BoxRec

I still say Witter is in the mix at the top level now. When Cotto beat Ndou everyone raved about Cotto's result so why not for Witter? Ok, you could argue Ndou has slipped a little, but it is still a great result for the Sheffield fighter.

andywhite wrote:I wouldn't say that beating N'Dou makes Witter anywhere near worldclass. N'Dou is a good name for all of the better fighters at Welter to have on their record. But in truth he isn't anymore than an average fighter with a good chin, and good heart.

As said already on this topic, Hatton has fought similar fighters to N'Dou and hasn't given them a round. Witter's performance rates no higher than Hattons against Stewart, Phillips, or Tackie. Junior deserves the credit he'll get from this fight, he overcame his first real test since Judah.

But i can't see him ever really looking competitive at true world level, against the likes of Tszyu, Mayweather, Hatton, Cotto etc.

LOOK mate Hatton aint at the world level yet and until he fights Tszyu he hasn't proved he is better than Witter either.

Ben Keilty wrote:

andywhite wrote:I wouldn't say that beating N'Dou makes Witter anywhere near worldclass. N'Dou is a good name for all of the better fighters at Welter to have on their record. But in truth he isn't anymore than an average fighter with a good chin, and good heart.

As said already on this topic, Hatton has fought similar fighters to N'Dou and hasn't given them a round. Witter's performance rates no higher than Hattons against Stewart, Phillips, or Tackie. Junior deserves the credit he'll get from this fight, he overcame his first real test since Judah.

But i can't see him ever really looking competitive at true world level, against the likes of Tszyu, Mayweather, Hatton, Cotto etc.

LOOK mate Hatton aint at the world level yet and until he fights Tszyu he hasn't proved he is better than Witter either.

If people are claiming that Witter is now world level after the win over N'dou, how can Hatton not be?

Hatton has fought several N'Dou like fighters in his career, and beaten them alot more convincingly than how Witter beat N'Dou.

jomothepure wrote:Well done Jnr me old mucker

Branco next?

I agree with Branco as a next opponent to help make transition to world class although isn't Branco avoiding him.

A more difficult opponent than Branco would not worry me either just not top 5 just yet though!

I would love to see Witter v Gatti at some point!

andywhite wrote:

Ben Keilty wrote:

andywhite wrote:I wouldn't say that beating N'Dou makes Witter anywhere near worldclass. N'Dou is a good name for all of the better fighters at Welter to have on their record. But in truth he isn't anymore than an average fighter with a good chin, and good heart.

As said already on this topic, Hatton has fought similar fighters to N'Dou and hasn't given them a round. Witter's performance rates no higher than Hattons against Stewart, Phillips, or Tackie. Junior deserves the credit he'll get from this fight, he overcame his first real test since Judah.

But i can't see him ever really looking competitive at true world level, against the likes of Tszyu, Mayweather, Hatton, Cotto etc.

LOOK mate Hatton aint at the world level yet and until he fights Tszyu he hasn't proved he is better than Witter either.

If people are claiming that Witter is now world level after the win over N'dou, how can Hatton not be?

Hatton has fought several N'Dou like fighters in his career, and beaten them alot more convincingly than how Witter beat N'Dou.

Because Ndou is a LEAGUE above anyone Rickys faced. Ndou arguably beat Cotto and Mitchell and you say Witter isn't ready for Cotto after putting Ndou down twice - something Cotto couldn't do.

And Ricky turned down the chance to fight Ndou because hes better than anyone Hattons faced.

Matchfixer wrote:

jomothepure wrote:Well done Jnr me old mucker

Branco next?

I agree with Branco as a next opponent to help make transition to world class although isn't Branco avoiding him.

A more difficult opponent than Branco would not worry me either just not top 5 just yet though!

I would love to see Witter v Gatti at some point!

Good call that would be a great match up, there has been a bit of discussion that I think is quite interesting as to where this puts Witter in the world rankings. As yet I think he is certainly above Hatton because N'Dou is better than Takki and much younger than Witter.

