Tim Witherspoon vs Frank Bruno

it was here that the sweet science of boxing was born in bread and were the world's first heavyweight champions James fig and Daniel Mendoza lived and fought but for over a century the heavyweight crown has eluded the British the other habits in Galan de temps in the 30s Tommy Farr went 15 rounds with Joe Louis the brown bomber but in the end Farah wasps and Lewis kept his crime in 1963 a future king Cassius Clay entered the ring against the little pride of the English Henry Cooper Cooper stunned the boxing world with this knockdown in the fourth round but between rounds play caught his breath when he changed and allegedly slit Blum in the fifth round and his luck changed and the fight was stopped in 66 they met again with the same results the 70s brought Joe Bugner this heavyweight faced the likes of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali but with Butler strength losses the fans in England had lost all hope until the arrival of this man Frank Bruno perhaps the most popular fighter this country has ever known his devastating first-round knockout of Jericho Zia earned him tonight shot at the long sought-after heavyweight crown it is way is terrible Tim Witherspoon he's won the title twice and has every intention of taking it back home after tonight's battle one year ago brought the music world Live Aid but the big event tonight is world championship boxing Tim Witherspoon defends his WBA heavyweight crown against Frank Bruno we're live at Wembley for the first open air fight 23 years it's 12:30 a.m. London Thailand we're live inside Wembley Stadium were a record-breaking crowd approaching 50,000 is wide awake with anticipation by the end of 15 rounds they hope to see Frank Bruno snatch the WBA heavyweight crown from Tim Witherspoon I'm Barry Tompkins along with Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Merchant well that hasn't been the best of summers for British sports fans Barry McGuigan of course lost that fight in Las Vegas the British soccer team lost in World Cup competition to Mexico City note British tennis player got past the second round at Wimbledon and today just the compound matters for them they lost in the Davis Cup to Australia even the cricket team lost the Test match to India but this event well tonight the British fans hope to repeat their biggest movement in sports that took place in 1966 when a soccer team won right here in Wembley Stadium and Larry Merchant this event to say that it's big is willing to make an understatement it's all you've brought about here for the past month that's true and very this may be the largest live crowd at a boxing event in decades since television really started to be a dominant force in boxing amazing things about it is the contrast between the attitude back home I guess you'd have to describe that's apathy and you can understand both points of view there are three everyway champions which is to say none which is why we're having this heavyweight series to get one heavyweight champion but for the British who haven't had a heavyweight champion in this century this is like their favorite son going against Muhammad Ali or Joe Lewis they don't care they're fighting for a heavyweight championship they've even backed their man to an eight to five favorite tonight here in London the first time ever that a British challenger has been favored over an American champion right in his home town I don't know what it means for the fight Barry in Franklin who can fight it'll all be a great aid to him well it's really interesting Sugar Ray Leonard the fact that we hear so much about Frank Bruno and yet the champion there's Tim Witherspoon now he's got a couple of problems one he's got 50,000 people here who essentially are going to be rooting against him I wanted you to talk about a couple of things you fought before a very big crowd in Montreal tell us first of all what kind of an effect it has fighting before a big crowd like this and the other thing of course that Tim Witherspoon has got to fight is Tim Witherspoon himself he came in at 235 that's eight pounds heavier than he's ever been for a championship fight well Bert what's more important as the weight factor Tim Witherspoon coming in with 235 and I'm surprised rather surprised the fact that because he fought Pinklon Thomas and Tony Tubbs and he was looked on Jake he didn't have that movement he didn't have that zest and here with the potent puncher like Frank Bruno he could be asking for problems as far as the crowds concerned these guys are energized and they are for fighting Bruno and they want to see something happen what effect does it have though on a fighter now you talk to me before the fight about what it was like for you when you fought Roberto Duran in Montreal before a big crowd I lost perspective the fight was so big it was an event it was it was a major event and these people here can have somewhat of an effect on a fighter it did with me it might have an effect until women swooned alright let's talk about Tim Witherspoon he's a guy for all in tennis fought in relative obscurity he is the told holder of a title he has a championship belt but perhaps the biggest problem for the champion is that nobody knows he's the champion with a real heavyweight champion please raise his hand he asked this man he'll tell you he is in fact the real champion for time at least lift as though terrible Tim Witherspoon is right things could have been rosy at the Witherspoon despite having lost in the then champion Larry Holmes he had Holmes beat and then an experience reared its ugly head home survive enter another pretender Greg page and in a fight that made apathy seem exciting Tim not so terrible Witherspoon emerged this champion perhaps in his own eyes more than those of the public and his first defense Witherspoon was soundly given a boxing lesson by Pinklon Thomas and there was a new champion it was out with the old he wasn't so old and in with the new it seemed that his path is he had ascended to the crown snatched from his head but it was only temporary in another dance of the Giants in January of 1986 Witherspoon took back what he felt was his own as he defeated Tony Tubbs and renamed in another critically an acclaimed extravaganza in Atlanta the sweetness of the moment was to be short-lived traces of marijuana were found in Witherspoon's bloodstream after the fight with Tubbs his admission to the charges brought a fine admission to the rehab program and another Publix car but the problems he says are a thing of the past you know everybody make mistake but you gotta learn in order to gain respect I feel as though that I did something wrong and you had a lot of children heard a lot of people no because we knew that Tim was from with you even involved with something like that now you know the things that happen uh you know penalties and everything it helped me out a hell of a left turn the other school that does not have a drug problem that's first he made a foolish mistake he's paid and paid dearly for not only by red lines by embracement family embarrassment but also a financial and right now he's happier he understands the effects that these things can have when you and he's put all that kind of stuff behind him and he's going forward now and I'm quite proud of that had very good product and so the roadshow now comes to London his troubles left packing at home and his crown perched precariously once again but it is perhaps as much the role of the champion to act the part has to be the party and the Witherspoon arrival at Heathrow Airport was vintage hi but lest you think it's all fun games and glitter the Witherspoon brain trust quickly shuttle their charge off not to the bright lights of the West End but to the sanctity and rural peacefulness of Bazell Dhin 32 miles from the glitz against promoters wishes I made a decision to make camp atmosphere here in England same as wasn't in the US the promoters were giving me all of this my father and Mickey Duff Mike everyone was telling me you got to go into London we need to sell tickets say correction you need to sell tickets I'm going to take my world's champion out where somewhere out of the bright lights somewhere where he can be quiet comfortable and not be bothered with with the bright lights of a big big big city and especially a city like London a city that we very rarely visited where all the best laid plans personal chef sparring partners and peace and quiet lovers were foiled the terrible Tim Witherspoon wouldn't come to the big city the big city would come to Tim Witherspoon in maths and that meant TV interview demands crowds to be dealt with performances to be put on so much for sanctity hello bravado the carnival comes to the country anyway doubt that Oh Debray show you haven't had a heavyweight champion in a long walk come on hey even the ultimate salesman Muhammed Ali was brought along just to peddle a few seats and the show slow though it might be goes on now comes the burning question posed by none other than Frank Bruno the intended victim is the champion really ready to fight he wants me to bet a shape because he's not confident I've been in training at 309 dove shape even he's one that data's good knock him out and keep my title there I'm the champion you gotta come take it to him and when he try on with chop his tree down but that tree Frank Bruno has some pretty strong limbs and has only fallen once and some fifty thousand supporters anticipation you can cut it the championship is coming up between the Challenger England's Frank Bruno and the champion Tim Witherspoon what we've addressed the challenge the champion rather on numerous occasions with his own comments on the Challenger is Larry Merchant the image that most Americans have of British heavyweights is that they all fight the way the guards at Buckingham Palace look tall erect predictable easy targets sort of like the Redcoats at Lexington and Concord is the image true is Frank Bruno just another big stiff another of those vertical Englishmen destined to become a horizontal Englishman well there are some questions there questions about his job questions about his endurance and questions about his experience but there's no question about his punch and that's an important thing to have for a heavyweight he may have the most powerful right hand in the division the image of American heavyweights Tim Witherspoon isn't all that snazzy either these days they tend to specialize more important than punch you'd think they'd train a little bit more seriously if not out of athletic pride just to have pure greed you can't even count on that anymore whatever happens tonight Frank Bruno has honored his profession by training seriously here's a look at him with our colleague from Britain reg Gutteridge his name is on the lips of most threatens these days he stars in his own music video being voted among the 10 best-dressed in England and has just released his autobiography and a top-selling record a charity he was a knockout as Juliet Romeo Oh have you seen these wreaths the wave of Romeo and through the magic of the tele he had the power to make a boy dream come true from beautiful Scotland here's a letter from the pillar of beef in five dear Jim please could you fix it for me to trim right you know because I would like to be a boxer and I would like to find out what it feels like the hero is Frank Bruno and his popularity has catapulted him to star state he's adored throughout Great Britain one big right hand I think came over and took Frank lately the lovable giant however remains very close to his humble beginnings this is where it all began to thank runo it's the district of one's was just south to the river Thames a sort of straight left from big barreled backing in palaces parents came from the West Indies that were among the first immigrants to settle in this part of the world and then he became well as company a state in kidney pie he weighed in at nine pounds became big and a little bit troublesome but since those days as they would say around here he's turned out a bloody good chap and indeed a British hero what set him straight was reporting a school for scoundrels fired from the streets of Bombay it was tough at first but in the end essential that school people of that life an undisciplined announcer look after zombie survival young society I visit their free time since others make the masala when there was Christmastime just to show the kids that anybody could make anything care life the sport of hard work into life and determination a little bit of luck and God on your side you can do anything you want to do and what price set out to do we've become a successful prizefighter in his first twenty one pro fights he never reached a decision aimed in the majority was very early knockouts as was the case in March of 84 it ain't long sugar on this first round naka may have made it seem that Frank was unstoppable others would argue that these easy wins set Frank up very painful knockout by Bonecrusher Smith after that devastating loss many felt that they'd seen the last ten rounds of Bruno's career but not the Frank he just got down to work he didn't even come bury yourself or hide away he just went straight back to work and there's not many other ways to there are they usually when they've been a bad loss like that and you find that they take a year out or Frank didn't just go back to work twice European champion Frenchman Lucien Rodriguez was Frank's fourth opponent off the bun project we know looked at this fight as an opportunity to tune up for his upcoming shot at the European Championship the 34 year old Rodriguez was out inside the first round Frank Bruno barely broke a sweat the fight for the European title was next on Bruno's agenda but due to boxing politics it was on again and off again so by the time Frank met and as Eklund he was concerned that he's one round in the rain in 11 months could have a bad effect well by the fourth round that concern was laid to rest and Frank was the European champion in the world all that stood between Frank and a shot at the world heavyweight title with Jenny could sit and he didn't stand very long one minute 50 seconds into the first round the fight was over and pruno was on his way the making his dream come true and hopefully bring the world title supreme the Warlow Club and this is on the east side of London and it's a tradition of British boxes that they found in gymnasiums above pubs and this one is very special because with the Terry lawless camp here they have produced four recent world champions Charlie maccorry Jim watt John H Tracy and Morris hope and for big Bruno this is he sweat shop every day and it's very serious business for him it's going to the office but tonight's bout this media hero has taken to training at the historic gym in obscurity banning the press from his workers he's not taking any chances privacy means no distractions from his opponent fans or reporters if you stand here one day and you count as much people walk up them stairs and all all the people who cousins there's I think you'll go mad and you'll get upset you know that the press men won't come in they want to talk and have a small aah and you're supposed to be sparring you know I mean you can't hold that rich you're not made for important fire like this I'm not mocking people I'm not trusting the way people were supporting me all these years but simply just bring on mr. Witherspoon or wherever you wanna call it we've won the finest by r1 to try up but admire years with this legend I'm willing to go in there and buy one with a beam that night before by pool I'm coming out with that belt it's been a long and hard road for Frank Bruno is an honest and decent man he's cope with the pressure of the media he's cope with the pressure of stardom he's even cope with the dodging the words of Tim Witherspoon but nothing absolutely nothing that deterred him from the main thing to become the first Briton to win the heavyweight championship this sanctuary and it's all going to happen here know what I mean all right Thank You Reggie Patrick know what I mean incidentally is the name of Bruno's book and right now he's hoping to write the final chapter as Frank Bruno not quite yet in view of this crowd but when he does get just a few more steps the crowd is going to tell you everything you want to know about the popularity of this man and pull view you'll hear shooting Bruno it's a long walk minutes little red Devlin he says expenses debt time but he looks very much away I personally America impressive things about him is that he came right back and went to work unlike some heavyweights we know in America for the first time they lost they just disappeared all right now let's go for the rain announced that Burnett Sullivan for the introduction of the British national anthem the British national very interesting point when we talked to Frank Bruno you and I sat there with Frank Bruno he compared this fight with your fight with Wilfred Benitez as being the be all and end all he had to do this before he could do anything else well you know where he indicated me that month ultimate is I gave all I heard and that Muslim stopped me he knew he knows full well that he's an experienced as far as the discouraged level but he has a determination this means the world can I talk to him about what the difference is at the bronchitis sure is stronger and just simply he's a better boxer he really seems to understand himself well he feel that he has mature but he'd always be heard that that's medically No people let's take a look at some of the other British heavyweights who have come along since 1937 and had their shot at the title easier some of them Tommy Park he lost to Joe Lewis daumkakao that is cocky Allnut [ __ ] now i that fact i was at that fight with Rocky Marciano Kezar Stadium San Francisco Bryan London of course maybe he didn't really even belong in there it did have a couple of shots actually Henry Cooper he had two shots with Muhammad Ali Bryan London again as you see with Muhammad Ali Joe Bugner went 15 rounds first to go 15 rounds with the venn champion and the last in 1976 Richard Dunn it was a good effort for him but he was just very much outclassed and was knocked out after a game effort I mentioned the odds before about 8 to 5 in favor of you know here this is there 8 to 5 in favor of weirdest room back in America but there's some pretty good reasons for those odd money he figures to fight the best fight of his life secondly if it goes the route you may get the decision because he's here in his hometown shape into ministry that shape may not show itself in this fight but he has given himself they plotted about frankly know the best possible chance to win the fight he's at a hundred percent of what he can be clear the spoon is at something less than that who has the most to prove in this fight yeah it's hard to say I guess we know does because he's not regarded very very highly at all and fighting before on his fifty thousand of his best friends that will give him some incentive to prove it and that's only a portion of his best friends to Frank Bruno of course is knocked out twenty-seven of his twenty-eight victims so far there have been some very short fight mouths rather in the heavyweight division the three of us of course we saw of a minute and three seconds I can look quickly but it was Michael Doakes and Mike Weaver then of course burns and rush Fraser in Ziggler wits by the time he said Ziggler Whitsun fight was over and Ally enlisted of course has been in 52 seconds of the first round I don't think there are a lot of people around who feel that this one will even approach that well you know there are the British themselves having gone through so many frustrations with their heavy weights over the century are the most skeptical of that they're not sure he can take a punch he's been rocked by several heavyweights but on the other hand Tim Witherspoon in every single fight he's fought against a legitimate top ten type of guy he's brought a distance he may not be the guy that can that can test this man's chin we'll see ray let's talk about another thing that we've touched on on numerous occasions frankly no right now is just got to walk around think about what's going on what's going to happen a little bit later Tim Witherspoon is a champion he's making him wait and again when you and I talked to Frank Bruno he said this time right is the time that he's the most nervous and