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The Crown Affair

Date	20 May 1983
Venue	Dunes Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Title(s) on the line	WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer Larry Holmes Tim Witherspoon Nickname "The Easton Assassin" "Terrible" Hometown Easton, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Purse $2,100,000 $250,000 Pre-fight record 42–0 (30 KO) 15–0 (11 KO) Age 33 years, 6 months 25 years, 4 months Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in (192 cm) Weight 213 lb (97 kg) 219+1⁄2 lb (100 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition WBC and The Ring Heavyweight Champion WBC No. 3 Ranked Heavyweight The Ring No. 10 Ranked Heavyweight
Result
Holmes defeated Witherspoon by Split Decision

Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon, billed as The Crown Affair, was a professional boxing match contested on 20 May 1983, for the WBC and The Ring heavyweight championship.

Background

Having made 14 consecutive defences of his heavyweight title, the longest uninterrupted heavyweight reign since Joe Louis, Larry Holmes having fought once already in 1983 (a one sided win against former European champion Lucien Rodriguez) agreed to face the undefeated Tim Witherspoon.

The event was billed as the world's first ever Heavyweight championship double header, with Michael Dokes making the first defence of his WBA belt in a rematch with Mike Weaver, after their first bout ended in a controversial first round stoppage.

Holmes, who was a 6 to 1 on favourite with bookies, predicted he would knock out the underdog, saying that he "wasn't qualified to be in the same ring with me".

The fights

Undercard

On the undercard Greg Page defeated Renaldo Snipes in a WBC Heavyweight Title Eliminator, and Ossie Ocasio successfully defended his WBA cruiserweight title.

Dokes vs Weaver II

In the co-feature for the WBA championship, Dokes and Weaver engaged in an entertaining slugfest that went the full 15 rounds. When the scorecards for this bout were read, judge Jerry Roth had the fight 145-141 for Dokes, but judges Larry Hazzard and Harold Lederman scored the bout a draw at 144-144 and 143-143, respectively, resulting in a majority draw and Dokes retaining the title. It was the first time in 69 years, dating back to the contest between Jack Johnson and Battling Jim Johnson in December 1913, that a world Heavyweight championship contest resulted in a draw.

Main Event

Witherspoon appeared to land a greater number of hard shots than the champion. In the ninth round, a right hand to the side of the head early, had Holmes in trouble. A left hook-right hand combination sent the champion into the ropes, where Witherspoon launched a barrage of punches in an attempt to finish the fight but Holmes was able to survive the round.

At the end of 12 rounds, judge Herb Santos scored the bout 115–114 for Witherspoon, while Chuck Hassett scored it 118–111 and Chuck Minker had it 115–113 both in favour of the champion, giving Holmes a split decision. The AP scored it for Holmes 115–113, while KO Magazine had it 114–114.

Aftermath

The crowd booed the decision, many clearing feeling with Witherspoon deserved the victory. Witherspoon himself would say post match "I definitely thought I won. He's a great champion, but I think I'm better. I know I am." Holmes acknowledged it was a tougher fight than he was expecting, saying "Witherspoon had more than I thought he did. Or maybe I'm just going down a little bit. A couple of fights ago, the man wouldn't have worn my socks."

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:

• Ossie Ocasio W15 Randy Stephens
  • Retained WBA world cruiserweight title
• Greg Page W12 Renaldo Snipes

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
Australia	Seven Network
Canada	Superchannel
Mexico	Televisa
Philippines	MBS 4
Puerto Rico	Canal 2
United Kingdom	ITV
United States	ABC

References

1. "The Ring Magazine ratings through April 1983". Ottawa Citizen. 5 April 1983. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
2. "Larry Holmes vs. Tim Witherspoon". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
3. TOM GRAY (20 May 2020). "LARRY HOLMES-TIM WITHERSPOON: THE GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT OF THE 1980S?". ringtv.com. The Ring. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
4. "Michael Dokes vs. Mike Weaver (2nd meeting)". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
5. Pat Putnam (May 30, 1983). "Holmes Really Had a Spoonful". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
6. Michael Katz (21 May 1983). "HOLMES WINS ON SPLIT DECISION; DOKES RETAINS TITLE; WITHERSPOON SUFFERS FIRST LOSS". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
7. "BoxRec - event".

• 1983 in boxing
• 1983 in sports in Nevada
• May 1983 sports events in the United States
• Boxing matches in the Las Vegas Valley
• Boxing matches involving Larry Holmes
• Boxing matches refereed by Mills Lane
• Boxing on ABC
• Boxing on ITV
• World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches