By Mike Cassell – The Philadelphia Boxing Report — You know the old saying, “If you listen to the crowd, you will be sitting with them.” Undefeated heavyweight prospect Chazz Witherspoon 23 -1 15KO’s has been inundated with press and fan banter throughout his four year professional career, that he doesn’t display the “killer instinct” in the ring. Most times Witherspoon just shrugs it off and usually counters with a cerebral response that would temporarily quiet his critics..
Winning 75% of his victories by knockout didn’t seem to be enough for most commentators when Witherspoon got a shot on Television. Whether it was ESPN or HBO all the commentators seemed to carry the same opinion about Witherspoon. Yes he is winning, but he isn’t aggressive or doesn’t display the “killer instinct”. It is easy make those statements, because the heavyweight division is in such dismay, but at the end of the day, the writers and the talking heads aren’t walking away with a loss. Witherspoon always had a methodical way of wearing down his opponent. He got the knockouts when he was supposed to get them. Not through aggressiveness, or displaying the “killer instinct” but through patience, and smart boxing. He got his wins by being crafty and waiting for his opening. He didn’t need to create one prematurely or artificially.
On Saturday June 21st, Witherspoon faced unbeaten Chris Arreola 24 – 0 21 KO’s. Arreola is a banger. He is not the greatest ring tactician, he just punches very hard and very often and he is good at it. But that predictability should have given Witherspoon a tremendous advantage; instead he seemed to fight Arreola’s fight from the sound of the bell. Having seen most of Witherspoon’s fights, even calling the blow by blow on television for 2 of them, I noticed this was not the same fighter I came to know. He started much faster than usual. He wasn’t testing the power of Arreola, he seemed to be standing and eating it, purposely. He was trying to send a message and that message was, he could take it. Big hitters sell tickets, but sooner or later they are always exposed. When Mike Tyson exploded onto the scene in the mid 80’s, he was knocking out most of his competition. He seemed too strong and too fast for everyone. The reality for Tyson was that it was only matter of time before he was exposed. A banger carries a reputation that makes his opponents take chances. It’s a pride thing. The world was shocked when Buster Douglas destroyed Mike Tyson, but early on in that fight when Buster was fighting Tyson’s fight, and he got floored. When Douglas used his brilliant jab, and chopped the body to take away the power, Tyson’s boxing skills, or lack thereof, were exposed to every fighter in the heavyweight division, including Evander Holyfield.
Although Holyfield has done a lot to tarnish his accomplishments lately, 13 years ago he was absolutely spectacular. He was a fabulous boxier, but the knock against him was, he was not a “real” heavyweight. He didn’t have that, dare I say it “killer instinct”. He wasn’t really respected until he went toe to toe with Riddick Bowe and many others. Then he became “The Warrior”. It is very telling that he couldn’t receive the accolades he so fully deserved for the talents he had. He needed to reinvent himself and to be considered a warrior. But truth be told, Evander Holyfield was a 6 time champion because of his boxing skills and ring proficiency. He was just a very smart fighter. Witherspoon is a smart fighter too, who may have been listening to the audience a bit too much. After the fight he said, “I let my pride get the best of me, I fought his fight.” The disappointment was glaring through his somber expression. Witherspoon is an astute student and graduate of St. Josephs University. He studies and learns his lessons well. Some just cost more than others and this one could be very costly. Soon he will join the very audience who criticized his style, watching his competition move forward, while serving his mandatory suspension. Lesson learned.