Chazz Witherspoon
# Chazz Witherspoon

Chazz Witherspoon (born September 16, 1981) is an American former professional boxer. The second cousin of former boxing champion Tim Witherspoon, he emerged as a talented boxer in the 2000s. He won the 2004 National Golden Gloves finals in Kansas City, Missouri, and by collecting all wins via stoppage, he became the first man in the history of the Golden Gloves to win the National Title by all stoppages.

In 2008, holding a record of 23–0 with 14 KOs, he was set to fight fellow heavyweight prospect Chris Arreola to determine America's top heavyweight contender. Witherspoon lost the fight, and Arreola went on to challenge world champion Vitali Klitschko. After this defeat, he had three wins (all by knockout) before losing again, this time to Tony Thompson, in December 2009. He had four more wins (three by knockout) before suffering his third defeat, to Seth Mitchell, in a fight he was winning.

Witherspoon saw another title shot when he was set to fight former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk with just a few days' notice, after Tyrone Spong, Usyk's scheduled opponent, tested positive to a banned substance.

Witherspoon came to the fight after a streak of 8 wins (6 by knockout) since his loss to Mitchell, having defeated Tyyab Beale, Cory Phelps, Galen Brown, Nick Guivas, Michael Marrone, Carlos Sandoval, Lamont Capers and Santander Silgado. Witherspoon lost the fight against Usyk as he retired in his corner after round 7.

## Early life and education

Witherspoon was born the oldest of three children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Eric Witherspoon. He attended Paulsboro High School, where he played basketball and graduated with a 4.0 GPA and as a member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation, he was offered three NCAA Division I basketball scholarships and two track scholarships, but chose to instead accept a full academic scholarship at Saint Joseph's University. He graduated from Saint Joseph with a degree in pharmaceutical marketing in 2005.

Witherspoon's cousin Tim later introduced him to experienced boxing trainers Randy and Wade Hinnant, and both assisted and encouraged his development in the sport.

## Amateur career

Witherspoon began his amateur boxing career in his sophomore year at Saint Joseph's University. A year later, Witherspoon won the Pennsylvania State Golden Gloves title. Five months later he placed third at the 2003 National Police Athletic League Tournament. Three months after that he won the Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament, qualifying him for the U.S. Championships and in the process was awarded the title of “Most Outstanding Boxer”.

He took second place at the 2004 U.S. Championships, which qualified him for the Olympic trials, where he advanced to the Olympic Box-offs but only made the Olympic team as an alternate.

Two months after returning from the Athens Olympics he won his second Pennsylvania Golden Gloves Title, thus advancing to the 2004 National Golden Gloves finals in Kansas City, Missouri which he won, all wins via stoppage. He is the first man in the history of the Golden Gloves to win the National Title by all stoppages.

His amateur record is 26 wins and 6 losses.

## Professional career

Known as "The Gentleman", Witherspoon turned pro in 2004 and was undefeated for the first 23 of his professional bouts, winning 15 by KO.

Coming from a winning streak of 23 wins (15 by knockout), the undefeated Witherspoon was set to fight against Chris Arreola to determine the top heavyweight contender of America. Before the fight, Lou DiBella stated: "The winner [of Witherspoon vs Arreola] is clearly going to be the guy [who emerges as a top heavyweight contender]". HBO's Larry Merchant stated: "Witherspoon and Arreola clearly are the two most advanced, relatively unknown American heavyweights. The winner will emerge as the better of the two and immediately goes on the short list of U.S. contenders who could be in line to get a crack at one of the world titles in the relatively near future".

On June 21, 2008, Witherspoon lost the fight against fellow heavyweight prospect Chris Arreola in which he was disqualified in the third round. Arreola landed a barrage of punches that was capped off by a chopping right that sent Witherspoon to the canvas. The bell rang early in the count, prompting Witherspoon's corner to begin entering the ring. This was ruled by the referee to be a disqualification since the round is not technically over until the count is over.

Witherspoon in his next fight defeated Adam Richards by 8th-round TKO, in an action packed fight which received Ring Magazine's 2008 Heavyweight Fight Of the year.

Witherspoon next fought Travis Fulton and Willie Perryman, defeating both of them by knockout. He then suffered the second defeat of his career at the hands of Tony Thompson, losing by TKO in the ninth round. He then defeated Livin Castillo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on August 28, 2010. Three months later, on November 19, 2010, he defeated Alexis Mejias, also in Atlantic City. Witherspoon had two more wins (both by knockout) before suffering his third defeat, being defeated by Seth Mitchell in a fight Witherspoon was winning. Witherspoon next had a winning streak of 8 victories (six by knockout), overcoming Tyyab Beale, Cory Phelps, Galen Brown, Nick Guivas, Michael Marrone, Carlos Sandoval, Lamont Capers and Santander Silgado.

### Witherspoon vs. Usyk

Witherspoon saw another title shot when he was set to fight former undisputed cruiserweight champion and future unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk had been set to debut in the heavyweight division on October 12, 2019, at the Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, against Tyrone Spong. However, Spong tested positive for clomiphene, a banned substance, just a few days before the bout. The promoter Eddie Hearn announced that several backup fighters were being considered among whom Witherspoon was chosen. Thus, Witherspoon joined the fight with a few days' notice.

Eventually Usyk won the fight as Witherspoon retired in his corner after round 7.

## Professional boxing record

| 42 fights | 38 wins | 4 losses |
| - | - | - |
| By knockout | 29 | 3 |
| By decision | 9 | 0 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 42 | Loss | 38–4 | Oleksandr Usyk | RTD | 7 (12), 3:00 | 12 Oct 2019 | Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, US | |
| 41 | Win | 38–3 | Santander Silgado | RTD | 2 (8), 3:00 | 23 Mar 2019 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 37–3 | Lamont Capers | UD | 8 | 10 Mar 2018 | Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 36–3 | Carlos Sandoval | TKO | 4 (10), 1:25 | 1 Oct 2016 | Sun National Bank Center, Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 35–3 | Mike Marrone | TKO | 3 (6), 1:31 | 6 Aug 2016 | Grundy Arena, Bristol, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 37 | Win | 34–3 | Nick Guivas | TKO | 3 | 15/08/2015 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Galen Brown | TKO | 5 | 18/04/2015 | Pennsauken, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 35 | Win | 32–3 | Cory Phelps | TKO | 2 | 24/01/2015 | Pennsauken, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 34 | Win | 31–3 | Tyyab Beale | TKO | 8 | 12/07/2014 | West Deptford Township, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 33 | Loss | 30–3 | Seth Mitchell | TKO | 3 | 28/04/2012 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | For WBO–NABO heavyweight title. |
| 32 | Win | 30–2 | David Saulsberry | KO | 2 | 04/02/2012 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Won IBS North American Continental heavyweight title. Saulsberry knocked out at 0:42 of the second round. |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Ty Cobb | KO | 3 | 22/10/2011 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Cobb knocked out at 1:07 of the third round. |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Alexis Mejias | RTD | 4 | 19/11/2010 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Mejias retired at 3:00 of the fourth round. |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Livin Castillo | TKO | 7 | 28/08/2010 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:21 of the seventh round. |
| 28 | Loss | 26–2 | Tony Thompson | TKO | 9 | 05/12/2009 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:13 of the ninth round. |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Willie Perryman | KO | 2 | 29/08/2009 | Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. | Perryman knocked out at 2:09 of the second round. |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Travis Fulton | TKO | 3 | 28/03/2009 | Miami, Oklahoma, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 1:43 of the third round. |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Adam "Swamp Donkey" Richards | TKO | 8 | 15/11/2008 | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 1:29 of the eighth round. |
| 24 | Loss | 23–1 | Chris Arreola | DQ | 3 | 21/06/2008 | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | For WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title. Referee disqualified Witherspoon after his corner entered the ring after a knockdown at the end of the third round. |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Domonic Jenkins | UD | 10 | 16/04/2008 | New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Jonathan Haggler | TKO | 4 | 15/02/2008 | Sewell, New Jersey, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:44 of the fourth round. |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | Kendrick Releford | UD | 8 | 05/01/2008 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Ron Guerrero | RTD | 5 | 29/09/2007 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Guerrero retired at the end of the fifth round. |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Talmadge Griffis | TKO | 9 | 27/07/2007 | Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 1:08 of the ninth round. |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Joe Stofle | TKO | 3 | 19/05/2007 | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 1:10 of the third round. |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Charles Davis | TKO | 7 | 06/04/2007 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 0:19 of the seventh round. |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Patrick Smith | TKO | 2 | 10/02/2007 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 1:38 of the second round. |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Earl Ladson | KO | 3 | 14/10/2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Ladson knocked out at 2:13 of the third round. |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Innocent Otukwu | KO | 2 | 15/09/2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Otukwu knocked out at 0:45 of the second round. |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Michael A. Alexander | UD | 10 | 01/07/2006 | Manistee, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Agustin Corpus | UD | 6 | 11/05/2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | David Polk | UD | 6 | 07/04/2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Rodney Ray | TKO | 2 | 03/03/2006 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the second round. |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Demetrice King | UD | 6 | 05/11/2005 | Stateline, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Lincoln Luke | TKO | 2 | 29/09/2005 | Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:00 of the second round. |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Vernon Woodward | TKO | 3 | 06/08/2005 | Tampa, Florida, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 0:43 of the third round. |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Marion Wilson | UD | 4 | 16/06/2005 | Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Cornell Bradbury | KO | 1 | 17/05/2005 | Essington, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Bradbury knocked out at 2:14 of the first round. |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Harold Rodriguez | TKO | 4 | 15/04/2005 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Referee stopped the bout at 2:40 of the fourth round. |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | David Johnson | UD | 4 | 18/02/2005 | Santa Ynez, California, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Yul Witherspoon | TKO | 2 (4), 1:26 | 27 Jan 2004 | Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | James Daniels | KO | 1 (4), 1:53 | 12 Dec 2004 | Washington, District of Columbia, U.S. | |
