WITTER ON THE HEALTHY WAY

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 12 Jan 2007, 10:56

WITTER ON THE HEALTHY WAY
By Phil Barnett, PA Sport

World light-welterweight champion Junior Witter has warned his rival Ricky Hatton he is risking his career as well as his long-term health by allowing his weight to balloon dramatically between fights.

Witter is preparing to make the first defence of his WBC title against Arturo Morua in London next Saturday while Hatton will challenge for the IBF version of the world title in Las Vegas against Juan Arango on the same night.

Witter spent years calling out his high-profile rival in the hope of a domestic showdown but with the WBC belt strapped around his waist, the Yorkshireman believes he is now in a position to call the shots.

While Witter is a 'fresh' 32 years old, Hatton, 27, admits he does not have many more years left in him.

And Witter told PA Sport: "I am a young 32, definitely. I've not taken a lot of hammerings in my time and I'm not one of these people who lives badly.

"I hear he (Hatton) walks around two or three stone above his fighting weight. It's not healthy, it's not good for you.

"It is dangerous. All sorts can happen; you dehydrate yourself, you put yourself in a vulnerable position and especially with the way he fights.

"The way Hatton lives between fights will shorten his longevity in the game. Time is passing him by, by the time he reaches 40 he will have all kinds of problems.

"It will take its toll. I don't know what he's going to be like at 40 but I'm glad it won't be me.

"I am surprised he has managed to keep getting down to the weight because he puts his body through some right hammerings and it's not healthy.

"Boxing is a very dangerous sport but it's a shame because you need to help yourself and he's not helping himself.

"But he's going to do what he's going to do, he's got that mentality and wants to do that, so let him do it. There's nothing I can do about it. All I can do is when I get in the ring and do what I've got to do."

Witter is an obsessive trainer and sacrificed the usual Christmas indulgence in preparation for the fight against tough Mexican Morua, 32.

"I'm sacrificing and putting it all in now. I'm a chocoholic but I know I've got to control my cravings," he said.

"For Christmas dinner I had a piece of turkey, a small jacket potato and vegetables; my normal routine. It's nothing new."

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 12 Jan 2007, 11:00

The funny thing is that Hatton is 1 of the fittest in the game, but when the weight making becomes too much or his metabolism slows down he could have problems. Hattons supplement schedule, balls to the walls training and diet is all above the rest of the game coming into fights though

states · Post by **states** » 12 Jan 2007, 11:34

For someone who isn't solely focused on Hatton, he sure talks about him a lot. Still, he has a point, although it's hardly groundbreaking.

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 12 Jan 2007, 11:34

but the yo-yo weight stuff will catch up with ricky....and it will be in the form of stamina decline.

ricky struggled last time out due to stamijna issues, and nearly got KO'd.

if it had been a 15 rounder i doubt he would have lasted another 3 minutes, it was really that bad in the 12th.....

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 12 Jan 2007, 12:59

And 'if' I had only of picked the 6 winning numbers last week, i'd be a millionaire...know what I mean Rhino :)

G-man · Post by **G-man** » 12 Jan 2007, 13:02

The Collazo fight aside, Rick has always done 12 rounds like a train, Witter is the one who has sometimes dropped off down the stretch, and not in fights fought at any sort of pace either.

He fights in a week and he's still droning on about someone halfway across the world.

dookus · Post by **dookus** » 12 Jan 2007, 14:05

I do wonder if Hatton's stamina issues last time out were due to him trying to fight at his usual hellacious pace, only against someone who made him try harder for every single inch of the fight (because of the size difference) and because he was carrying seven pounds of muscle that he wouldn't usually have. That has to affect anybody's conditioning. Had he come in at 140, he may well have had far fewer problems landing with speed on Collazo, but then he may have lacked the strength to push him back..

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 12 Jan 2007, 14:33

Whilst Ricky is one of the fittest fighters out there, you cant' help but wonder if/when all the putting on lots of weight, then shifting it, will take it's toll.

The human body is not a robot & and at some time, I figure with Ricky piling on a great deal of weight, not to mention eating the wrong foods over a long period, alcohol consumption etc, his body has to fail him at some point. The question is just when?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not "having a go" at Ricky, because I think he's achieved a lot in his career, and will probably go on & achieve more. However, the way he lives when not in training does leave a lot to be desired.

However, let's not forget that Ricky is not the first fighter to be like this; Roberto Duran always piled on way too much weight, maybe even worse than Hatton.

Even Billy Graham has stated that he wished Ricky would not put on so much weight in between bouts. It's not healthy. A lot of fighters still work-out, train once they have retired, but one wonders what Ricky will be like once he does not have to live the "monastry" lifestyle for three months?