Witter offers Hatton winner takes all

[Wellington]

Witter offers Hatton winner takes all



Junior Witter believes long-term rival Ricky Hatton is a ‘coward’ and a ‘bully’ who is ‘hiding behind smokescreens’ and has called for him to settle their long running feud in a massive winner takes all showdown for the sake of the British public.

The two are fighting on the same Sky Sports Pay Per View Event this Saturday night, but on different promotions.

Witter headlines a Hennessy Sports show at the Alexandra Palace in the ‘First Defence’ of his WBC Championship against Mexico’s Arturo Morua before coverage switches to Vegas, where Hatton takes on Juan Urango for his old IBF title.

The biggest hope within British Boxing, however, is that the two will actually share the same ring. The desire to see what could be the biggest fight the country has ever seen grows every day, apart from it seems within Team Hatton.

Between them ‘The Hitman,’ his trainer Billy Graham and his latest promoter Dennis Hobson have claimed that there wouldn’t be enough money in the fight, that HBO aren’t interested in Witter and that they don’t want to give the Bradford man a pay-day.

Witter has treated the comments with the contempt they deserve.

“I just see it as excuse after excuse,” said the 32-year-old. “I think Hatton and his team are hiding behind smokescreens. I don’t think they believed I would have the opportunities to get through to where I am now and put him in this position, but thanks to Mick Hennessy I have.

“Hatton is by no means the only fight out there for me. As WBC champion I have plenty of options in front of me. If I don’t get to fight Hatton it’s not a problem. I will go on and secure my own legacy, but I think he’s acting like a coward and it’s annoying me.

“I don’t believe he’s being a man and admitting the real reason he won’t fight me. Every time I bump into him I can see in his eyes that he’s scared. I saw him at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and I could see the fear. He doesn’t want me near him. It must be killing him inside that I’m WBC champion.

“I think he is scared to do anything about it. I think he’s a bully and likes to pick his targets and he doesn’t want to pick me. Most people have been taken in by his win over Kostya Tszyu, but he had been inactive. He’d fought three rounds in 18 months and I was getting reports that he was getting beaten up in sparring beforehand. Unless you are Ray Leonard, you can’t be inactive at this level and get away with it.

“Look at his two opponents since. I understand he had the opportunity to fight both Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto, but instead he chose to fight Carlos Maussa and Luis Collazo. I reckon he thought they would both be easy fights and it was convenient that he could hide behind the matches because they had titles.

“Now he’s fighting Urango. He’s tough, he’s game, be he’s also a 18-fight novice. Now tell me he’s not a bully. When you have the sort of financial clout he has with Sky Box Office and HBO you have the opportunity to fight the very top fighters. I feel sure Cotto and Mayweather wouldn’t have moved up if he would have fought them. I see Cotto now has his old title at welterweight. Why couldn’t that fight have been made?

“He has no right criticising my opposition. I have beaten dangerous fighters like Lovemore N’Dou - who offered to fight Hatton on many occasions - and DeMarcus Corley, I held my own as a novice against a peak Zab Judah and I have been prepared to take on anyone in the division. It’s not my fault if no one wants to fight me, including Hatton. I chased Floyd Mayweather. I fought to become his mandatory for the WBC title and wanted a fight to happen, but instead he chose to move up a division. I was devastated because I want to fight the best.

“But Hatton has moved back into the division, so now he and his team are having to give reasons not to fight me. None of them wash. He says I am off his radar and that I have nothing he needs. I am the WBC champion. I seem to remember him saying a while back that the WBC title was something he wanted and that if I won it a fight could happen. Has something changed? And what about the opportunity to prove yourself in the fight everyone wants to see? The fight is certainly on everybody else’s radar.

“He has always said I am just trying to make publicity off of his back. What he needs to realise is that is not why I have called him out in the past on so many occasions. I have called him out because he has always been my closest rival and I know I can knock him out. He is going round claiming his is the best light welterweight in the world. He is not even the best light welterweight in Britain.

“Aside from the chance to win a WBC title, the fight would also give him a massive payday. Apart from someone like Oscar de la Hoya, which is never going to happen, this is the biggest money fight out there for him despite what has been said. The Sky Box Office could potentially do a record PPV, there would be a 40,000 plus gate and I’m sure HBO would be as interested as they are in the Urango fight. There would be no problems with satisfying his purse demands. The money is a red herring.

“As is the talk from Hatton and Dennis Hobson about HBO not being interested in me. If that’s the case, why did they ask me to headline a show last November? Unfortunately I couldn’t take the fight because I had been out of the gym a while and had a few niggling injuries, but there are talks going on for me to box on HBO later this year. Obviously me against Hatton has no American interest, but If anyone thinks that HBO are more interested in fights like Hatton-Urango and Hatton-Maussa then they need their heads testing.

