Witherspoon turns tables on Bruno

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 38

Witherspoon turns tables on Bruno

NZPA-Reuter London Tim Witherspoon retained his world heavyweight boxing championship yesterday when he turned the tables on the big-hitting Briton, Frank Bruno.

The 28-year-old American unleashed a colossal right hand punch to send Bruno reeling and then followed up with another powerful flurry to stop his opponent in the eleventh round of their scheduled 15-round bout and retain his World Boxing Association (W.8.A.) title.. Before the referee could conclude the ten count Bruno’s corner men had flung in the white towel of surrender. The referee confirmed later he had stopped the fight

It was Witherspoon’s

first defence of the crown he won from his compatriot, Tony Tubbs, last January and it was' his twenty-fifth win in 27 professional fights. Bruno, a 24-year-oid Londoner, had been widely fancied to use his sledgehammer righthand punch to prise the title away from Witherspoon. For ten rounds, he seemed set to fulfil his promise, but then the American caught him with a right cross and followed up w|th a barrage of lefts and rights to the head to drop Bruno on the seat of his pants in the corner.

Bruno was attempting to become the first Briton since 1899 to hold a world heavyweight title, but it was not to be. Bruno was unable to talk immediately . after ■S

the fight because of facial swelling. The fight doctor, Ossie Ross, said: “He will need an X-ray because his jaw was a bit deformed. He took a lot of punishment around the face. Obviously, he was very disappointed.” Witherspoon was jubilant in triumph, but paid Bruno his dues.

“It was a great fight — the hardest fight I’ve ever fought, besides Larry Holmes. “I got hurt, I came back. A lot of people were saying he was going to knock me out. That gave me energy.

“Frank Bruno should not quit He Is the only fighter who ever hurt me. He would beat a lot of fighters back In the US. He is up with the top. He is up with the big boys.