I think him being extended the full 12 will do him no end of good with those much lamented stamina problems which have been mentioned. In my view he is 2 or 3 good fights away from being a genuine contender to Kosta.

If Hatton looses dose anyone think that would set up a Hatton Witter fight as Ricky will need to beat someone to prove he is world class.

Witter is 30 - I think he is ready for this man now.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=008962

stujones wrote:Witter is 30 - I think he is ready for this man now.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=008962

How do you see that one panning out can't say I have seen much of Harriss I would like to see Urkal if he hasn't retired.

Good performance from Witter. I was worried he was fading in the later rounds and his guard was way too low but he took full shots well and came through good. Im looking forward to hearing who his next opponenet will be

Its a step up from N'dou, a step down from Cotto, Mayweather, Gatti and Tszyu.

My viewing of Harries has also been limited, on the first fight with Urkal I would have said a fairly comfortable Witter (and Hatton) win, in the rematch though Harries but in a much better performance.

I'm not sure the likes of Branco, Weiss etc is the tonic for Witter now - he has beaten someone of that level. I agree he needs to make a bridge between N'dou and the likes of Cotto etc - why not for a geniune belt.

Urkal would have also been a good fight - for me he is 1-1 with Harries and even though Harries won the second fight it was still quite close.

Demarcus Corely is another fighter who I would say would be a good bridge between N'dou and the other champions, Harries is only on the same field as him and has the bonus of a title.

On the NTL broadcast they only showed round 10-12 of Witters fight. Just said it was 'drama personified' and that Witter had scored 2 knockdowns earlier. :(

Witter fights like Hamed once Naz started losing the plot. Doesn't put enough work in, doesn't really break his opponent down and just tries to land single shots. You just feel he could be so much better if he stopped fornicating about.

Still a good result for him and puts him in line for an interesting future.

Scores were a bit silly weren't they? I got it from the 4th round on but according to the commentary he won the first three so, I had Witter winning 1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12
Looked knackered in the middle rounds though. Needs to work on pacing a little and boxing when he feels tired rather than flitting around.
I'd call it an impressive performance, we all knew N'dou would make it tough for him and he came through.

I had it a little tighter I gave Witter 1-5 and 12.

I thought despite hurting N'dou in the 10th it was only for a 20 second period, N'dou had edge the first minute and landed some good shots in the end.

The 11th was close, gave it N'dou for effort.

Great effort by Witter, and he showed he can come back from a crisis which is good. To knock down N'dou twice I am impressed.

Regards his stamina etc lets not forget he didnt get 8-10 weeks notice for this one, it was only arranged about 3 weeks ago wasnt it? I can forgive him on that front. Some of those shots would have taken out a lot of the guys at 140 N'dou's chin is one of the best in the game.

I think with more weeks to prepare Witter wouldnt have tired after the fifth and might have been able to force a stoppage but not enough gas in the tank. The rounds will do him good and he's now in the mix.

Witter hasn't been 12 rounds since the Judah match in 2000

You're may think I'm mad but I think Witter would have a great chance against either Gatti or Harris. Gatti has been operating below genuine top level for a while, although he has looked impressive those fights havent been against the top guys in the division.

Witter could do with a couple more 10-12 rounders I think with proper preperation time - then I think he's more than a match for most at the weight.

007 wrote:You're may think I'm mad but I think Witter would have a great chance against either Gatti or Harris. Gatti has been operating below genuine top level for a while, although he has looked impressive those fights havent been against the top guys in the division.

Witter could do with a couple more 10-12 rounders I think with proper preperation time - then I think he's more than a match for most at the weight.

As I said he is two or 3 fights away from top class also I know what you mean about Gatti he dose to me seem a little over rated.

007 wrote:Great effort by Witter, and he showed he can come back from a crisis which is good. To knock down N'dou twice I am impressed.

Regards his stamina etc lets not forget he didnt get 8-10 weeks notice for this one, it was only arranged about 3 weeks ago wasnt it? I can forgive him on that front. Some of those shots would have taken out a lot of the guys at 140 N'dou's chin is one of the best in the game.