“Then there’s the old chestnut that he doesn’t want to give me a payday. Hiding behind a personal issue shouldn’t be a reason for denying everyone an historic all-British world title unification showdown, but here’s a solution that he can appreciate being in the gambling capital of the world today.

“Hatton and his trainer Billy Graham tell anyone who will listen that he will beat me easily. Graham even said he would ‘kill’ me. So how about this: winner takes all.

“If you and your trainer are that confident you will beat me, then pay me nothing. Give me a good hiding. That can be the ultimate way you can deal with me. I’m not in it for the money. I believe in myself and this gives you the chance to earn a huge amount of money.

“Otherwise just be honest and admit why you don’t want the fight that the public deserve on prime time Saturday TV. Admit what I suspect: this is all about money and I’m too dangerous a fight. I think you know I will knock you out.”

Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
First Defence
@ Alexandra Palace
Saturday 20th January

Tickets priced £40, £80 and £200 on 0870 060 1795.

12 x 3 WBC Light Welterweight Championship
Junior Witter vs. Arturo Morua
(Bradford) (Mexico)

12 x 3 British Light Welterweight Championship
Lenny Daws vs. Barry Morrison
(Morden) (Motherwell)

10 x 3 British Light Welterweight Championship Eliminator
Alan Bosworth vs. Ashley Theophane
(Northampton) (Paddington)

8 x 3 Lightweight
John Murray vs. Ben Odamattey
(Manchester) (Ghana)

8 x 3 Cruiserweight
Troy Ross vs. Hastings Rasani
(Toronto) (Birmingham)

6 x 3 Super Bantamweight
Esham Pickering vs. Frederic Gosset
(Newark) (France)

6 x 3 Middleweight
Matthew Thirlwall vs. TBA
(Bermondsey) ()

6 x 3 Light Middleweight
George Hillyard vs. Tony Rendall
(Canning Town) (Birmingham)

For more information please visit HennessySports.com

[states]

Well, you can't say fairer than that.

[Chesney_Chambers]

Excellent post.... sums the situation up perfectly IMO

[steve689]

If you and your trainer are that confident you will beat me, then pay me nothing. Give me a good hiding. That can be the ultimate way you can deal with me. I’m not in it for the money. I believe in myself and this gives you the chance to earn a huge amount of money.

Hatton's claim Witter is only looking for a big payday are i suspect hollow. I genuinely believe Witter has always wanted this fight. Remember Hatton beating someone (maybe Vince Phillips?) and running to the ropes pointing at Witter to shout "Your next" or something i forget the exact scenario. Anyway the excuses are starting to wear thin.

[ABA Boxing]

As much as i would like to see this fight i cant see the point of it for Hatton.

Alot of people think Hatton would lose to Witter, so why would he want to lose any chance of the mega fights in the USA.

The Americans wont care if we fight our best fighters against each other. Its hard enougth getting the fights against the likes of PBF without having a loss to Witter on his record.

Maybe have the fight after the big International fights are over, then if there is time let Witter have a chance! If Witter is as good as he thinks he is, why dosent he forget Hatton & go for the big fish himself.

[caster]

Got to say, I tend to agree with what Witter said - especially about people getting carried away with the Tzyu win.

I'm sure Hatton told allegedly (when re-signing) that he would only resign if Frank promised to make the Witter fight.

Hatton's a very good fighter, but overated IMO due to his large fan base.

He has fought a lot of shopworn veterans who have really struggled to make the weight (Tszyu, Philips and oliveira).

I'd probably lean towards Hatton beating Witter, though, as Hatton works so much harder! I'm not sure Witter could knock Hatton out with one shot, because he doesn't throw that many combinations.

There is no doubt that Hatton opponents are hand picked.

[Autobarn]

Witter needs to get over it and find his own way. This is coming from an admirer of Witter's perseverence and focus.

[E]

ON the subjesct of 'Winner takes all' fights, you often hear fighters talk about this - but when was the last time such an actual contest took place?

[ABA Boxing]

ON the subjesct of 'Winner takes all' fights, you often hear fighters talk about this - but when was the last time such an actual contest took place?

The Contender series maybe?

[Autobarn]

ON the subjesct of 'Winner takes all' fights, you often hear fighters talk about this - but when was the last time such an actual contest took place?

Glen Johnson v Daniel Judah. Early '00s. Ended up a draw. Rumour was the promoter got to keep the money!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

This is a very clever press release, Witter just wants this fight and in fairness to him he wants to fight the best, which is what we want from a fighter. They know safety first Team Hatton despite their boasts of been able to easily beat Witter but not wanting to give him a payday, would never risk what would be 90% of the purse on a winner takes all.

