BoxRec

I should imagine BBC Radio 5 will provide live coverage of Eastman's bout too, for those of you like me who won't be able to wait until the next day.

I read about the Merchant/Jones thing somewhere.

Roy Jones said "Michael Vick is the Roy Jones of football".

Merchant said "You mean he gets knocked out?"

(or words to that effect)

Gotta laugh at that he he.

Are Witter vs Branco signed? There is no mention of it on EBU site. There isnt mentioned any 140 fights o'under forthcoming contests and in EBU situation of the title it only says Witter vs TBA (no date ect) I know the EBU site have been updated within the last couple of days (Maludrottu vs Metelev for the Bantam belt)

Could never understand why the BBC don't do a deal with Sky, they could both show the fights then. One shows it live and pays 75% of the costs and the other delayed the next day for 25%.

That way boxing gets the maximum exposure and they split the costs.

I'll be a bit surprised if the EBU title is on the line for Witter-Branco considering the fight is taking place in America.

Would a WBC eliminator be more likely?

Last I heard it was an EBU defence. There's nothing I am aware of which prevents an EBU title being fought for in America, is there? Anyone know of a stipulation in the rules which prevents this?

There is a rule that says: "No contest will be approved by the E.B.U. Council unless it is to be promoted by a Promoter licensed by an affiliated National Association."

There is also the problem with the ref and judges, do the local commision allow to have foreign judges/ref/supervisor?

Other info i found while reading the the rules.

Double ko: In the case of a simultaneous "count-out" the decision announced will be "No Decision"

It doesnt matter if the ref speaks english, or any other language, or not.

If it is on at 10.30pm there is no way I can last all day avoiding the result, I just don't have that sort of willpower.

Me neither, it would kill me waiting that long to see it, really would. Oh god, what am I to do?

Surely you can stay off the net all day to avoid the result? I dont find it that difficult.

"You're a better man than me, Gunga Din."

Avoiding the Net, TV, Radio, Newspapers, Teletext, other people telling me the result etc all day is a toughie.

BBC coverage is gish, I wish it were on sky. But its sure better than nothing.

BBC coverage is gish, I wish it were on sky. But its sure better than nothing.

I hope I'm wrong the day Secondsout make this news is the same day the BBC no longer have a BBC boxing schedule page on their website.

Its gone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/boxing

Witter is waiting to hear if he has landed a high-profile place on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins' world middleweight title defence against Howard Eastman in Los Angeles.

Witter's promoter Mick Hennessy has successfully applied to the British Boxing Board of Control for permission to stage the Bradford fighter's European light-welterweight title fight against Italian Gianluca Branco in the States.

And reports from Italy on Wednesday claim the deal has been struck for the February 19 Staples Center bout, which would also determine a mandatory contender to WBC champion Floyd Mayweather.

However Witter was remaining cautious, insisting he has not yet been given final notification that the bout with Branco will take place.

Witter said: "I am still waiting to hear whether I have got the fight but for now I will just have to wait and see."

European Boxing Union officials have granted permission for the contest to be staged within California Commission jurisdiction, with EBU officials at ringside.

Witter is desperate for another chance to impress on the big stage after suffering the only loss of his career on the Mike Tyson undercard in Glasgow in June 2000.

Witter was heavily criticised for his tactics during a points defeat to American IBF champion Zab Judah.

He has since rebounded with 15 consecutive early finishes to put himself back in the frame for another world title shot.

Unbeaten Nottingham super-middleweight Carl Froch is also hoping to earn place on the bill but has not yet received confirmation.

It would be great news if Witter and Froch got a shot on the undercard, great exposure.