Witter wants to win in style

Witter: tough test

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Junior Witter hopes to go one better than Joe Calzaghe by winning in style when he defends his WBC light-welterweight title against unbeaten American Timothy Bradley in Nottingham on Saturday.

It was a below-par Calzaghe who scraped a split decision when he fought Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas last month, and while the Welshman managed to leave Nevada with both his unbeaten record and reputation intact, Witter knows he must produce a performance as well as gain a result.

The Bradford man's switch-hitting style has hardly endeared him to fight fans and also been a factor in Ricky Hatton's decision to, so far at least, avoid a contest.

However, a fine win over Bradley this weekend would crank up the calls for a super-fight between Witter and his chief domestic rival.

Witter said: "I look at what Joe did against Hopkins and he did enough to win but he didn't shine. I've got to go out there and win, but I've also got to go out there and shine."

Tough test

Witter undoubtedly faces a tough test against Bradley but is looking to deliver after his scheduled contest against Demetrius Hopkins, due to be held Stateside last month, was cancelled when his opponent withdrew.

"It's worked out very well," Witter added. "The cancellation was a pain but it's turned out better for me. I'm back in sooner rather than later and it's against a more dangerous opponent.

"Bradley has a great record and he's a decent puncher. He's very confident, he thinks he's going to be a legend and he's coming to win. That's just the sort of test I want at this stage in my career."

Also on the card, local hero Carl Froch bids to move closer to a shot at the WBC super-middleweight title when he faces another replacement American, Rubin Williams.

But John Murray's English lightweight title fight against John Fewkes has been called off as the unbeaten Sheffield fighter is suffering from a stomach ailment.