Was Hatton/Witter the biggest British fight not to happen?

[Chris W 1982]

Just watched an old clp from Youtube which shows Hatton and Witter discussing a potentila clash following the latter defeating Alan Temple.

Both shared the same promoter, both were on superb streaks and both were hugely confident. There was a period for about 6 years were whenevr Hatton or Witter fought, the other's name would be brought up in the post fight interview.
How on earth did this fight fail to materialise?

[Chambers2]

Yes it was, it didn't happen because Hatton ducked Witter at every possible opportunity with a variety of bizarre excuses

In terms of their respective World rankings, it was the BIGGEST all-British fight to happen or not happen IMO

[stujones]

Yes it was, it didn't happen because Hatton ducked Witter at every possible opportunity with a variety of bizarre excuses

In terms of their respective World rankings, it was the BIGGEST all-British fight to happen or not happen IMO

Calzaghe and Woods must be up there. Ring Magazine Super Middleweight champion moving up against a top 3 ranked Light Heavy.

[Counter-puncher]

good call. Woods more a 'proper' world champ than Witter, IMO. and Calzaghe, *obviously*, was better than Ricky.

[doctorboxing]

Calzaghe and Woods must be up there. Ring Magazine Super Middleweight champion moving up against a top 3 ranked Light Heavy.

The thing about that is that very few would have given Woods a legitimate chance against Joe. I also would have much preferred Calzaghe-Froch at super-middle or light heavy to a Woods fight.

Witter v Hatton would have been a real 50:50 fight and it is a huge shame we never got to see it. This is one of the reasons I hate people saying "give it a year or two and it will be a much bigger fight down the line" - bollocks, it just means it might never happen.

Macklin-Barker and Khan-Murray are two recent ones that spring to mind.

Calzaghe v Steve Collins was one I would have loved to have seen also.

[stujones]

Khan straight after Kotelnik vs Ricky. I know Ricky didn't box after, but it would have have been massive. That's the one I would have loved to have seen and I think a tough one to call.

TBH, after I saw Witter somewhat exposed at the Ndou, Kotelnik level - I wouldn't have given him much of a chance vs Ricky.

[jimglen]

NO,
Gilroy vs McAvoy, British MW title, late 30s - early 40s, and likewise
Gilroy vs Freddie Mills, British L-HW title mid/late 40s

boxings greatest period and two of the greatest weight divisions and names in Britain and internationally at the time!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Calzaghe and Woods must be up there. Ring Magazine Super Middleweight champion moving up against a top 3 ranked Light Heavy.

The thing about that is that very few would have given Woods a legitimate chance against Joe. I also would have much preferred Calzaghe-Froch at super-middle or light heavy to a Woods fight.

Witter v Hatton would have been a real 50:50 fight and it is a huge shame we never got to see it. This is one of the reasons I hate people saying "give it a year or two and it will be a much bigger fight down the line" - bollocks, it just means it might never happen.

Macklin-Barker and Khan-Murray are two recent ones that spring to mind.

Calzaghe v Steve Collins was one I would have loved to have seen also.

I reckon Woods could have given him a good scrap. He is a big tough lad Woods, great chin, and importantly if you're fighting Calzaghe, a good workrate. I'm not saying he would have won, but I think it would have been closer than people thought.

[Counter-puncher]

Agreed, he'd give Joe a not-dissimilar fight to the Kessler one, IMO

[Roars Like Me]

Bruno-Mason

Alright maybe not but I would have liked that one 8)

[MacTavish]

Fury Vs Chisora ;;-)

[palooka]

Bomber Graham v Tony Sibson would have been brilliant in the mid 1980's.

[MacTavish]

Benn Vs Calzaghe

[Ash-Weston]

Benn Vs Calzaghe

Would have been good in 1995 before Benn fought McLellan. Shame Nige didnt have the hunger after that fight otherwise this would have been a cracker. I would have a prime Calzaghe beating a prime Benn eventhough Benn is my boxing hero. Calzaghes work rate would have been too much and i think it would have ended with Joe winning on a UD.

[soulboy]

fury v chisora ....i like that one , fury was fighting every month last year....where the hell is he these days?
As for macklin v barker , barker is running scared in my eyes , macklin would destroy him inside 4 rounds , he 's a hard nut macklin as barker dont like a scrap.

[whiskey]

fury v chisora ....i like that one , fury was fighting every month last year....where the hell is he these days?
As for macklin v barker , barker is running scared in my eyes , macklin would destroy him inside 4 rounds , he 's a hard nut macklin as barker dont like a scrap.

Fury is training with Wlad at the Kronk gym with Manny Steward.

[oliverfennell]

Yes it was, it didn't happen because Hatton ducked Witter at every possible opportunity with a variety of bizarre excuses

In terms of their respective World rankings, it was the BIGGEST all-British fight to happen or not happen IMO

Calzaghe and Woods must be up there. Ring Magazine Super Middleweight champion moving up against a top 3 ranked Light Heavy.

Calzaghe-Woods would have been good but not quite as good as Hatton-Witter, either in terms of ranking quality of box office. Yes, Calzaghe was a Ring champ, as was Hatton. Witter was also a top 3-ranked major belt holder. And, of course, Hatton was the country's premier draw, even bigger than Calzaghe. OK, Calzaghe got his 50K audience for Kessler, but so did Hatton for Lazcano. I'd also say Witter was a bigger name than Woods, or at least by fight night he would have been - Witter knew how to hype himself; Woods was a "quiet man".

[oliverfennell]

Macklin-Barker and Khan-Murray are two recent ones that spring to mind.

Neither are/would have been anywhere near as big as Hatton-Witter. Both Macklin and Barker are pretty much unknown to the wider public. Murray probably is, too, and for my money has never been a peer of Khan's.

[oliverfennell]

McMillan v Hodkinson was the biggest "one that got away" since I started following boxing, until Hatton-Witter.

At a lower level, it will always bug me how more matches weren't made between the early 00s domestic light-middle lineup that featured Adrian Stone, Richard Williams, Takaloo, Steve Roberts, Anthony Farnell, Wayne Alexander. At one point I think they ALL held titles at the same time - British, European, Commonwealth, WBU, IBO and WBF.... but while to us that would make it more logical that they should fight, instead it kept them all on different paths.

[bigjack]

Bomber Graham v Tony Sibson would have been brilliant in the mid 1980's.

That was the one i used to dream about,shame it never happened as graham would have played with him i think

[doctorboxing]

Macklin-Barker and Khan-Murray are two recent ones that spring to mind.

Neither are/would have been anywhere near as big as Hatton-Witter. Both Macklin and Barker are pretty much unknown to the wider public. Murray probably is, too, and for my money has never been a peer of Khan's.

No, of course not, just two recent "fights that never were" ala Hatton-Witter, which was by far the biggest all British fight not to happen.

If only Froch had been a couple of years earlier or Calzaghe a couple of years later then that would have been huge. The thing is I always have thought Joe would have boxed rings round him but I would put money on him being the one who avoided a clash.

[stujones]

Macklin-Barker and Khan-Murray are two recent ones that spring to mind.

Neither are/would have been anywhere near as big as Hatton-Witter. Both Macklin and Barker are pretty much unknown to the wider public. Murray probably is, too, and for my money has never been a peer of Khan's.

No, of course not, just two recent "fights that never were" ala Hatton-Witter, which was by far the biggest all British fight not to happen.

If only Froch had been a couple of years earlier or Calzaghe a couple of years later then that would have been huge. The thing is I always have thought Joe would have boxed rings round him but I would put money on him being the one who avoided a clash.

Hatton vs Khan would have been huge also, although just missed out by a year or so. There were lots of "fantasy match ups" that were not the realms of being beyond the imagination. If Chris Eubank fought Carl Thompson - why not Calzaghe vs Haye.

[bad mamma jamma]

Khan straight after Kotelnik vs Ricky. I know Ricky didn't box after, but it would have have been massive. That's the one I would have loved to have seen and I think a tough one to call.

TBH, after I saw Witter somewhat exposed at the Ndou, Kotelnik level - I wouldn't have given him much of a chance vs Ricky.

but ricky struggled with Collazo and though he beat an old Tszyu, never really beat a top world class opponent in his prime...neither did witter but i still think he would have been too awkward for ricky and would have stopped him...

[Chambers2]

Good call on Calzaghe Vs Woods

Khan straight after Kotelnik vs Ricky. I know Ricky didn't box after, but it would have have been massive. That's the one I would have loved to have seen and I think a tough one to call.

TBH, after I saw Witter somewhat exposed at the Ndou, Kotelnik level - I wouldn't have given him much of a chance vs Ricky.

If Witter and Hatton fought the stylistic match-up would have been fascinating IMO. I think Witter would've been very dangerous in the first half of the fight*, but if the fight made it to the second half then I think Ricky would've taken over.

Hattons come forward all action style is perfect for a counter puncher like Witter (although Ricky would've obviously modified his tactics to a certain extent)

[Counter-puncher]

i know what you mean chambers and go back and forth as to who woulda won

you can also say that witter's habit of taking long periods of rounds/ whole rounds off, would play right into the hands of Wicky's workrate.