Greg Page vs. Tim Witherspoon

Greg Page had become the number-one ranked heavyweight contender after defeating fellow contender Renaldo Snipes on May 20, 1983. The victory put Page in line for a title shot against the winner of the fight between reigning WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and challenger Tim Witherspoon.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/21/Greg-Page-ranked-No-1-by-the-World-Boxing/9951422337600/ Greg Page, ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing...], UPI article, 1983-05-21 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 After Holmes narrowly defeated Witherspoon by split decision, the WBC ordered Holmes to make his next defense against Page, his mandatory challenger or risk being stripped of his title.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/06/10/The-World-Boxing-Council-Friday-ordered-three-of-its/3182424065600/ The World Boxing Council Friday ordered three of its...], UPI article, 1983-06-10 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 Holmes, disappointed by the $2.5 million purse he was being offered to fight Page, opted to take a more lucrative fight with Marvis Frazier which would pay him $3.1 million.[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/06/29/Larry-Holmes-at-the-risk-of-being-stripped-of/2503425707200/ Larry Holmes, at the risk of being stripped of...], UPI article, 1983-06-29 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 WBC president José Sulaimán reiterated that Holmes would be stripped of his title should he chose to fight Frazier instead of Page confirming that Holmes had signed a WBC contract with promoter Don King to fight Page and expected Holmes to respect the contracts terms.[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/03/sports/wbc-says-holmes-must-fight-greg-page.html W.B.C. Says Holmes Must Fight Greg Page], NY Times article, 1983-07-03 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 Days later Sulaimán had a change of heart and decided against stripping Holmes, but refused to sanction his fight against Frazier as Frazier was not among the WBC's top-10 contenders.[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/06/sports/confusion-reigning-over-wbc-titles.html CONFUSION REIGNING OVER W.B.C. TITLES], NY Times article, 1983-07-06 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 Holmes then opted to make a title defense against Scott Frank before facing Frazier stating he would "get around to Page" after the holidays if the "deal was right".[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/08/17/Larry-Holmes-the-WBC-heavyweight-champion-who-will-defend/5232429940800/ Larry Holmes, the WBC heavyweight champion who will defend...], UPI article, 1983-08-17 Retrieved on 2024-08-04

With Holmes not keen to fight fight him, Page was forced to take a tune-up fight against Rick Kellar in lieu of a heavyweight title bout for which he expressed frustration telling the media "I'm the No. 1 contender. I'm supposed to be the one Larry's reckoning with. But that No. 1 don't mean a thing. It's just a number." He also expressed doubt that Holmes would ever agree to fight him saying it was like Holmes was saying "To hell with him, let's keep him in the wings."[https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/12/sports/a-frustrated-page-settles-for-tuneup.html A Frustrated Page Settles for Tuneup], NY Times article, 1983-10-12 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 After defeating both Frank and Frazier, Holmes was still unable to come to terms with Page and on December 11, 1983, officially relinquished the WBC heavyweight title in favor of recognition from the newly-formed IBF. That same day the WBC announced that the still number-one ranked Page and the number-two ranked Witherspoon would meet for the now-vacant WBC heavyweight title. Having waited for a title opportunity for the better part of a year, Page expressed both excitement and disappointment stating that while the title shot was "something I waited for for a long time" he "would've liked to face Larry."[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/12/12/Larry-Holmes-says-he-has-answered-his-last-bell/8946440053200/ Larry Holmes says he has answered his last bell...], UPI article, 1983-12-12 Retrieved on 2024-08-04 After the fight was officially announced in early February, both Page, who entered the fight as 7–5 favorite, and Witherspoon bashed Holmes in the press. Page labeled Holmes a "chicken" while Witherspoon, whom had been defeated by Holmes the previous year and had hoped for a rematch, shared Page's sentiments stating "The I.B.F., that ain't nothing. Holmes is running. He's supposed to be fighting Greg Page and give me a return match. How you gonna get a lot of respect running?"[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/09/sports/angry-boxers-meeting-for-holme-s-old-title.html ANGRY BOXERS MEETING FOR HOLME'S OLD TITLE], NY Times article, 1984-03-09 Retrieved on 2024-08-04

The two fighters fought a relatively close but lackluster fight and appeared sluggish as the fight went on leading to crowd to boo the lack of action, though Witherspoon served as the aggressor throughout and did just enough to earn a majority decision victory. One judge scored the fight a draw at 114–114 while the two other judges scored the fight at 117–111.{{citation needed|date= August 2024}}

Witherspoon admitted having trouble with Page stating after the fight "I knew if I could get him in the center of the ring, I knew I could knock him out, but he wouldn't let me. Page, meanwhile, was so upset about his loss that he contemplated retirement saying "This is my retirement, man. I'm through with it. It's not worth it."{{citation needed|date= August 2024}}

Holmes, now the IBF heavyweight champion, attended the fight as did then-WBA heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee. Holmes criticized the performance of both men telling media "I always told you neither of them could fight." When asked by someone at ringside who was ahead in the fight he jokingly answered "Where's there a fight?"[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/18/sports/witherspoon-captures-crown.html Witherspoon Captures Crown], NY Times article, 1986-01-18 Retrieved on 2024-08-03

Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/2461|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}

{{note|Greg Page vs. Tim Witherspoon|Note 1|For WBC heavyweight title}}
{{note|Carlos De León vs. Anthony Davis|Note 2|For WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Rick Kellar}}

{{s-ttl | title=Greg Page's bouts |years=9 March 1984}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. David Bey}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. James Tillis}}

{{s-ttl | title=Tim Witherspoon's bouts |years=9 March 1984}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Pinklon Thomas}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Page, Witherspoon}}

Category:1984 in boxing

Category:1984 in sports in Nevada

Category:March 1984 sports events in the United States

Category:Boxing matches in the Las Vegas Valley

Category:Boxing on BBC

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Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches