38 years ago

Date: 17th January 1986

Title: WBA World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Don King Productions

Tv: HBO Sports

Tony Tubbs
( 21 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 244 lbs

Tim Witherspoon
( 23 - 2 - 0 )
Weight: 227 lbs

Tim Witherspoon, the WBA's No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender, challenged Tony Tubbs for the WBA Heavyweight Title. Tubbs was making his first defence of the title he had won against Greg Page nine months earlier. At 244 pounds, Tubbs was fifteen pounds heavier than when he won the title.

The Fight:
In a gruelling 15-round battle, Tim Witherspoon dethroned Tony Tubbs by majority decision to regain a portion of the heavyweight championship. The bout did not have knockdowns, but Witherspoon staggered Tubbs several times in the late rounds with his aggressive style and powerful combinations.

Witherspoon was the aggressor from the opening bell, manhandling Tubbs and forcing him to the ropes throughout the fight. In the 13th round, Witherspoon opened with a combination of body punches followed by a slashing left to the head that staggered Tubbs. He ended the round with another barrage of blows to Tubbs' head, raising his arms in triumph as he returned to his corner.

In the final round, Witherspoon unleashed another combination to the head that again staggered Tubbs. Despite the champion's brief fightback, Witherspoon sent him into the ropes again with another series of headshots.

The Scorecards:
The judges' scorecards were mixed. One judge scored the bout even at 143-143, while the other two had Witherspoon winning by scores of 144-143 and 144-141. The Associated Press unofficial scorecard favoured Witherspoon more clearly at 146-139.

Aftermath:
With this victory, Tim Witherspoon joined Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali as the only men to win heavyweight titles twice. Witherspoon attributed his success to hard training, dedication, and getting his mind right for the fight. He admitted he needed to be more mentally and physically prepared for his previous loss to Pinklon Thomas.

Tubbs, gracious in defeat, acknowledged that he wasn't as active as he should have been after winning the title against Page. He vowed to return to the drawing board and work his way back to the championship.

Controversy erupted after the fight when Witherspoon tested positive for marijuana. The WBA fined him $25,000 and ordered a rematch with Tubbs. However, when the rematch was scheduled for December 12, 1986, Tubbs withdrew, citing an injured left shoulder. Promoter Don King accused Tubbs of trying to negotiate for more money, while Tubbs maintained he was unhappy with the purse but wouldn't fight injured. King nullified Tubbs' contract and requested that the WBA and other sanctioning bodies suspend him.

James "Bonecrusher" Smith, whom Witherspoon had outpointed in June 1985, replaced Tubbs and shocked the boxing world by stopping Witherspoon in the first round to claim the WBA title.

The Witherspoon-Tubbs fight was part of a series of seven championship bouts involving WBC, WBA, and IBF fighters, aiming to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion in 1987. The fight, held before an estimated crowd of 6,000 at the 18,000-seat Omni, earned Tubbs his most oversized purse to date at around $125,000, while Witherspoon received $50,000.