Witherspoon Has Some Trouble Before Stopping Wills in Ninth

Former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon looked a bit rusty before stopping Mark Wills in the ninth round Monday night at the Forum.

Witherspoon (19-2), in his first fight since losing his title to Pinklon Thomas in a close decision last August, put Wills (6-4-1) down in the first round but had trouble putting him away.

Wills, who had a 20-1 amateur record, seemed to be coming on late in the scheduled 10-round fight before Witherspoon trapped him against the ropes early in the ninth round.

Witherspoon pounded away until referee Pat Connelley stopped the bout with 1:13 left in the round.

In the co-feature, Stroh’s Cruiserweight champion Prince Mohammed (31-1-2) had to settle for a technical draw after accidentally butting Marcos Geraldo in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-rounder.

Mohammed, ranked No. 3 among lightweights by the WBC, was ahead on the judges’ cards, 49-48, 50-45 and 50-46.

However, under state boxing rules, a fighter who receives a butt cannot lose the fight.

Geraldo (52-18-1) did not seem to be seriously hurt by the butt 25 seconds into the sixth round, but when the ring doctor examined the gash above his right eye he immediately stopped the right.

Mohammed was hoping to land a shot against WBC light-heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.