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Witter set for the limelight
Junior Witter is hoping that victory over unbeaten American Timothy Bradley will move him a step closer to finally facing Ricky Hatton.
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Comments (75)
Mark Stolworthy says...
In fairness when Witter fought Judah it was at short notice and when Judah was at his best form. Witter was alot less experienced back then-he has definately improved. As for Tszyu when he fought Judah, Judah was clearly far too cocky for his own good and for all his ability one heavy shot from Tszyu ended the fight (Judah jumping up quick to hide the hurt and save his pride-not recovering-TKO). The suprise on Tszyu's face when he won said it all. Tszyu was a powerful and durable boxer hence he took Hatton nearly all the way-Tszyu was no way near the level of de la hoya or mayweather. Hatton nearly has it all (defeat to Mayweather showed his weaknesses - the ref played into this) strength, stamina, and technical ability to dominate a fight if fought his style (at close quarters). We have seen the best of de la hoya (undoubtably one of the legends of boxing) he seems to of lost the power and clearly doesn't have the stamina of old in the later rounds-still has the quick hands and style. Hatton Vs De le hoya would be a great fight - Hatton would prevail through his hard work, tiring de la hoya down. Mayweather must fight Cotto now! This fight must happen. Would be great to see the full capability of Cotto against the best of the best Mayweather.
Posted 12:57 23rd May 2008
Aaron Brockovic says...
Joe Sotrms. . . . Calling Oscar De La Hoya's record average clearly shows how little you know about boxing, yes i am a Hatton fan, but if i remember correctly Oscar lasted 12 rounds with Mayweather and just lost on a split decision (which could have gone either way) he won a a gold medal as an amateur at the olympics, De La Hoya has defeated over a dozen world champions and has won 6 world titles, he is the richest boxer in the history of the sport he has achieved everything there is so calling him average is actually quite idiotic! He could possibly beat Mayweather in a rematch, where if the fight was at welterweight again, Hatton he wouldn't stand as much a chance as Oscar would!!!!
Posted 23:42 21st May 2008
Terry Horrix says...
Joe Storms says de la Hoya's record is average. Are you on drugs man? he has won world titles at 5-6 different weights. How can you argue with that record? Clearly not a boxing fan but one who jumps on the bandwagon when there is a big fight, and claims he knows the world. Anyway, how people argue Hatton vs Witter is beyond me. Witter fought Judah and ran for 12 rounds. Judah was nearly killed by Tszyu, and Hatton bashed Him. Granted he was a little passed his best , but Witter would NOT have stood with Kostya for 11 rounds. Big shout out to David Haye, has the punching power to do well at H/W and i hope he does. Has a suspect chin and could get found out but i hope for British heavywieght boxing that he cleans up and unifies a terrible divison.
Posted 15:50 21st May 2008
Mark Stolworthy says...
I am a Hatton fan, but still would like to see our boxers doing well. Witter is a quality operator, but unfortunately picked a fight with a young, strong fighter who had clearly done alot of home work on Witter. This showed with the knock down. That one punch really turned the fight. Witter then followed up by smothering his own work, diving into punches which bradley turned into a clinch. Witter needs to get back on the horse as soon as possible, and try to be more focused at the task in hand rather than constantly calling out Hatton. I feel Witter would win a re-match with Bradley, as Witter has the technical ability to do so. The work rate just clearly wasn't there on the night.
Posted 12:51 20th May 2008
Joe Storms says...
It was good to see Witter lose purely because his mouth was too big. He was never in the same league as Hatton, regardless of what people thought. When Ricky can hold his own against Mayweather for 10 rounds it shows hes the best light-welterweight. It annoys me when people say Hatton is arrogant or has a big mouth...he could so easily have had a big pay day but he chose to fight in manchester to repay his fans...how many boxers would do that today? hatton is class and hopefully he can fight mayweather again...he certainly deserves the shot over oscar de la hoya...a man whose record is average
Posted 19:37 13th May 2008
Ryan Dooley says...
I would say I was more of a Hatton fan than a Witter fan (I hate Witter's style). Witter having being the WBC champion had a right to call out Hatton thoughtcos it's true that Hatton has been avoiding him (for whatever reasons). The point I was making is that Hatton should clean up all the top light-welterweights before he calls out Floyd again. Calzaghe and Haye unified their divisions and Calzaghe then struggled to beat Hopkins (although he did win that fight) and Haye is going to have his handful with the heavyweights. This is AFTER they've mopped their divsions up. Hatton was very brave going for Floyd like he did, so full credit to him but it was a silly move. I hope to see Hatton get back to winning ways cos he's a top bloke and a great fighter.
Posted 16:47 13th May 2008
Chris Rodgers says...
Kev Stevens.. I Agree , witter is not in same league as hatton, as much i would have like to see it happen, just to see hatton, shut his big mouth up... cant see it anytime soon now.. the boy just wanted a bigpay day...end off!
