BoxRec

I hope Junior can enforce this defence just to piss the Hattons off, Witter will spark Matt as he would've done to hiis Bro

I think it depends on what Witter has left.

I like Junior, I think he's a decent lad and was often misunderstood and took the wrong way, especially when they thrust him into the media as the 'bad guy' against the ultra-popular Hatton.

Early doors in his career he seemed to really take off, then became a bit of a nomad. Logistically he was never properly promoted amongst his own people in his town and struggled to have that money-spinning fan base he could rely on in fights to come.

I think Hennessy did well getting him into a EBU title and then a WBC title. He did even better to secure a fight for the vacant title inside a year of losing it.

But the fact is he quit in the ring. Blamed an elbow or whatever. It was a WBC world title fight and he had travelled to the USA for it, then jacked it in.

I know so many fighters that you'd have to break their legs to get them to quit a WBC title shot, but Junior did it so easily. That said, combined with over a year of un-activity and heading into a heavier weight class, Im not sure it can be a reality anymore.

I really hope he can prove everyone wrong, come back and look mint and get some money from the game at long last, but really don't know if the odds are too high this time.

I don't think that Witter is lacking courage or heart when things get tough. He was losing a bout, away from home and then fighting one handed for a few rounds. I bet the Hattons laughed their cocks off when it fell apart for him. One thing I'm certain of; Junior v Ricky would've been a brilliant bout that'd made a ton of money and brought lots of new fans to the sport (for a month or 2 :) ). Ricky didn't want anything to do with him back then and I bet allegedly and Billy Graham wish that they'dve made the bout now

Personally I think Witter would smash Hatton up,Hattons not even British/Commonwealth title standard (ask Criag watson)

They certainly dont need Witter,he couldn't sell the Doncaster dome out for a WBC title fight (good though it was)

I remember seeing him on an old FW undercard about 1am in the morning with about 10 people watching, in something like his 11th pro fight. He looked alright and only a few fights later took that late notice fight with Judah and did ok for 4 rounds then got on his bike and ran for the remaining 8.

I think that his best days are behind him, you can't have an entire style based on speed/movement and keep it going into your late 30s.

orbtastic wrote:I remember seeing him on an old FW undercard about 1am in the morning with about 10 people watching, in something like his 11th pro fight. He looked alright and only a few fights later took that late notice fight with Judah and did ok for 4 rounds then got on his bike and ran for the remaining 8.

I think that his best days are behind him, you can't have an entire style based on speed/movement and keep it going into your late 30s.

I agree and what has not helped is him not fighting on a regular basis. He had talent and power to burn a few years ago but no one really wanted to know. When he got near the top of the heap his team didn't seem to know what to do; (or maybe making hay while the sun shines looks easier than it really is). He worked from almost no amateur glory to being a World Champ; that is some achievement. I doubt that he can get near the very top again + he has a punch that makes a lot of top fighters shy of boxing him. He was damn good for a time and needs 3 or 4 bouts a year; even ticking over fights; he could be European Champ surely; but 1 fight every 12 months or so is no good for anyone. A proper waste of talent.

simon fox wrote:

orbtastic wrote:I remember seeing him on an old FW undercard about 1am in the morning with about 10 people watching, in something like his 11th pro fight. He looked alright and only a few fights later took that late notice fight with Judah and did ok for 4 rounds then got on his bike and ran for the remaining 8.

I think that his best days are behind him, you can't have an entire style based on speed/movement and keep it going into your late 30s.

I agree and what has not helped is him not fighting on a regular basis. He had talent and power to burn a few years ago but no one really wanted to know. When he got near the top of the heap his team didn't seem to know what to do; (or maybe making hay while the sun shines looks easier than it really is). He worked from almost no amateur glory to being a World Champ; that is some achievement. I doubt that he can get near the very top again + he has a punch that makes a lot of top fighters shy of boxing him. He was damn good for a time and needs 3 or 4 bouts a year; even ticking over fights; he could be European Champ surely; but 1 fight every 12 months or so is no good for anyone. A proper waste of talent.