I do think Witter would take this fight for peanuts though, he wants his nemesis in the ring. Below is the reason

Below is a good post from headhunter in another topic:

i think the real reason is hatton couldnt bear losing to witter. anyone but witter.
i think hattons pretty confident he could take him but if he had a bad night the consequences would be too much for him to take.
and witters just good enough for that doubt to exist in rickys mind.
considering some of the blown up lightweights and zimmer frame jobs rickys fought i think its a bit much to start saying witter brings nothing to the table.
he almost brings too much to the table. if he wasnt dangerous ricky would have lamped him out years ago in a big domestic dust up.

[nickd]

ON the subjesct of 'Winner takes all' fights, you often hear fighters talk about this - but when was the last time such an actual contest took place?

The Contender series maybe?

No, the losing finalist still gets a six figure purse I believe.

[lvlarc]

Witter should start focusing more on his own career. He is starting to bore me TBH. Why not make a statement and fight some names? There are plenty out there that are a damn lot better than Morua.

Why did the Hopkins fight fall through, didn't Witter pull out?

There are a few opponents out there for Hatton I would prefer to see before a Witter fight; Cotto, Mayweather, Castillo, Margarito, Corrales.

Although still I would love to see Hatton beat Witter.

Witter, step out of Hatton's shadow ffs!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Why did the Hopkins fight fall through, didn't Witter pull out?

Witter, step out of Hatton's shadow ffs!

Hopkins shit it, Hatton just made a press release about Witter, Witters going to reply to it isnt he?

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

There are a few opponents out there for Hatton I would prefer to see before a Witter fight; Cotto, Mayweather, Castillo, Margarito, Corrales.

Well Hatton will probably never fight Cotto, Mayweather or Margarito though. Castillo and Corrales are possibile past their best opponents

[Max Molyneux]

Hatton would destroy china chinned Corrales.

[lvlarc]

Yes Hatton made a press release and put it blatantly that he doesn't intend on fighting Witter, so if Witter (& his camp) has any sense they will quit sponging off Hatton's fame and start to build up Witters resume' with big names.

Mayweather may retire, if he loses to Oscar he will probably stick around.

I don't think Castillo is far past his prime at all, infact I expect him to look even more bruising once he steps up to 140, obviously we will learn more about him next week.

You sure Hopkins pulled out? I remember reading that Witter didn't want the fight, anyway Hopkins would have been a pretty good scalp.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

You sure Hopkins pulled out? I remember reading that Witter didn't want the fight, anyway Hopkins would have been a pretty good scalp.

Yes DHOPs pulled out hes not very good and is protected, Witter would jump at the chance of fighting him because your right it would be a big scalp.

Hatton should put up or shut up. That old saying is very relevant, Witter can say anything he wants about Hatton because Hatton is ducking him (don't say bigger and better things - hes fought 1 fight thats bigger and better in his career - Tyszu), Hatton can't talk about Witter unless hes actually going to Put Up - Otherwise Shut Up Ricky

[Twinkle Toes]

Witter is drumming up some interest and trying to latch onto Hattons popularity, for his own gain - Move on, nothing new here.

Of course it can also be said that it is better to get some banter going with Hatton, than talk about his fkin ridiculous WBC defence.

[glittermonkey]

Witter needs to find his own path, and just accept that he's never going to fight Hatton. He may want it, and the British boxing fans may want it, but he needs to be realistic.

He brings very little to the table when it comes to a fight with Hatton. He offers nothing in terms of excitement, nothing in terms of TV money, and nothing in terms of worldwide recognition. Hatton wants to establish himself as a big name, but in order to do that he either has to be involved in exciting fights, or actually fight some big names. Junior cannot fill either requirement. Unfairly, the match with Judah will be held against him unless he can prove to people that it was an aberration, and that he isn't a runner, but sadly the Corley fight didn't go far to change the wider public's perception of Witter. He needs good performances against good fighters, not tired old soundbytes that we've heard a million times before.

Something that says it all to me about Witter is that he's holding what is generally considered to be the most acceptable version of the title, in a division that over the last decade or more has been one of the most (if not the most) competitive and exciting, but over on the current scene his defence isn't worthy enough to be considered for the prediction competition.

[rhino222]

real champion want to unify the division...real fighters want to prove themselves the best in their country let alone the world, real fighters are interested in their legacy and not just money !!

unfortunately ricky hatton does not abide by these beliefs...

i like ricky hatton, great guy, affable character, good fanbase, working class back ground, humble....

but

im convinced its his follers, promoters and advisors that are leading him in the wrong direction.

said as much on talksport live yesterday, till they cut me off !!!!!1