Posted 12:03 13th May 2008
Kev Stevens says...
I have to ask the witter fans whether they still feel he's in Hattons league. Personally, I don't and never did
Posted 20:08 12th May 2008
Scott Healey says...
ryan dooley, eating your own words now pal. witter was rubbish, in fact if he was any better he woud have been rubish. see the way he kept his right arm up? hatton would have bashed him with a body blow in the first round, end of fight. witter fans what are you going to do now? because hatton doesnt want you as fans.
Posted 20:05 12th May 2008
Gordon Robinson says...
Hatton has ducked no-one, but I can see why Hatton has not fought Witter. Witter thought he could have a big payday slagging off Hatton and demanding a fight. Why should Ricky put money in Witter's pocket. Witter should have shown some respect. What price Witter now. He was truly awful on Saturday and my only surprise was how close the judges had it - except for the judge who didn't watch Witter getting a boxing lesson. All Brendan Ingle's fighters are cast in a mould. They believe no-one can lay a glove on them until someone knocks them over - Witter, Herol Graham, Naseem Hamed.
Posted 16:50 12th May 2008
Gareth Egginton says...
There is a complete load of rubbish on this board. At the end of the day Ricky has done things that no other boxer has done. Why the hell when he can take 35000 to vegas should he fight a disrespecting idiot who couldn't sell out his own pub. Witter is nothing never has been and never will. I for one was so happy that he got beat the other night, people love Ricky because he is a nice down to earth bloke. He has has a lot of wars and deserves to fight wherever he can make the most money, The homecomings a great idea but after that let him have a couple of big paydays before retiring. And let Witter rot
Posted 13:25 12th May 2008
Ian Cornish says...
I agree with some of Richard Thompsons points,although not about Hatton being cowardly. Before saturday's fight with Bradley,i would have said if Witter was serious about the Hatton fight why he,his manager/promoter,instead of insulting Hatton(when he needed to promote a fight)didn't simply make Hatton a serious offer. You know the kind of thing,a realistic purse bid,sensible venue/date at a time when neither boxer had other commitments.After he bacame wbc champion he could have done so. I think he will regret it now,because after losing,and looking poor in doing so,i believe any chance of the Hatton fight has gone. Witter needs to concentrate on his own career,it will be a long way back.
Posted 11:57 12th May 2008
Richard Hancock says...
After lots of good reports and people slagging off hatton saying he needs to fight witter i thought i would see what he is all about on saturday night!!! Well let me tell ya all the witter fans shouting there mouths off really need to pinch themselfs!!! witter the hitter ha ha ha ha no wonder hatton dont want to fight him he is not even in the same league! Witter would be smashed up within 60 seconds the guy they pulled out of the local pub (with all due respect) made him look like a school boy!! thats why witter the hitter is still fighting in sport centres and playing fields and hatton is in las vegas and a sell out crowd at manchester city!!! Witter Fans get real, wake up and smell the coffee he does not stand a chance with one of britans best boxers!!! Hatton Dont entertain him!!!!
Posted 09:15 12th May 2008
Ryan Dooley says...
Hatton is definately avoiding Witter becuase he fights like Floyd. Maybe not as good but we don't know that yet. Witter isn't talking about retiring even though he is 31 (i think) and I think he deserves some big fights. He holds the WBC belt which is the top belt if you ask me. Floyd has held a lot of WBC belts and hes the top of the game. In my eyes Hatton needs to beat Witter before he thinks about fighting Floyd again. He needs to prove he's not just a brawler, that he can outbox a skilled boxer. I think he may stuggle to do this. Give Witter a big fight soon becuase he was excellent again Harris. The KO was similar to the 1 Hatton took against Floyd. He picked him off. At first I thought Hatton was wasting his time with these next fights but he needs to clean Lazcano up,then Malignaggi, then Witter. Basically he should unify this divison just like Calzaghe and Haye. If he does this then he should call out Floyd again.
Posted 12:48 8th May 2008
Jay Marshall says...
I¿ve got to disagree with Ian Cornish on this one. I'm a huge admirer of Hatton...but he has been ducking Witter for a long time. Witter calls him out when he knows the cameras are on him as he wants the world to know that he wants Hatton. The balls been in Hattons court for a long time and I don't know why he never took the fight. Hatton v Witter is long overdue and would create a big pay day for both fighters. Hatton needs to build up the confidence and pride by knocking out a couple of 'decent' fighter, but ones he should beat all the same, then take on Witter and shut that big mouth of his once and for all.
Posted 21:34 7th May 2008
Paul Graham says...