I think with more weeks to prepare Witter wouldnt have tired after the fifth and might have been able to force a stoppage but not enough gas in the tank. The rounds will do him good and he's now in the mix.

Thats a good point,007.

Witter will surely have more in the tank with a longer preperation time. Although, it is still a question mark if you are being hyper critical - which at the level we are talking about I think you need to be. Oh, before I get misquoted a question mark doesn't mean dodgy stamina - it means, needs futher examination under different circumstances.

A good point.

Gatti? Gatti has yet to beat a single top 10 lightwelter. Lovemore would give Gatti a great fight.

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Gatti? Gatti has yet to beat a single top 10 lightwelter. Lovemore would give Gatti a great fight.

Why is N'dou a top ten Light Welter and neither Micky Ward or Jesse James Leija?

Has N'dou got a good a WIN on his record as Bojado.

Yes, that is plainly bollocks, N'dou is a slightly better version of Ben Tackie except that Tackie actually recorded some decent fringe contender wins, N'dou is a gallant loser, but just doesn't beat top flight fighters.

Good performance from Witter, but he made life hard for himself with the constant shifting of his stance and loading up with power shots all the time.

He took some good flush shots from N'dou though, and never really looked troubled.

The fractured hand may have had something to it, because his jab seemed to dissapear.

Witter looks so much better when he sets things up with the jab, you cannot try that headhunting with power shots against Gatti or Cotto, or he will wake up wondering who won the fight.

I thought Robert McCracken was an excellent cornerman on the night, problem was Howard just was unwilling or unable to carry out his instructions which sounded right on the money.

josh fg wrote:

stujones wrote:Witter is 30 - I think he is ready for this man now.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=008962

How do you see that one panning out can't say I have seen much of Harriss I would like to see Urkal if he hasn't retired.

Urkal hasnt retired but he has moved up to welter where he probably fights Frederuc Klose for the EBU belt next.

stujones wrote:

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Gatti? Gatti has yet to beat a single top 10 lightwelter. Lovemore would give Gatti a great fight.

Why is N'dou a top ten Light Welter and neither Micky Ward or Jesse James Leija?

Has N'dou got a good a WIN on his record as Bojado.

At least Leija is a former world champ and experienced at top level, including actually winning at top level, rather than merely competing.

N'dou is tough as fornicate, but he does have some rather obvious limitations, like having no defence.

stujones wrote:

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Gatti? Gatti has yet to beat a single top 10 lightwelter. Lovemore would give Gatti a great fight.

Why is N'dou a top ten Light Welter and neither Micky Ward or Jesse James Leija?

Has N'dou got a good a WIN on his record as Bojado.

Where did I say that Lovemore was a top 10 lightwelter? At the time Leija and Ward where not top ten, thats fact imo. Leija is old and small, Ricky Hatton would walk right through Leija. So what he beat Bojado. Bojado's just a fat lightweight maybe even superfeather, lazy fighter. Ward can give you a hard fight if you let him, Gatti didn't have the skill to box him and got drawn into wars. Lovemore managed to push Cotto and Mitchell close, landing big shots on both and taking everything they could offer in return. Cotto himself danced out the last few rounds against N'Dou.

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:
At the time Leija and Ward where not top ten, thats fact imo.

How can it be fact when it is your opinion.

Boxing Monthly had Leija in the top ten and Micky Ward - so they were not in your top ten but its not FACT that they were not top ten fighters cause according to one source at the very least they were.

As for Leija being old, he is remarkably good for his age....like Hopkins. You may slate Bojado, but FACT is N'dou hasn't BEATEN a fighter ranked as high Bojado. It was the performance also, Bojado looked motivated to me and it was a distance fight.

Add that to his performance in which he gave Tszyu more problems than either Tackie or Mitchell it shows to me at least that he belonged in the top ten at the time of the Gatti fight.

N'dou and Ward are similar, honourable defeats when they step up - but Ward still has the better W's on his resume, over the likes of Augustus, Neary and several others, which N'dou hasn't got.