Hes had a bad knee injury

That is a real shame; I liked to see him box and thought he'd got the talent to do really well financially as well as in sporting terms. I didn't mind his public persona and reckon he'd be a decent lad. Hope he gets his knee sorted and gets back in the thick of it

simon fox wrote:That is a real shame; I liked to see him box and thought he'd got the talent to do really well financially as well as in sporting terms. I didn't mind his public persona and reckon he'd be a decent lad. Hope he gets his knee sorted and gets back in the thick of it

I know a few people who have met him and they say he is a great lad.Unfortunately,it really doesnt come across on television,in fact if anything its the opposite.Its a shame he wasnt just himself instead of taking on that Ingle persona.It doesnt work for everyone.

I don't know why, but I don't think we will ever see Witter in a boxing ring again.

People have mentioned Ricky's inactivity as a sign of retirement - people started to mention this as far back as November last year. Junior only fought a couple of months after Ricky, is older and has been very quiet. Plus the manner of his defeat - Ricky went out, okay it was a disaster, but it was kind of all gun's blazing.... Witter was a proper damp squid of a ending - the heart and desire don't seem to be there.

orbtastic wrote:That was the whole point of Hatton's complete reluctance to even entertain a fight with Witter - he brought nothing to the table - no fans, no money, no interest.

That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence. If it was such a poor draw, why was just about every British boxing fan calling for it for the best part of a decade? Why was it frequently brought up all over the internet, on Sky TV and in the British magazines?

You may counter that Witter meant little to the more casual fan, but did he mean less than - at varying stages of Hatton's career - Dennis Holbaek Pedersen, Juan Urango, Juan Lazcano, etc etc? Of course Hatton was never going to choose Witter over the likes of Castillo, Mayweather and Pacquaio, but there are innumerable names on his record at other times which were less bankable than Witter.

Anyway, it's all in the past and Witter has lost almost all of his appeal now. He'd be an interesting fight for Matthew, but he's blown his chance at Ricky, not only through losing but in the way he lost.

oliverfennell wrote:

orbtastic wrote:That was the whole point of Hatton's complete reluctance to even entertain a fight with Witter - he brought nothing to the table - no fans, no money, no interest.

That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence.

it may be a weak defence, but it was Hatton's defence, and he was sticking with it.

Counter-puncher wrote:

oliverfennell wrote:

orbtastic wrote:That was the whole point of Hatton's complete reluctance to even entertain a fight with Witter - he brought nothing to the table - no fans, no money, no interest.

That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence.

it may be a weak defence, but it was Hatton's defence, and he was sticking with it.

Exactly.

Counter-puncher wrote:

oliverfennell wrote:

orbtastic wrote:That was the whole point of Hatton's complete reluctance to even entertain a fight with Witter - he brought nothing to the table - no fans, no money, no interest.

That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence.

it may be a weak defence, but it was Hatton's defence, and he was sticking with it.

It was a very weak defence and still is, but Hatton's hardly gonna tell the truth i.e. "I'm not gonna fight Witter, because he'll spark me clean out in my own city/country and in front of all my adoring fans. I'll look like a right cunnt"

Hatton avoiding Witter is the worst example of ducking that I've ever seen. Can anyone else think of a fighter who ducked his nemesis for 10 years?

Loads sadly - whose fault it was I don't think we can properly verify but there have been loads of "Nemisis" who never got it on.

Lewis vs Bowe
Jones vs DM
Jones vs BH
Calzaghe vs Ottke
Nelson vs McGuigan

the entire light middle domestic scene of the late 90's early 00's.

Chambers2 wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:

oliverfennell wrote: That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence.

it may be a weak defence, but it was Hatton's defence, and he was sticking with it.

It was a very weak defence and still is, but Hatton's hardly gonna tell the truth i.e. "I'm not gonna fight Witter, because he'll spark me clean out in my own city/country and in front of all my adoring fans. I'll look like a right cunnt"

Hatton avoiding Witter is the worst example of ducking that I've ever seen. Can anyone else think of a fighter who ducked his nemesis for 10 years?

neither of us were justifying that defence or even trying to, it's just the realpolitik of Ricky at work.

