Witter: I will bounce back

Bradford boxer remains upbeat after title defeat

Last updated: 11th May 2008

Witter: I will bounce back

Witter: Title agony

There is no way I am retiring after that. I will go for the European title and come back that way.

Junior Witter
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Junior Witter has vowed to carry on boxing despite his light-welterweight title defeat to American Timothy Bradley at the Nottingham Arena on Saturday night.

Witter's points defeat to Bradley ended any faint hopes the 34-year-old had of securing a domestic super-fight with Ricky Hatton.

Despite the setback, 'The Hitter' insists he has no qualms about the hard road ahead which will include a mandatory shot at the European title contested between Giuseppe Lauri and Londoner Colin Lynes in Turin next week.

Witter said: "There is no way I am retiring after that. I will go for the European title and come back that way.

"I have no doubts I will get back to the top and reclaim my title."

Damning review

The split decision defeat was hard for Witter to take, but the decisive moment came in the sixth round when Bradley caught the Bradford-born boxer off guard and he was forced onto the canvas.

The victory extended Bradley's unbeaten record to 22 fights, and Witter's trainer Brendan Ingle gave a damning review in the aftermath of the fight by claiming his fighter produced his worst display to date.

"That was the worst I've seen from Junior tonight," he said. "He never got going and I would say he was only 50 per cent out there.

"But we won't give up and we'll come back the hard way. If that means fighting for the European title or even the British belt then that's what we'll do. You haven't seen the last of Junior.

"Remember he fought a very good unbeaten fighter, got back up after a heavy knockdown and only lost by a single point. But I cannot dispute the verdict, even though I think I a draw might have been more fair."

Two of the three ringside judges rewarded the American's greater work rate with 115-113, 114-113 decisions with the third adjudging it 115-112 to Witter.