Hennessy wins Witter-Battaglia purse bid!

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:47

Seems as though Mick has got it!

Bet Warrens pissed off...does this mean Witter will soon leave Warren??

This is interesting and a bit of a coup by hennessy..Warren may not like witter but i doubt he likes being made to look daft, especially after slagging Mick Currency off in the NOTW after his faliure to bid correctly..

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:55

Interesting bit of politics here. Just a thought: did Warren allow the fight to go back to purse bids because he knew Hennessy, having bid the first time, would bid again? I really think Warren wants nothing more to do with Witter (he recently accused Witter of turning down a second opportunity to fight Kelson Pinto).
Be interesting what Beagle says of the situation.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:56

What happens now then? How can Hennessy win the purse bids if he doesn't promote either fighter? Sorry if i'm being a bit naive, but I just don't understand how all these promoting shenanigans work

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:00

Kevo wrote:What happens now then? How can Hennessy win the purse bids if he doesn't promote either fighter? Sorry if i'm being a bit naive, but I just don't understand how all these promoting shenanigans work

Not just you Kevo, I thought the same thing!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:03

Kevo wrote:What happens now then? How can Hennessy win the purse bids if he doesn't promote either fighter? Sorry if i'm being a bit naive, but I just don't understand how all these promoting shenanigans work

I assume any promoter can make a bid. The highest bidder thus stages the fight.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:03

What puzzles me most is, with Hennessy promoting the show, surley he'll have to pay both fighters. By doing this he's promoting one of FW's fighters, and FW doesn't have to pay a penny!! Sheer Lunacy!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:11

It does seem strange, it's not like Witter is exactly PPV gold or anything, Hennessey could well end up out of pocket, mind you, I bet the purse bid wasn't exactly huge....

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:19

Unless this is in Witter's home town, I can't see it selling that well. As far as I can remember, he's never topped a bill. They'd have to give the tickets away, and lie to everyone that its Witter Vs Mike Tyson. They'd still only get half capacity aswell!

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:20

Now my idea of boxing politics isn't to hot when it comes to situations like this. Who (TV wise) is likely to stage this fight. If Witter has a long time left on his contract with FW then surely that is the priority.

Does anybody know, basically will the Henessey fighters that I assume will be on the undercard be on Sky, or will Sport Network fighter be on the BBC. This is a strange one.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:39

It's the promoter and not the fighters who are tied to the networks, it's Warren who has the deal with Sky, not Witter.

The possibility is that it would be on the BBC, and Hennessey would promote it as such, Witter, under contract to Warren would have to split his purse with Warren nontheless surely?

It's not a situation I've come across before this.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:42

It seems the only two people benefitting from this are Warren and Witter. If the fight goes out on the BBC, then a wider audience will get to see Junior fight, and most casual fans will like his all action fights. I think this is a bad move by Hennessy, not exactly putting one over on Warren is He?

mickeybeard · Post by **mickeybeard** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:42

Hennessey trying to score points off FW? Machevellian scheming in boxing? Nah, never!

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:44

Now mearly speculation here, but can't Warren, the sky promoter, prevent Witter from fighting on the BBC (if he's being awkard). If Witter is contracted to Warren, then even though Frank lost (or didn't contest) the bids, isn't it up to Warren when and where Witter fights - untill the deal runs out.

I don't know, just guessing and asking.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2004, 10:55

As it's a mandatory and thus goes to purse bids, doesn't this short circuit Warren's right to stipulate which network it's shown on. If he isn't the promoter, how can he order where the fight is shown, that's down to whowever promotes the fight I thought?

This is where my boxing knowledge falls down, where's John Shep when you need him?

There were rumours recently that Witter was going to make a move to Hennessey, I honestly wonder how bothered Warren would be, Witter is really a minor issue compared to Hatton who is becoming a global star.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 16 Feb 2004, 11:08

No way will a Henessey show be on Sky as a one-off, just because Witter is with Warren.

A match between Hatton & Witter looks as far away as ever now but at least Junior fighting for a legit title on the beeb might increase his popularity, assuming he looks the biz.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2004, 11:21

No that's what I figured. Hennessey doesn't have a promotional tie with Sky, and they are hardly going to put one together just for 1 fight.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 16 Feb 2004, 11:25

So won't the exposure of national television help sell Witter vs Hatton (who is - despite what people think- IS NOW a well known sporting personality).

If Witter attracts a large audience and does a good job, then surely it makes the promotion of Hatton vs Witter easier.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Feb 2004, 11:33

I don't think the fight will ever happen to be honest, not unless Witter gets a move on, and takes on some top contenders.

He needs to put himself in a position where Hatton needs him, because what's in it for Hatton otherwise, apart from bragging rights. Hatton is taking on the likes of spadafora, Pinto (who witter may or may not have avoided), or N'dou who ran Mitchell pretty close in their recent bout.

Battaglia is not in the same class as any of these men, and Witter is reduced to playing catchup. If he breaks with Warren he needs to really step up his level of competition, because right now, he's simply not on a par with Hatton.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » 16 Feb 2004, 14:40

There are some assumptions being made here.
Who says Witter is contracted to Warren ?
What if his current deal has expired ?
Did a condition of the contract state that Witter would face Hatton.
We all know that won't happen - so if a contract exists, surely this gives a legal exit, ie failure to fulfill.
What if there is a contract between Witter and Warren and Warren has failed to fulfill, ie World Title shot, guarenteed number of fights etc ?
Bottom line is Warren broke the rules as governed by the EBU and thought he could get away with it.
He had 90 days to stage the fight / set the date I understand after securing the purse bids.
He didn't.
The shock was then as I believe is an EBU condition, that the offending Promotor is barred from bidding a second time.
This left the door wide open for meaty Mick.
Had Warren been allowed to continue to arrange this fight, I am convinced he would have put it on it Italy.
I don't believe he has an ounce of interest in Witter anymore.
I expect this fight to be put on speedily.
One fight does not make a full card folks.
It all depends what other fights are promoted around this, before saying one man and his dog will attend.
A quality Sheffield show is well overdue.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 16 Feb 2004, 14:52

Kieran wrote:meaty Mick.
.

thepocketrocket · Post by **thepocketrocket** » 16 Feb 2004, 15:12

bennie wrote:Interesting bit of politics here. Just a thought: did Warren allow the fight to go back to purse bids because he knew Hennessy, having bid the first time, would bid again? I really think Warren wants nothing more to do with Witter (he recently accused Witter of turning down a second opportunity to fight Kelson Pinto).
Be interesting what Beagle says of the situation.

IMO, you are wrong on this one Bennie, Warren asked for an extension and it was refused, up until APR 28th I have heard. This is due to him not getting it on before a MAR9th date..

Of course I dont know if this is true.

Also, there appears to be a belief Warren isnt interested in Witter. My sources in Sheffield say that Witter terminated his contract in December but Warren is fighting tooth and nail to keep Witter under contract..

And why would he not bother under these circumastances when he knew Hennessy would bid again..possibly winning..?

It doesnt add up that Warren didnt make an effort fot this pursebid.

I could be wrong however

Priff · Post by **Priff** » 17 Feb 2004, 05:24

thepocketrocket wrote: And why would he not bother under these circumastances when he knew Hennessy would bid again..possibly winning..?

I have to agree with this.
FW made a big deal about the failed Henessey bid.
But now Henessey has the last laugh and it's FW that looks unprofessional. I think it highly unlikely FW allowed this to happen because he has ended up with a lot of egg in his face. FW seems to care a lot (most forum users would say too much) about his "credibility".

But the suggestion than FW is generally dis-interested in Witter I do believe. Frank loves ticket sellers. The more Farnell's the better. And Witter isn't one, he's just a pain in the Arse.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » 17 Feb 2004, 06:42

Pocket,
You've missed the point.
Warren was EXCLUDED from the second purse bids by the EBU for not complying with the rules the first time around.
Interested or not, he COULDN'T secure the fight.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 17 Feb 2004, 06:53

Witter is hardly PPV dynamite is he? Warren has a whole brace of fighters who sell more tickets than Witter does.

Whilst I can understand Witter's frustration at not getting the chances he has been looking for, his obsession with fighting Hatton is a bit over the top and does him no favours.

I've heard whispers that Witter would soon be joining Hennessey, and someone pointed him out at a recent Hennessey show, so perhaps the contract has expired and he's looking out, cannot blame him really, because his career has really not gone anywhere in a while.

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » 17 Feb 2004, 07:55

Where's all this crap that Witter seen at BBC shows means he's on his bike to Hennessey ?
If that's the case then Nelson is long gone.
He's at every BBC show, including at times, commentating.
The reason all the lads are at the shows is because they support EACH OTHER.
Every pro from the Ingle stable were at Pickering's fight to support Esham.
Likewise, they will all be there at Warren's Sky show when Nelson defends his belt.