Witherspoon's getting the most out of this and so many things is going through windows my present time what he will win calcifies internal and here we see Kimberly spoon approach Witherspoon 2:35 I think he's given a best giving fuzzy little better chance at beating them but something that's hard for me to understand all that Tim Witherspoon has to do in his professional life is prepare for a fight it could mean millions of dollars and he just hasn't given himself the best chance all kinds of excuses for why he's 15 pounds more than what he should be they say the scales were wrong they say they were out there way early in the week in which case we must get some kind of metaphor we fattening up on British food I didn't know that it was that good then I've been here for a month everybody have the same feeling that I had when we talked to Witherspoon that there is this whole carnival atmosphere and it's a much talked-about quiet I had the feeling frankly that Tim Witherspoon is a little bit caught up in the atmosphere and maybe wasn't really the fight all that much well he's never Lisi this modulation especially in America here the people love him they see a champion they want to touch a champion he loves it there I think he is actually caught up in it because it's a way of always born abyss I've always desire heaven people who picked pictures sent in oil glans penis thong we talked about the fact he came in at 235 pounds he was that once not for championship fight take a look that at his championship fights 2:35 2:27 when he beat Tony tux to 17 when he lost the Pinklon Thomas Larry Merchant you pointed out we're caught and maybe the most significant thing about all that is that in two title fights he's 18 pounds heavier or what to answer that I blow that he said except when I asked him about it he says I feel good I feel comfortable we'll go to the Riviera this is not the place to be a good income today this is a place for pumping yourself up and to perform in feeling good interrupted the let him answer if there's been any criticism about Tim with us but it's been that he has only one speed slow and that was a 2:17 areas 18 pounds heavier as I said before you don't know if in this fight it will make the difference don't know if you know can take advantage of so you're alone it will make a difference parents and Ellie is a graphic showing our heavyweight series and where we are down at the bottom you see where it started with Spinks and Holmes Michael Spinks defense would be against the constraints that analyst' said about that the better right now then after that the dividend he'll need to hear the WBC WBA when that gets sorted out between zero and hitter food tonight the winner to meet Tubbs and the winner of that to meet the winner of Berbick and whoever Berbick fight and we talked about what a lengthy walk it is from the dressing rooms to the ring this is the most conditioning that Witherspoon in Spadina in three months both matter of fact there was some talk about his coming in on a golf cart and he said no no my authorize want this walk into the ring and in fairness to her the school his trainer Jim Robinson said did some serious training back of the shakes we'll have to see if that's whoo here we go maduk effective crowd could have on this evening crowd seems to me at least right now to be strangely quiet I was plentiful Arthur because Alex Clinton expulsion and a lot of cheering loud cheering but they promised a little cry had been expected they made in the center of the Ring to news crews his P watches to Larry Holmes of cookin Thomas we've been in Pender's very challenging speaking of that too we talked to Frank Bruno he would have been more worried about Tim Witherspoon right after he fought Larry Holmes not so much so now let's get back up to the rig announcer for the introduction of the American national anthem now to all of the national anthem here's a look at the tale of the tape and the most significant number we have talked about a couple of times already and that is the weight 7 pounds more let's hear the introductions lords ladies and gentlemen my and main events of the evening and this is a contest 15 rounds to decide probably the best 6245 who knows 16 Stone Mountain [Applause] their missions are pointed by the World Boxing Association all your enemy mr. Ysidro Rodriguez of Venezuela your judges mr. power Sucre of Venezuela mr. Takeshi shirokawa of Japan mr. Marco Torres of Panama and your timetable is mr. Tony rice of the United Kingdom thank you well one significant factor is the Frank Bruno has now been in the ring 21 minutes I'm expecting the early night well I think the first thing in any fight and especially a heavyweight fight is which fight if you take the other fighters punch best we know is the harder puncher but Witherspoon is a very clever boxer as he moves in and he's never been knocked down so in fact even if Witherspoon if it isn't a devastating puncher his punch landing on Bruno's jaw may be more devastating here's a look at the rules three judges will score the fight 10-point must system three knockdown rule is in effect the mandatory standing 8-count you could be Saved by the Bell only in the final round of the ring doctor in this case cannot stop the fight so what's left then is the fight I think that Bruno will try to establish his jab he may feel that the longer the fight goes the better off he is getting with his goons wait but middle school knows how to go to distant Witherspoon told us he was going to jump on him early talk to him as much as he could try to confuse him try to hook him with the right hand as much as he can the early rounds now we'll see if he doesn't he's any more effective inside big scary world because he gets his punches in a lot sharper a lot clearer whereas that Bruno relies upon getting that straight right hand in right I think a key here is whether Bruno's left is meaningful right off the bat by Weathers playing he's gonna stay close to two million with his damn here we see what is going to this Jail a lot more close to you know not get fooled up - we need you know who it's always been he's amazing Oh God project only to set off his right hand it's not a particularly effective jab the busy jab but it's not a weapon let us go being a former football player usually shows very well there I like what he does inside he covers up he he bucks that chimp he comes across with a looping right hand you'll notice at the lands a couple here continues to hooks's man body where this one fighting effectively inside here that's what he did with Tony Thompson for all attendees shut clubs down and say you know what's inside the way that was explaining David to execute his punches a lot shop a lot painter the way that Bruno his punches are somewhat kind of telegraph because he can't get the leverage and you've said