Chambers2 wrote:

Counter-puncher wrote:

oliverfennell wrote: That's absolute BS and was always a very weak argument in the "against" defence.

it may be a weak defence, but it was Hatton's defence, and he was sticking with it.

It was a very weak defence and still is, but Hatton's hardly gonna tell the truth i.e. "I'm not gonna fight Witter, because he'll spark me clean out in my own city/country and in front of all my adoring fans. I'll look like a right cunnt"

Hatton avoiding Witter is the worst example of ducking that I've ever seen. Can anyone else think of a fighter who ducked his nemesis for 10 years?

I have to agree. It was really embarrassing for Hatton and the excuses became hilarious after a while. His fans will still defend it.

Maybe his fans in the trade will defend it,but your average bloke still hasnt heard of Junior.If Hattons plan was to not give Witter publicity it worked a treat.Ricky will be remembered as one of our most loved and succesful boxers ever,right up there with Henry Cooper and Big Frank.

All of the witter fans (all ten of them) complain hatton didnt fight him, nobody outside boxing fans have ever heard of witter which is ultimatley why he never got a fight with Hatton.

Hatton would have beat witter fairly cleanly anyway imo.

- back to topic though - Junior Witter v Matthew Hatton will all depend just how on the slide witter is. He could be completely fcuked for all we know and Matt Hatton could smash him to pieces with ease Or he could be rejuvinated and beat hatton to a pulp.

kingfinn wrote:All of the witter fans (all ten of them) complain hatton didnt fight him, nobody outside boxing fans have ever heard of witter which is ultimatley why he never got a fight with Hatton.
.

The all heard of Carlos Vilches and Dennis Holbaek Pederson though didn't they?

stujones wrote:Loads sadly - whose fault it was I don't think we can properly verify but there have been loads of "Nemisis" who never got it on.

Lewis vs Bowe
Jones vs DM
Jones vs BH
Calzaghe vs Ottke
Nelson vs McGuigan

the entire light middle domestic scene of the late 90's early 00's.

They fought twice!

markp wrote:

kingfinn wrote:All of the witter fans (all ten of them) complain hatton didnt fight him, nobody outside boxing fans have ever heard of witter which is ultimatley why he never got a fight with Hatton.
.

The all heard of Carlos Vilches and Dennis Holbaek Pederson though didn't they?

Exactly! Aldo Rios and Justin Rowsell also rank highly on the "boxers who blokes down the pub recognise" meter too.

oliverfennell wrote:

markp wrote:

kingfinn wrote:All of the witter fans (all ten of them) complain hatton didnt fight him, nobody outside boxing fans have ever heard of witter which is ultimatley why he never got a fight with Hatton.
.

The all heard of Carlos Vilches and Dennis Holbaek Pederson though didn't they?

Exactly! Aldo Rios and Justin Rowsell also rank highly on the "boxers who blokes down the pub recognise" meter too.

Nuff said

oliverfennell wrote:

stujones wrote:Loads sadly - whose fault it was I don't think we can properly verify but there have been loads of "Nemisis" who never got it on.

Lewis vs Bowe
Jones vs DM
Jones vs BH
Calzaghe vs Ottke
Nelson vs McGuigan

the entire light middle domestic scene of the late 90's early 00's.

They fought twice!

oops - sorry, I meant though not in their respective peaks. When the fight was at its most needed they missed each other. They did duck each other for 10 years. Which was such a shame.

sorry about that.

Chambers2 wrote:

oliverfennell wrote:

markp wrote: The all heard of Carlos Vilches and Dennis Holbaek Pederson though didn't they?

Exactly! Aldo Rios and Justin Rowsell also rank highly on the "boxers who blokes down the pub recognise" meter too.

Nuff said

Oh right so you're complaining Hatton didnt fight witter back in 2002 odd, really, who cares? Its what people do when they make it big people care about - was witter worth fighting after he beat tszyu? no. Was he worth risking a shot at the big time before then? no.