Witherspoon Wins Second Comeback Bout

Tim Witherspoon, former two-time heavyweight champion, won his second straight comeback fight with a strong finish that gave him a split decision over previously unbeaten Mike Williams.

Witherspoon (27-3) wore Williams down and rocked him repeatedly with right-hand punches over the final four rounds. Until then, Williams (13-1) threw most of the punches and stayed out of Witherspoon’s range.

Judge Eva Shain scored it 96-94 and Tom Kaczmarek had it 97-94 for Witherspoon. Richard Strange favored Williams by 98-92.

Witherspoon, 29, weighed 217, down from 230 when he was stopped in one round in losing his World Boxing Assn. championship to James (Bonecrusher) Smith Dec. 12. Williams weighed 222. Witherspoon, of Philadelphia, also held the World Boxing Council title.