that he can do damage to the top of the head I'm really impressed with the fact that little even heard of man by him on top of the head he had so much power the most clothes was fun it allows a great deal on his right hand those the right hand is doing something or putting started Telegraph I usually means it hurt girl has a mood because he keeps his hands are a little bit more more body movement upper body movement there is one here because he's he's trying to load up wooden spoons trying to load over one punch that weight I felt until the factory handle themselves Oh trying to write himself note that that doesn't take much time I got there hug his opponent that's why he wags what he does what if he's wrong who knows near that another job union in the second round look at eavesdrop on our British counterparts YTV and man you heard talking about frankly over a generation for us he'll be telling you about the second round lawyer how the British do it for the British also on a reminded and we have hundreds the visual unofficial judge Harold Lederman dam standing by and he will give us his scorecard from time to time through this fight just track but personally I TV of that dreadful and to this second round then very surprised pleased to to Bruno that is fighting inside there is a good start with the rule I know girls can't bear Franken that villains job is going to trouble while spinning already is thicken the job our plans have followed behind well of spinors what would beings as brittle and fade as you can see here but they're flankin keep our long range I move some of the ball he might look like that of a pudgy man there with his blue military he really is doable and it stays 15 rounds like marathon whether he's treated been up to that and we're now gonna find out because he shot stuff to do now Getty could since certainly has given in to novice conference I'm gonna take some wraps around the head that's on the throne three powering with every punch Bruno that's smart he can just rock the few in to keep Witherspoon occupied while he's working out what he's gonna do with the harvest Russ Terry lawless is always saying the opposition space changes when they feel Munoz left jab Jim do you think that's I certainly do is you have to remember that the big difference at this stage is that whether speed has been here before this is the first time rulers box at this level well Ossipon noises get over their destiny Louie has a good chance he's not Annie honey who needs a good start therefore this is probably who knows best what keep spitting oh that list is because it won't say good start but they're all tames water spills all begins but he was caught nonetheless fifteen in front of a break that witherspoon is raging so far and a big punch to test the chin of bruto riffing it's as always hitting against good enough lemon I just want to insert very quickly that the other voice you heard on the ITV broadcast was that at the gym wot on a lightweight champion here's a replay runing to our back a quick right hand a left that was blocked by reading spoon Witherspoon is just pulling at him using that that left hand to keep the law not doing a whole lot with it but we saw in that quick right hand the potential danger British writer had where we come to the third round and Witherspoon and this has also been his history breathing through his mouth but I've seen him do that this early and go 15 strong rounds well I've noticed that bill has been working the bottom to move he's growing where the weight is he's tryna slowest man down I see a problem in love you know as it means bent he straight up and that give my right hand when he's going to be costly later good body shot by I come with you inside kundo has Keiko's hands huh Thomas better move that seed into the left better left quick here he's relied on distress and experience try the node up there we had a one big punch card in jump on top of it 1 million functional possesses what about he keeps that day of working teacher knew his man's place the fists of Frank Bruno really fear in South culture oops no Italian to look particularly I think it's party shot still know everything they were slowed Lulu them every time you promised and Harold Lederman how have you got the thing to score it so far well Larry I've got the front-panel ahead by one round I get the first round attending with a spoon and a feeling out round which was very very close but there Frank Bruno started to take control and he's been backing up to me way to school and landing nice quick combinations and as you call that a nice crisp left jab so I've got Frank Bruno winning the second and a third round to me we display living the first I have the first three round I don't see what good is food flying cocoon plan he's not really pressing who know not using his suppose an advantage inside by staying on top of them I'm not sure what what his plan is right well so far I'm sure he just rely on strength because normally see a lot of pistol punches normally this girl with the spoon is also better inside higher than low in short today I'm somewhat supplies by the way he's been gone go suck those telegraphing white hands and he's allowed we know to get his punches off and feel around in Bruno's corner they were encouraging him to keep jabbing to get that jab in that when he did he was of being effective the boxing here have you used to see the few more close-up shots few more different angles but we have not had the red carpet rolled out it's like excuse me see my push-me is rook for second look you guys seem to be right here he won't feel except in their killer and he's still not too solid our ringside cameras have been ordered off the ring apron so what you see this play mode what we get that was a short left hook throw my friends you know and it seems you buckle the knees of Willis boom we'll just really backed off the authority punches and then Weatherspoon's covered up Bruno has knocked a lot of guys out by hitting minutes out of the day on the four-year and that shows I'm a pounder and keep those hands up when only channels with his nephew who was born a school year and he's being a bird that students at this point here for cut this I'm set up Anders Ekman for the knockout with an uppercut also wood has been is gone to reach in with his punches and saw the drop indication of the tea the way trivet nomination didn't do much damage at all comedy's another I was expecting now what is going to be effective in fact but Porto seem to be more afraid of job you another busy for the Challenger another round for the champion really once at home in a socket come on baby push baby - who the champion come on now already you're starting to hear some camp you have to run all say whether or not Timmy's down so I thought a shame a respectful front panel and the authorities are in his