Larry Holmes vs Tim Witherspoon

Larry Holmes retained his World Boxing Council heavyweight championship by the narrowest and most disputed margin of his five-year reign when he defeated the unbeaten Tim Witherspoon on a split decision at the Dunes Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on 20 May 1983. The 12-round contest formed one half of what was promoted as the first world heavyweight championship double-header, Michael Dokes having retained the WBA title with a majority draw against Mike Weaver earlier in the evening. An estimated crowd of 18,000 occupied most of the temporary 20,000-seat outdoor arena and remained to see whether Holmes could complete the 15th defence of the championship he had won from Ken Norton in 1978. Holmes entered with a record of 42 victories without defeat and received a purse of $2.1 million. Witherspoon, undefeated in only 15 professional contests, was paid $250,000 and started as a 6-to-1 outsider.

At 33, Holmes was the established champion and had already boxed once during the year, easily outpointing Lucien Rodriguez less than eight weeks earlier. Witherspoon was 25 and comparatively inexperienced, but his record concealed a good deal of practical education. The Philadelphian had served as a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali and had developed a compact defensive method, switching between a high guard and crossed arms while watching for openings to counter with his heavy right hand. Holmes weighed 213 pounds, unusually light for him, while Witherspoon was announced at 219½ pounds. Holmes later said he had weakened himself after the weigh-in by eating heavily and suffering diarrhoea on the morning of the contest, although nothing in his early work suggested that he was incapable of performing. He began in his customary fashion, standing upright behind the left jab and seeking to control the challenger before Witherspoon could settle.

Holmes took the opening rounds through greater activity and command of distance. He repeatedly placed the jab against Witherspoon’s forehead and gloves, then moved to his left before the challenger could bring the right hand into play. Witherspoon did not rush or behave like a novice overwhelmed by the occasion. He remained patient, rolled with many of the champion’s punches and attempted to make Holmes lead so that he could counter. Holmes was still the quicker man, and his jab gave him the clearer work, but the challenger’s strength was apparent whenever they came together. Witherspoon was difficult to move backwards and was prepared to strike Holmes in the body and arms while waiting for a clean opening upstairs. Two judges gave Holmes each of the first two rounds, although the third was more closely contested and was awarded to Witherspoon by two officials.

Holmes regained firmer control in the fourth and fifth. He doubled the jab, brought the right hand behind it and prevented Witherspoon from establishing a regular attack. The challenger’s cross-armed defence caught or deflected several blows, but it also left him dependent upon isolated counters rather than combinations. Holmes was making him reset after each exchange, and when the champion kept the contest at long range, Witherspoon had difficulty reaching him without first absorbing the jab. Yet Holmes was not dominating in the manner expected against a man with so few professional contests. Witherspoon continued to close the distance, showed no respect for the champion’s reputation and gradually began landing his right hand with greater frequency. He took the sixth round on one official card and the seventh on all three, evidence that the balance of the contest was beginning to change.

Witherspoon’s defensive judgment and physical strength caused Holmes increasing difficulty as the fight moved into its second half. He caught punches on his arms, moved his head at close range and answered with shorter, heavier blows. Holmes continued to score with the jab and was awarded the eighth round by all three judges, but he was no longer dictating every passage. Witherspoon had discovered that he could wait for Holmes to finish punching, step across the champion’s movement and release the right to the side of the head. Holmes was also remaining within range longer than usual after delivering his jab. The champion appeared to be winning rounds through the greater number of punches, while Witherspoon was producing the more conspicuous single blows.

The ninth provided the fight’s decisive passage and became one of the outstanding heavyweight rounds of the decade. Early in the round, Witherspoon drove a right hand against the side of Holmes’s head and plainly hurt him. A left hook followed by another right sent the champion backwards into the ropes, where Witherspoon attacked with both hands. Holmes covered, rolled and attempted to hold, but several punches broke through, and his legs appeared uncertain. Witherspoon continued throwing, driving the champion along the ropes and looking for the blow that would end the championship reign. Holmes nevertheless remained conscious of his position. He kept his gloves high, turned sufficiently to lessen the force of some punches and fired back whenever space appeared. Near the finish of the round, he had recovered enough to exchange with the challenger, but Witherspoon had come closer than any opponent since Renaldo Snipes to stopping him. All three judges gave Witherspoon the round, and it was later selected as The Ring magazine’s Round of the Year for 1983.

Holmes responded in the tenth with the discipline expected of a long-standing champion. Rather than attempt to answer Witherspoon’s attack with reckless aggression, he returned to the jab, used more of the ring and prevented the challenger from immediately repeating his success. Two judges gave Holmes the tenth, although Witherspoon continued to land enough solid punches to keep the contest close. The challenger took the 11th on two cards, again finding Holmes with the right hand and competing strongly in the exchanges. Holmes was tired and had lost much of the ease evident at the beginning, but Witherspoon also showed the effects of the pace. Neither man was knocked down, cut seriously or penalised, and referee Mills Lane had no major foul or controversy to settle. The last round was fought with the championship plainly at issue. Witherspoon pressed and landed the heavier isolated blows, while Holmes jabbed, moved and attempted to finish exchanges with the final punch. Two judges awarded the 12th to Witherspoon.

The official totals produced an extraordinary division of opinion. Chuck Minker scored the contest 115-113 for Holmes, while Herb Santos returned 115-114 for Witherspoon. Chuck Hassett gave Holmes the decision 118-111, a margin that bore little relation to the competitive nature of the fight and drew particular criticism. Holmes, therefore, was retained by a split decision. The Associated Press had Holmes winning 115-113, while KO Magazine scored the fight level at 114-114. The crowd booed when the verdict was announced, and an informal poll of ringside observers reportedly favoured Witherspoon by two points. A decision for the challenger would not have been unreasonable, although several rounds were close enough to explain a narrow Holmes verdict. What could not be reasonably defended was the seven-point advantage on Hassett’s card.

Witherspoon protested that he had won and said that, although Holmes was a great champion, he believed himself the better man. Holmes did not pretend that the contest had been comfortable. He acknowledged that Witherspoon had possessed more ability than expected and wondered aloud whether his own powers had begun to decline. The champion’s record advanced to 43-0, but his air of invulnerability had been disturbed. Witherspoon suffered his first defeat, yet emerged with greater standing than he had possessed before the opening bell. Within ten months, he would defeat Greg Page to win the vacant WBC championship. Holmes remained champion, but at the Dunes, he had been required to call upon experience, composure and endurance to escape from one of the most serious challenges of his career.