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Posted: 16 Aug 2005, 12:55
by steve689
I thought Witter was semi "Exposed" versus Kotelnik, i think he would be dealt with comfortably by Mayweather and Tszyu's body shots would have him cave in by the second part of the fight. I am also thinking that Witter's power may be a little overrated too, he dropped N'dou well enough which shows power but the other guys he KO'd after the Judah loss were mostly cannon fodder with little or no credentials.

Interesting i was watching Hatton-Phillips last night again and afterwards there was looked at the time a big chance Hatton-Witter would be made, Frank was asked and he said "Look the fights going to happen" etc etc :roll:

Posted: 16 Aug 2005, 13:55
by stujones
Gatti said he will be moving up also.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 05:49
by Maxime
Great another mandatory defense that nobody wants to see.

Who cares about Mayweather - -Witter when you can have Mayweather-Hatto, Mayweather-Tszyu, Mayweather-Cotto, Mayweather-Judah.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 06:09
by THEBUTCH
In the intrests of fair play, Witter should get his shot. He's now beating guys for meaningful belts and at some point you have to be rewarded with a crack at one of the 3 main titles.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 06:13
by nickd
Mayweather is fighting Judah at 147, dont expect to see him back at 140 if he wins the UNDISPUTED welterweight title. Not going to happen in a million years. And as I'm sure Mayweather will beat Judah thats him gone from 140 in my book.

Witter deserves a crack at a title, whatever anyones sentiments about him he has beaten some decent fighters and supposedly fought N'dou in an eliminator.

Everyone should be behind Witter at the moment.

As James mentions above I suspect he'll get an interim title fight, then full title status if Floyd stays at welter.

Having 2 genuine world champions in one of the best divisions in the sport can only be good for British boxing surely?

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 06:42
by Autobarn
would be a strange journey if, after losing his first world title fight to Judah, Witter would get to fight even slicker Mayweather. He's obviously come a ways since then & has gained confidence from his EBU reign.

But he still does so much wrong and he might lose to Mayweather (should it ever happen) as widely as he did with Judah (when he was inexperienced).

If he switch hits against a top fighter he's likely to get tagged while he's changing stance. He also has the error of loading up on every shot instead of using his skills, and looked sluggish v kotelnik. kotelnik was a decent opponent but junior looked lost in the late stages.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:10
by Slapsie Maxie
I just don't see it happening for Witter if he does fight Mayweather.

He looked pretty bad against Judah and, in the years since then and with the eveidence of his recent fights, I can't see him outslicking one of the best in the game.

It is certainly good management to get him to this position and he deserves a shot, but I see a pretty one sided fight here. perhaps not a stoppage as Witter is still smart enough to avoid that, but a wide UD

Slapsie

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:25
by nickd
Slapsie Maxie wrote:I just don't see it happening for Witter if he does fight Mayweather.

He looked pretty bad against Judah and, in the years since then and with the eveidence of his recent fights, I can't see him outslicking one of the best in the game.

It is certainly good management to get him to this position and he deserves a shot, but I see a pretty one sided fight here. perhaps not a stoppage as Witter is still smart enough to avoid that, but a wide UD

Slapsie
Witter will probably fight for an interim or vacant title as Floyd is seemingly moving up to 147. No way on earth Witter can beat Mayweather unless he lands 1 big shot bang on his chin and knocks him out but its unlikely.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:29
by Max Molyneux
Has this Mayweather had his chin tested?

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:36
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
Max Molyneux wrote:Has this Mayweather had his chin tested?
Wobbled against a Corley temple shot, didn't take a single flush shot against Corrales or Gatti. A chin not used to taking shots is an untrained chin imo - especially on a natural 130lber against 1 of 140s biggest hitters. Junior probably wouldn't land flush but if he did...............

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:36
by jamesmcdonnell
Castillo landed a few, but the problem is nobody ever really lands flush. It's a bit like Pernell Whittaker, even past his best Trinidad and Oscar never came close to hurting him badly, and I think Mayweather may turn out to be every bit as good.