corner for next week this Court is somewhat concerned because they see that Buddha was still sitting around and choice credibility to come and he did it just among the boat down nice old boys he's showing from pole he's really taking his time and being professional fighter India ruler more experienced and even when he possesses wonder well not pork and maintained his temple this pace with the spoon can because experience he knows how to take a breather every now him whether or not broken many pages you'll be able where the spoon did back him off that time I left never is not gone as 10 rock the good ol is not wasting any energy any punches he's right upon his man just snip his life and for three four five months combination keep that jab consistent he's door there what wooden spoon is allowing the good another thing impressive about Franklin is this corner very calm one man talking Terry lawless and that's it the fight is going they expected do you know is actually dominating and controlling fight which is I'm kidding supplies to be witnessed in camp heck says them a lot more buzz out wait I think he's becoming a factor because it was not given to this yeah again not big punches from Bruno but effective punches crowd chants this bill genaust us to the body trying to bring the hands of blame whittle down no sauce here this is when pool should not try its change wrong we we could and always going though well for the most part Tim Witherspoon is floating like a flutter ball and holding swinging like right crisp in a beer he's throwing a lot of stuff and punching the air more than his opponent wherever I came down this atomistic elliptical hitting the right here and hang on all right punch that punitive look at the fight give me the spoon five rounds 264 520 home they're working on landed if you can say that 81 it's been more active with we would have 11 watches cocoa and he is later for downstairs [Applause] the nose of Frank who knows again Hogan back not in my left hand [Music] I think he's asked for children gone so but also affected he's very conscious not to let Shawn he's not to complain about [Music] neither man to sharpen this rod actually the sick I witnessed burn another wild right hand the combinations done one thing that lines up with his plans without a 5-1 punch was trying to load up why does have a tendency to maker of a thermo Tunisia fight tough film equal division business again lettuce would seem to get Bruno opened up but it's just unable to connect well he thought a lot of brides can feel devastated said to the valley and he's trying to make Bruno exchange to punch the punch because again know me inside the spoon has come to be a far more effective fighter Bruno also seems to draw almost a backhanded jab was mentioned earlier it's not really a weapon it's just kind of bothersome and just something to keep his man thinking and I said his man up for the right hand which is a good punch the killings actually get in the way down maybe Tim Witherspoon one that guy after a while after a after one fighter wins all the rounds you tend to look for reasons to give the other fight at around them so we'll give witness room the benefit of the doubt there and Harold Lederman your card and explain please well Larry I agree with doing the sixth round I think Timmy where this one pulled it out with his big right hands as Rice said Timmy where the spoon tends to be loading up with the right hand he said he's looking to take Frank Bruno out with one big right hand and I have it for rats the two in favor of Bruno who's using a crisp left jab he's more effective with the left jab he's landing more punches and that's why I have Frank Bruno ahead I think that his crisp nut job is moving him around the spoon is a blend of flavored fortitude that he is he's trying hard he always gives that appearance of an offender he's just about to drop with the next step and he manages to go 15 tough rounds and he manages to win this quiet pleasure that this big man is throwing combinations the way he's doing he's execute this punches road well wild that is not the template screen that I've seen in the past this plate is making the fight a lot easier from you know there's a little swelling under the left eye of Tim Witherspoon it puts it in if this kind of weight additional poundage your punches are nice shot little bit the same type of leverage either double left hook by friend groomer say much more lackadaisical well Tim with his drummer he's a fighter who like Frank Bruno his best weapon is his right hand it has not been and again there's a left hand backs up and cannot be here without be a river he's allowing what was going to get off those big shot and those networks this is what was conveyed to the whole car the goon on his van toe-to-toe with him swelling under the left eye of Witherspoon getting a little little tickle shots very well you see the righto these brutal hands a little higher trying to work on that I the other school three distinct language some good right hand although he's never shown knockout power maybe you got it and you know he's supposed to that have a very good chin it stood the right hand you came back looking a little worse I'm gonna wear at the end of that round there were they yeah let's take a look and see what would this be there you see a right high on the head good punch working inside head-to-head another good punch but an arm punch and that's pensively why with a spoon has never been a knockout puncher good big sweeping punches like that arm punches they hurt a man they don't seem to faze him let's see how Bruno recovers from that round here 50 a significant round middle of the fight and at the moment is follows the pattern of a number of Tim Witherspoon spice but he's got a mild summer and it's got appreciably worse nice feelings apply a little more pressure now because he say he's respected in Spain old tacos over would seem to make you think laws he's been trying to get close to his mind trying to make boo exchange punch for punch better good right hand by Wetherspoon this is with a second hour not only to Stephanie's here I've always been there be able to score was one effective punch but just has not been able to double up you'll notice there every time that you know total deformation if that's the way and [Applause] Oh long way to go here this banal southpaws how turned back right hand he's trying everything also wait a min score for the left hand he's wearing just a couple punches left hand by Witherspoon a good shot counterpunch Bruno sting has gone right now yes though shattered by the little shock this girl is tired he's dropping his hand Buddha was exhausted but these guys are celebrating home and again it could become significant the fact that Franklin who has never gone more than 10 miles and Witherspoon has virtually made a career out of 5-foot go the distance it's a grueling round and I think you hit it right very a question of stamina endurance can you tell from here on whether Bruno's superior condition that overcome his experience and landing this county this is becoming a sight now ray one thing about is you know I'm really impressed with him because he does not have the experience to go 15 rounds get these condition for 15 rounds Michaela's off his food so much enthusiasm one still knows that he's in for a fight there's a lot to be said about friend where's Jen - now the big question mark one why he could take the punch punching power up with the spoon the other thing that strikes me way and I mentioned a little bit earlier during the here's is that this crowd which I really thought would be a factor in Bruno's corner doesn't seem to be a factor at all they just enjoyment fight that out again I was expecting a call to go bananas for Frank Bruno with us that was a song right hand by those two and gold feel stable and a left hand behind it normally when this goes he was disturbed by some he met the old introductory both second you know is that what is for his talent man then he comes back because combination in a good try no skipping Witherspoon pin is fishing half of most by Witherspoon where this woman has been coming on we said earlier that Bruno would be energized by this crowd he'll need another hash cut for the remainder of this Friday nice one too well how do you have it through nine rounds well Larry basically I agree with I think Timmy's come on to get the list for rounds him to take the lead five rounds before Timmy's landing the big punches the big right hands I thought Frank was doing his best when he was staying in the middle of the Ring and using that crisp left jab but not Timmy's getting inside wearing him down with that big right head you and I are still one round apart I have explored the first round Bruno against British king so I have it's five four this is the tenth rock let's took J about Frank you know he has he's that damn a lot more he's making himself susceptibility take those shots by with the school I stand inside too long if he the desaad state folks we need to keep that chin tucked in his big head hit it man he goes gunshots Tom always fun when you're hosting is when you move away so when he connects Sooners hit the heavier shots for the last four rounds but has been unable to really double up Bruno was not seen the power that he had the early rounds see a little more boxing finito but he's flied to the same leadoff light picnic cabin please uppercut and with these things not be bonus no he's question when there is as well in a while because what happens the ice grows up [Music] good whether conscience gone by Bruna wildly very much out of control women still attempts just comes in because males down we saw the Russian setting out there was the winner a jab rather when he uses it seems to be pretty effective at least in 50 wittle' the jab is so stiff and so strong that's what happened basically no rhyme or reason to what's going here at this two big guys hugging on each other it's not a fight that will go in a time capsule it's just a big losing fight now Frank Bruno is gone farther and he's ever gone before and behind two jabs by Witherspoon looking at notice in Juneau ago when he fought long official smoke he was worth I've never covered on his cuff his hands down here he covers up he ties his man up he's got a very good job the swelling that was under the eye tumors were no worse [Applause] as a little bit of swelling around his eye also [Music] for around his right eye again it doesn't really appear to be any kind of what can be what concludes the effective field functional you notice here close combination all else do as he back away keeps his audiences keep his hands high I will be hit by those shots tempo has slowed right now to advance Foxtrot Oh face of openness for the job we study something really sad [Music] scored heavily who those fruits for better in beep the trouble here ten seconds remaining to the corner the Bell dunno it looks like they thrown in the towel the corner of Frank you know has thrown in the towel I don't know to the right or not right appears to be over and she is right now is s confused as anyone else there's most definitely it was after a big exchange by book now Bruno scored also counterpunching I believe the right hand that started thing for Tim Witherspoon little has nothing to feel bad about here we have a shot but what's that did the damage still resolved now he's bought nice seriously huh but he did the right thing very he taught his land up he tried to kill witness goals new experience knew exactly what to do the Keith Martin wait for another opportunity and get out of there at this point now Buddha does not have his going pal what experience to deal with similar school and at that point he was fall but out time was ticking down at the end of the round but here you can see he's out on his feet took quite a lot of punishment there I think us we should have been in there not and they stepped in there but he didn't step in to stop the fight he stepped in because rather than it over here right little cane that is shot but by then he was already hurt both my hands behind a strong right hand and scored the start things where the spoon came back for the right hand and by that time was there was a couple fights for I'm Chris Juliet stay above it all right well we're gonna find out what Tim Witherspoon has to say about it here's with Larry Merchant right now all right Tim Tim Witherspoon you tell us about the end did you sense him weakening in the last few he was strong he was strong in the time and young determined does that I'm the great champion supposed to be hanging there hard and when they pulled you off right did he ever hurt you in this way he did I'm not gonna lie or else I wouldn't be a real champ and he hurt me that's because it he's a good fighter good contender then he did he hurt you badly and when he wanted anybody else because he defeated a good fighter and I respect them but I knew I was going to get in long run I'm a great champion Larry right you started very very slowly did you think that stamina would be more of a problem for him than you because he's never gone very far in fights well to tell you the truth tell you the truth I did care about stamina I trained hard kinetic kinetic King really push to give me a sec she gave me everything I needed in the lover if you train hard why did you come in in your weight well well good fried bruno well well I've really all week he wants to talk to Bruno Bruno they're chilled post-fight commiserations and congratulations all week I was waiting in that one slide t25 and I don't understand it the weight came in 235 weight around the weigh-in today so I think with tampering to the scale I was like you thought that the scales were wrong at the play I feel that way all week I went in to $25 seven I went in at 235 you're you haven't knocked many guys out a lot of people are going to say you just knocked out another of those Englishmen who can't stay upright Friday he good fight because I have a punch and I took him out faster than both does anybody so I respect the man I'm just a great fighter thank you Tim Witherspoon I'm back to ringside all right thanks very much Larry and a gracious winner in Tim Witherspoon right now let's get the official decision and then we'll have a little bit more to say about this fight let's go up to Bernadette Sullivan for the official verdict my Lords ladies and gentlemen we're I'm still anyway well absolute chaos going on in the ring right now you might expect that few coins I think I actually picked up about 20 feet here right 20 pence that is just what that's all about I do think that you really have to give Tim Witherspoon some friends we talked about the fact that came in handy yes he did he breathed through his mouth from the second round off I've seen him do that before it was a courageous effort I think you might have to start to look at him as really a bona fide champion well Tim woods made a bona fide champion but I think he can make fights a lot easier for himself if he conditions of distress himself a little better he claimed about tempered the spheres that could possibly be true no one knows what happened but I think that he could have been in better shape and it could have made this fight a lot easier for did he just beat another fighter tonight what do you think of Frank Bruni I think that Tim spoon beat of us contender he beat a guy that was determined to win I mean quite naturally you know didn't have the experience but he had a lot of heart and he had those physical attributes that power and he displayed it tonight is he a guy who can knock out people on a regular basis he hasn't shown that until tonight and even tonight he really did look a little bit while and a little bit sloppy Oh tonight he uh he showed his going to school it was a good student I think you've done a great deal Brunel did and great deal in this fight I think this fight the vid thing he's going to help him out and his career madam line of course with Tim Witherspoon is he won it doesn't matter if you're not command out if you go 15 rounds of is a split decision a majority decision he not even won the fight that's a lot of money well that's what counts and in fact it goes I broke as a win and I'm sure those girls going to take this fight out communicate and get back in the gym now he's got to go back and face Tony Tubbs again he's already beaten Tony Tom's once is it difficult to get yourself motivated to get back in there against the guy who you have to feel you can beat again relatively easily as you did the first time well I think was in a different tone times and this experience here with all these people and being broke basically for Frank Bruno this is a learning process you all right a final word then from Larry Merchant Larry at the end of the day as the British say but they still knew Vestas pomp and circumstance roiled pomp and circumstance a great royal show we're supposed to have a big royal wedding here into another week between Andrew and his Sarah and that is indeed what the British do better than everyone else what Americans do better than everyone else let's have Heavyweight Champion no matter how many of them we have to have proven there's a couple of things I'd like to say about Tim Witherspoon that fight tonight was not the greatest heavyweight fight we've seen there were times I thought well if Sara and her men never have a more bitter argument than they're having in here they'll have a very successful marriage Tim Witherspoon wasn't in the great shape and tonight it didn't prove to be the difference in the fight but he has to understand two things that one that what the public wants in a heavyweight champion especially is someone who can dominate his opponent dominate them with force hopefully but with foot speed or personality or any other way if that doesn't work and secondly they want a heavyweight champion don't look like a heavyweight champion to carry himself like a heavyweight champion because if he doesn't get in shape if he doesn't care enough about his own profession entitled to look like a champion people are going to say why should I care about him that's something Tim Witherspoon is going to have to keep in mind but the next time we see him which will be against Tony Tubbs Granberry okay thanks larry merchant and let's take a look then at our path to unify the heavyweight championship and as larry merchant mentioned we've already talked about the next opponent for Tim Witherspoon will be Tony Tubbs what about the others in that competition well let's take a look at the road to the championships and here it is will be Witherspoon Tubbs Trevor Berbick will have to fight somebody who knows who that might be Spinks and tanks Ted well that's a fight the champ to think Michael Spinks is just going to walk through tanks that incidentally he's the European champion Witherspoon Tubbs it's happened once before there's no reason to think that the results wouldn't be exactly the same the last time the two of them fought Tim Witherspoon just said Tony Tubbs wasn't very tough just that simple well I think it was a different time times and more conditioned Toyota's and this should be a lesson to all they have Woods get in shape all right your fatal comments then a bot Tim Witherspoon bona fide champion amongst the three champions now where does he stand I think he stands up there with the rest of the guys which nobody this was a lesson to Tim Witherspoon first of all I think he did get caught up from the the acceptance and the hoopla and adulation because he did state the fact that he is he's enjoying this the autograph the cameras and what-have-you and it's something that he's always deserved he's getting here and it's more down the road but he has to clear himself a lot better there's a bottom line about all about Tim Witherspoon too and Frank Bruno for that matter both good guys I know that doesn't win fights but Tim well this was a good guy worthy to be a champion I think he's always said he's a guy who's got a cloud following him around well tonight if you will was a sunny day kicked in with us but we want to remind you too

Channel: coachstrout’s classic fights

Views: 51,369

Rating: 4.6416187 out of 5

Keywords: tim witherspoon, frank bruno, boxing, boxers, heavyweights, england, heavyweight, ko, knockout, box, boxe, boxeo, boxen, tyson, mike tyson, klitschko, lomenchenko

Id: w38dppI8Ro4

Length: 90min 56sec (5456 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 08 2018