
00:45:15Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:16And there's a big left hand.
00:45:17And there's a big left hand.
00:45:18wild hand.
00:45:19He's trying to just dig down.
00:45:20He takes the right hand.
00:45:21Smith trying to fight back, missing wildly.
00:45:24And there's a big left hand.
00:45:27Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:29This is a big left hand.
00:45:30Smith bobbles backwards once more.
00:45:34General.
00:45:39John G.
00:45:43And Richard Steele just trying to get the two to punch out of it.
00:45:52They seem content to lean on each other for the moment.
00:45:56Inside, Willis-Poner just lays there, and he wants ball crushes to pretty much fall asleep with that left hook.
00:46:04Those body shots are starting to ball the ball crush.
00:46:08I don't think he likes it down there.
00:46:10Another good left hand off the clinch by Tim Witherspoon.
00:46:23Now watch for the hook, Barry, by Witherspoon.
00:46:27He lays inside, then he comes up.
00:46:35Oh, great.
00:46:36Step back, step back, step back.
00:46:37Witherspoon, I'd rather, Smith is a very, very tired fighter.
00:46:42There's no question about it.
00:46:53Another right hand drilled to the body of ball crushes.
00:46:55Must be very frustrating, Ray, to know that you have to knock a man out, and to just also know that you just haven't got any steam left.
00:47:05Well, that's true, especially when the round's going by so fast.
00:47:11It's very discouraging.
00:47:12He's hurt.
00:47:13There's a big right hand.
00:47:16He's in serious trouble again.
00:47:18Remember, the bell can't save him.
00:47:20Right hand buckles the knees again.
00:47:22Witherspoon chases him down.
00:47:24At the bell.
00:47:25It's over.
00:47:25The round's over.
00:47:26It's been time that Smith has taken a big punch immediately after the bell.
00:47:36And I only mention that because I think it suggests the fact that he is really not a polished professional.
00:47:43That doesn't happen to a polished professional.
00:47:46There it is again.
00:47:48A long, looping right hand.
00:47:50That was before the bell.
00:47:53But the relentless Witherspoon, keeping after him, threw one punch, perhaps a fraction of a second before the bell,
00:48:00and it landed a fraction of a second after the bell.
00:48:07It's a lot of big leather to be landing on, from heavyweights, on heavyweights.
00:48:14All right.
00:48:15In there.
00:48:16Now, come on, Noah.
00:48:20You have to give Witherspoon some high marks for coming back from his defeat by Pinklin Thomas,
00:48:26dominating James Broad, and up to this point, dominating Bone Crusher Smith.
00:48:32What puzzles me, and bewilders me, is the fact that after taking repeated shots,
00:48:37overhand rising up hook, Smith should get the message that he should bring his hands up.
00:48:42So, a very tired fighter, James Bone Crusher Smith, just tries to guts it out here.
00:48:50Oh, another big right hand.
00:48:53I'm sure Witherspoon is wondering what is keeping Bone Crusher up.
00:48:56He's throwing his best artillery.
00:48:59And Witherspoon continues to dish out punishment to James Bone Crusher Smith.
00:49:17Witherspoon is just walking through Bone Crusher.
00:49:20I thought for a moment Richard Steele was going to step in and stop it here, but that's not the case.
00:49:30Smith goes on, matter of pride here.
00:49:32This is the 10th round, scheduled for 12.
00:49:40Smith is very, very tired.
00:49:43And beaten.
00:49:45And another right hand sends him into his own corner.
00:49:48And another right hand.
00:49:52He's hurt.
00:49:52He's definitely hurt now.
00:49:54This is a bad habit that Witherspoon has.
00:49:58He gets over anxious.
00:49:59He's running, he runs in, he goes looping punches.
00:50:01Don't hold him, don't hold him.
00:50:03Smith got out of the way of that one.
00:50:06What is going to get Bone Crusher out of there?
00:50:08He should be just taking his time.
00:50:10Get a jab and get closer.
00:50:12He's got the telegraph to punch him.
00:50:14Punching it out, punching it out, watch it in.
00:50:15And see what could possibly happen, he could run through something himself.
00:50:19Don't hold it, Smith.
00:50:20Don't hold it.
00:50:21Then goes down.
00:50:22Don't hold him.
00:50:24And another big right hand.
00:50:26Combinations of punches.
00:50:27Smith's hands are still up, though.
00:50:29As long as they're up, Richard Steele won't step in and stop this lopsided fight.
00:50:33Now, Bone Crusher's still in this fight, Beric, because he's aware of those punches.
00:50:37He leans back.
00:50:39Still got a long way to go, as you can see in round 10.
00:50:44An interminable amount of time for a fighter who's tired and hurt.
00:50:48Smith wisely walks away from Witherspoon.
00:51:00Punching it out.
00:51:0220 seconds remaining in this round.
00:51:05It's unbelievable.
00:51:06Man, like Bone Crusher took so many punches and remained standing.
00:51:10He has taken the very best that Tim Witherspoon has to offer.
00:51:14And now he jabs back a little bit.
00:51:18There was a right hand by Bone Crusher.
00:51:23And a left by Witherspoon at the bell.
00:51:31Witherspoon raises his hands triumphantly, if prematurely.
00:51:35I don't know the line.
00:51:37Got two more rounds, Timmy.
00:51:40Hear what I say, baby?
00:51:41Two more rounds.
00:51:42He's going to get burned on it.
00:51:43This is all the way.
00:51:45Now, there's Bone Crusher.
00:51:49The only way you can win is by knocking him out.
00:51:51You've got to go to work.
00:51:52Okay?
00:51:52You have to knock him out to win.
00:51:55But you're going to knock him out, but you're going to knock him out doing it right.
00:51:59You're going to knock him out, but doing it right.
00:52:02You hear me?
00:52:02You're going to throw more right hand.
00:52:06All right.
00:52:07You've got to give me back.
00:52:08You're going to knock him out.
00:52:08Come on.
00:52:09Come on.
00:52:10Come on.
00:52:10You want this, Mike?
00:52:12Come on.
00:52:13Come on.
00:52:13Why'd they get in there?
00:52:15In my judgment, this fight should be stopped.
00:52:21I don't think Bone Crusher Smith has any chance to win with a knockout.
00:52:25I think he's far too tired.
00:52:26I think there's nothing left to be proved in this fight.
00:52:32Well, if I want to get credit in my boxing career, it's not because I take a lot of punches.
00:52:39Ray, this is when fighters get injured.
00:52:41When they're fatigued.
00:52:42When they've taken a lot of punches.
00:52:44And their bravery keeps them upright.
00:52:48There's no question about Bone Crusher taking a number of shots.
00:52:51In a number of rounds.
00:52:55A number of times.
00:52:57Another right hand by Witherspoon.
00:52:59He wants to end it right here.
00:53:01I don't think Richard Steele will let this go too far.
00:53:04Richard Steele is keeping a close eye.
00:53:05Stop back.
00:53:06Stop back.
00:53:07On Bone Crusher.
00:53:10He's watching his legs.
00:53:11He's watching his eyes.
00:53:12Those are the best symptoms when you know a fighter's hurt.
00:53:20Well, his legs have been gone for a long time.
00:53:22His legs have been gone for about six or eight rounds, actually.
00:53:26I think what's changing now is when Bone Crusher retaliates.
00:53:30All right, break.
00:53:30Step back.
00:53:32As long as you're throwing punches, the ref normally lets the fight continue.
00:53:38But in here, I think with Bone Crusher, it could possibly just be instant now.
00:53:42You can actually see when Witherspoon walks through those right hands.
00:54:05They're losing right hands and left hook.
00:54:07And Bone Crusher Smith just trying to be game, trying to hang in there, trying to punch.
00:54:14There's nothing in his punches.
00:54:16And it's almost just that he's sitting back waiting and maybe even hoping for Tim Witherspoon
00:54:21to land a solid shot.
00:54:30Great.
00:54:30Come back.
00:54:31Come back.
00:54:31This is one, like Larry said, this is when a fighter normally gets hurt.
00:54:35When he has really no chance of winning.
00:54:38And what's keeping him up is just sheer determination.
00:54:41Don't hold him.
00:54:41Don't hold him.
00:54:42Don't hold him.
00:54:47Come on.
00:54:48A very, very tired fighter.
00:54:50Let's go.
00:54:50Let's go.
00:54:53Well, you almost wish this was an 11-round fight.
00:54:55Don't hold him.
00:54:55Don't hold him.
00:54:56Work and get out.
00:54:57Work and get out.
00:54:58Well, this has been quite exciting, quite impressive showing by Tim Witherspoon.
00:55:04I think that lost to Pinkman Thomas has told him a lesson to be in better shape and to be more strategic in the ring.
00:55:13Another left hand by Wither Smith.
00:55:16The left hook has been working for the past 10 rounds.
00:55:21And it appears that Brunk crusher Smith will get through the 11th.
00:55:34This will be the last one coming up.
00:55:39This will be the last and final round.
00:55:43The expression on Brunk crusher's face is the sound of a defeated fighter.
00:55:48That was the best news he's had all night.
00:55:50This is the last round coming up.
00:55:53You know you can...
00:55:54You know what? He wants to try to take their title.
00:55:55Come on, wake up. Come on, wake up.
00:55:57Come on, all right, Timmy?
00:55:59Put some real eyes on my back.
00:56:00Come on, put it down there.
00:56:02Get your hand from the right hand from the right hand.
00:56:03Come on.
00:56:05Come on.
00:56:05Come on.
00:56:06Give me a rest. Give me a rest.
00:56:07Give me a rest.
00:56:07Let's do it.
00:56:08Do it.
00:56:08Gentlemen, let's go now.
00:56:09Come on.
00:56:23All right, touch it out.
00:56:24Touch it out for the last round.
00:56:26You're going to see an even more aggressive Tim Witherspoon, because I think, because it's
00:56:34concerned of how he looks and performs in the ring, he wants to close his show with style.
00:56:41And I'm sure Smith just wants to get it over with.
00:56:44Almost whatever way that happens.
00:56:50Right hand by Witherspoon.
00:56:54Smith on rubber legs again.
00:56:55Look at the style of women's form, like Joe Frazier.
00:57:02Actually, the only punch of that exchange that landed was by Smith.
00:57:17Come on, punch your way out.
00:57:20Come on, don't hold it.
00:57:21Don't hold it.
00:57:22All right, break.
00:57:23Step back.
00:57:23Step back.
00:57:24Two minutes of fighting remaining for James Bonecrusher Smith and Tim Witherspoon, who will
00:57:29win this fight.
00:57:29Well, getting back to this point now, like Joe Frazier, he's going to feel a death.
00:57:37They're both of them feel a death here.
00:57:39And both have so much heart, so much determination.
00:57:42I have yet to see a clean white hand thrown by Baltimore Smith with his gold's chin.
00:57:58I don't think he's had one.
00:58:01Fairly outclassed in this fight.
00:58:02It's been no contest.
00:58:03It's been no contest, virtually from the opening belt.
00:58:11And his legs start to go again.
00:58:13Work your way out.
00:58:17Step back.
00:58:18Step back.
00:58:18At this point, even though the fight probably should have been stopped, you sort of hope that
00:58:23Smith will at least finish it on his feet.
00:58:25Work your way out.
00:58:27Work your way out.
00:58:28Well, after 11 rounds of the atomic bombs landing on your chin, I'm sure he's going to remain
00:58:35standing for the duration of this fight.
00:58:37He's taking so many punches.
00:58:40Time to get out.
00:58:43Time to get out.
00:58:45Let him go, Smitty.
00:58:4715 seconds remaining.
00:59:10And Smith will get through this fight.
00:59:17You can be saved by the bell in the final round.
00:59:19Come on.
00:59:20Last round, you guys.
00:59:21Let's work.
00:59:22Don't lose, Smitty.
00:59:23That's it.
00:59:24It's over.
00:59:25Mercifully.
00:59:26Well, it isn't a question of who.
00:59:29It is strictly a question of by how much.
00:59:42Best described probably as no contest, right?
00:59:44No contest.
00:59:45I would agree.
00:59:46I think that Tim Witherspoon did his homework and he came out.
00:59:50Well, quite naturally, he would be victorious in this fight.
00:59:55So, Tim Witherspoon looked pretty sharp at the beginning.
00:59:57It seemed that when he couldn't put Bonecrusher Smith down and out when he had a chance,
01:00:03he pretty much ran out of gas.
01:00:05Now, let's take a look at our punch stat numbers here.
01:00:08And as you can see, the numbers are perfectly indicative of how the fight went.
01:00:12Look at that.
01:00:13315 out of 534 thrown and landed by the winner, Tim Witherspoon.
01:00:17And only 99 out of 579 punches.
01:00:20Just 17% landed by Jamie Bonecrusher Smith.
01:00:24So, here is a case where numbers do tell the story.
01:00:27Just a couple of notes because of the length of the fight.
01:00:31We said we'd have an announcement about a big fight coming up.
01:00:34And everyone should know that Larry Holmes has decided to defend his title again
01:00:39against light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.
01:00:42Sometimes in September, perhaps October.
01:00:45And Witherspoon probably will fight Tony Tubbs for the WBA championship next.
01:00:50Let's go up now to the ring announcer Chuck Hall for the official decision. Chuck.
01:00:54Ladies and gentlemen, here is the decision of the judges.
01:00:58All three judges, Dave Moretti, Dick Cole, and John McSweeney,
01:01:03scores about 119-109 for the winner by unanimous decision,
01:01:10and still the NABF heavyweight champion, terrible Tim Witherspoon.
01:01:16So, Tim Witherspoon is the winner and an easy winner at that.
01:01:35And again, I guess the question you really have to ask,
01:01:38has he improved that much after his loss to Larry Holmes,
01:01:41even though he had a very good fight, and his loss to Pinklin Thomas,
01:01:45or is it just the caliber of competition that he's fighting against?
01:01:48I think that the loss that Tim Witherspoon suffered has made him a better fighter.
01:01:53I think he's serious now, he's more confident,
01:01:55and he knows fully well that getting in the gym and doing your homework
01:01:59makes you come out on top.
01:02:01So, what's next for Tim Witherspoon?
01:02:02I think that's probably one of the questions that really needs to be answered more than anything else.
01:02:06Who's ahead for him?
01:02:07Now, Larry referred to Tony Tubbs.
01:02:09I think Tells would be a good opposition for Tim Witherspoon,
01:02:12and it would be an exciting fight.
01:02:13I look forward to seeing that fight, Darren.
01:02:15Okay, and so we come now to yet another version of the Heavyweight Championship.
01:02:20Here we go!
Be the first to comment