Lazcano was only a IBA, WBF and NABF lightweight champion, so i wouldnt call him a legitimate world champion (otherwise we could call Audley harrison a world champion) and having gone through his record on boxrec ive seen his last win was a split decision against Manuel Garnica whom i seen Paul Mccluskey comfortably outpoint so i dont think hes tough opposition. Personally i'd be very surprised if Hatton didnt fight Witter within the next 2 years. They way they constantly slag each other off, is creating great publicity and building hype for a future fight. The more hype they can create surrounding the fight the more money the get afterall.
Posted 19:33 7th May 2008
Richard Thompson says...
With regards to Ian Cornish telling me to check my facts: I admit I was not aware of Hatton calling Witter through the ropes. The facts I am aware are these: Witter offered to step in with no notice when one of Hatton's fights fell through a week before it was due several years back; many people in the boxing industry think Witter would beat Hatton; Witter has made badmouthing Hatton a career path. Now I used tp be a Hatton fan, but to me it seems like he has come to a point where he seems more interested in being a national hero than being the best boxer. Admittedly his next opponent is underrated by some in the UK, but where has Hatton's heart gone? Fact: I have seen him repeatedly say fighting Witter is not on the agenda - and I think after all the abuse he has received off him, its nothing short of a disgrace he won't fight him, and a bit cowardly to be honest - I have certainly lost a lot of respect for him. Everyone has to ask: despite the irritating politics that plague boxing, what is more important - big money and the biggest fanbase, or proving you're the champion in the ring? And yes Ian, Witter is no Mayweather (I don't think anyone is to be honest) - but nor is Hatton by a long long way!!! What Witter is is a very talented, valid world champion, who everyone wants to see fight Hatton. And whatever you say Ian (about who ducked who) - I'm sure you will agree that it is obvious Hatton could fight Witter if he wanted to, if not then why isn't Hatton calling out Witter to make him look like an idiot? Whatever his reasons, he doesn't want it! If Hatton does not fight Witter, surely it is true that when people look at his legacy, people will always say "he ducked Witter though".
Posted 19:30 7th May 2008
Ian Cornish says...
Imran Ahmed and Richard Thompson say my comment about Witter having been offered the fight are "ridicules"really??? Check your facts!! Hatton lent through the ropes after one of his fights when he was wbu champion and called Witter out(who was sat ringside)because he was sick of him mouthing off.Result?Witter didn't say a word and was quiet for months after.Hatton again said he would fight him when he was ibf champion,Witter claimed because he was in line for a shot at the vacant wbc title(two fights away at that point)the ibf crown was not prestigious enough.The last time was before Witter's fight with Hopkins' nephew fell through,Hatton having lost to Mayweather wasn't good enough. Fuuny how when Witter needs to sell his latest fight he bad mouths Hatton! As for Hatton fighting another bum,Lacrenco is a former world champion and still highly rated.The only time Witter fought someone who was not a bum,Judah,he ran for twelve rounds. Oh,and let's be honest,Witter sure as hell ain't no Mayweather.
Posted 14:45 7th May 2008
Leon Watson says...
There have been many comments on here regarding this predicament, some pro hatton, some pro witter others just play devils advocate. Personally i think that Hattons prefers fighters who are prepared to go toe to toe with him as hes an extremley durable and rugged fighter who loves a slugging match.lets face it ricky is a great fighter but hes' not a technical text book boxer like witter who prides himself on skillfull boxing and the science of the sport. Like many have said hatton knows this is a potentially dangerous fight and even if he were to emerge victorious he may only just scrape it and his already blemished reputation (after defeat to PBF) would take another dent. We all know hattin is proud he apparently cried after watching the footage of his loss to PBF and locked himself away for a month to get over it can you imagine if he lost to witter!?!?! witter has a similar, evasive, 'pick off but not get hit' boxing style to PBF tho he's not as gifted overall but hatton struggled with this and doesnt want to go through it again he got impatient and toward the end floyd was toying with him. all this talk about the ref not letting them fight is rubbish just cos cortez didnt let hatton ruff him up and grapple doesnt mean it wasnst fair remember folks this is BOXING not UFC, and like someone said it wasnt cortez who knocked him out. if Hattons had a plan B he could of given PBF something to thnk about but knows only one style and you cant teach an old dog new tricks! PBF and witter are the thinking mans fighter whereas hatton, albeit good at what he does , is an exceptional 2-D Fighter and is limited. Witter i think could either win on points or a late stoppage, howvever Ricky cannot be underestimated and could be a wounded tiger and pummell the hitter into submission. either way its a fight everyone wants to see, contrasting styles make an interesting bout. hatton win silences critics a witter win=megabucks fights
Posted 11:25 7th May 2008
Richard Thompson says...
ian cornish - no!! your comment about witter ducking hatton is absolutely ridiculous, seeing as witter calls him out pretty much every day! hatton won't fight him because he knows its likely he will lose
Posted 19:53 6th May 2008