I honestly think that if anyone is likely to get hurt, it's Witter, not Floyd.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 07:49
by Foggy
Boxrec show that Maywaether - Judah is on as per the link

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=000352

If this is true then surely the WBC would want to make an interim champ ASAP, so Witters next fight could be for the WBC belt.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 09:08
by steve689
Despite being billed as a "switch hitter" i always think Witter looks ill at ease and uncomfortable when he turns Southpaw, i think he flows better as an orthodox fighter. It's true he will get disorganised and tagged when switching against a lightning fast operator like Mayweather, in fact i wouldn't be surprised to see him stopped, after all Mayweather is super accurate.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 12:42
by Autobarn
i hate it when Witter switches. But he seems incomplete from both sides. He has no kind of left jab from the orthodox stance. And he seems to turn southpaw just so he can land lead right hooks which aren't hard to predict. Brendan Ingle encouraged his fighters to switch to find possibilities with different angles, but I think Witter limits himself and his defense is bad.

If he can't pull the trigger on Kotelnik he's in bother with Mayweather. He looked slower vs Kotelnik as well. At 31, time might be running out just when he needs his very best.

If Mayweather beats Judah and vacates, I see Witter & Tszyu (#3). Gatti looks done at this level, murders himself to make 140, and avoided Tszyu before. Tszyu is debating whther to come back, but a fight with Witter for the WBC 140 is a great way back.

I wouldn't mind seeing that. Tszyu might be through against energetic pressure fighters, but I think he can still cut down a decent slickster.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 13:04
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
viciousmaussa wrote:i hate it when Witter switches. But he seems incomplete from both sides. He has no kind of left jab from the orthodox stance. And he seems to turn southpaw just so he can land lead right hooks which aren't hard to predict. Brendan Ingle encouraged his fighters to switch to find possibilities with different angles, but I think Witter limits himself and his defense is bad.

If he can't pull the trigger on Kotelnik he's in bother with Mayweather. He looked slower vs Kotelnik as well. At 31, time might be running out just when he needs his very best.

If Mayweather beats Judah and vacates, I see Witter & Tszyu (#3). Gatti looks done at this level, murders himself to make 140, and avoided Tszyu before. Tszyu is debating whther to come back, but a fight with Witter for the WBC 140 is a great way back.

I wouldn't mind seeing that. Tszyu might be through against energetic pressure fighters, but I think he can still cut down a decent slickster.
I wouldn't be suprised if Witter didn't train for Kotlenek. After fighting an Ndou - another Euro stiff must seem an easy fight. He'd train harder for a big fight

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 13:07
by jamesmcdonnell
Yes, IF, and it's a big IF, Kostya decides to come back, he would probably fancy his chances against Witter, who doesn't have the workrate of Hatton.

I get the impression Tszyu is done fighting however, he seems to putting a lot of energy into his own businesses right now according to the press releases I've been getting.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 13:14
by Autobarn
it would give Witter a chance to back up one of his biggest boasts:

“I'd have taken (Kostya) Tszyu out inside five rounds with a KO, he wouldn't have quit on his stool."

i'd love to see him try

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 13:21
by jamesmcdonnell
He couldn't KO N'dou despite having him on the deck 3 times, nor did he come close to KO'ing Kotelnik.

Knocking out someone called 'Lucky Sambo' does not mean you can take out a little anvil like Kostya.

Fair play to Witter, I am glad he is getting his title shot, but I thought that statement was frankly ridiculous.

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 13:33
by Autobarn
never saw the lucky sambo fight. kinuthia was the one that really makes me question the value of some of his KOs. Kinuthia was to Witter what Kebede was to Harrison (almost).

Posted: 17 Aug 2005, 17:48
by Blue
Forget Mayweather, he’s looking for bigger fish to fry. :roll:
Hennessy should try to match Witter with Juan Urango for the top IBF spot.

Hatton-Witter is the fight that has been due for years.
:TU: