anyone here seen battaglia fight?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2004, 07:27

Wondered what his form was like. Judging by his record he shouldn't pose too many problems, but you never can tell unless you've seen a fighter.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:35

Battaglia dropped a close, competitive 12-rounder to Oktay Urkal in Germany in a previous stab at the European crown - and has since twice retained his Italian title as he awaited a second crack.
He looks a good opponent. He's also a southpaw.
Currently 21-3 (12), the lanky Sicilian turned pro in 1996 and lost his first fight on an inconclusive technical decision. He then showed his potential - and power - in reeling off 11 quick wins on the spin to secure a shot at the Italian light-welterweight title in March 2000 against the far more experienced Massimo Bertozzi (who had held Gianluca Branco to a split decision and, along with Oscar De La Hoya, is the only man to have stopped Giorgio Campanella).
In front of his home fans, the challenger came good and won the title by 10-round decision.
Battaglia proved a dominant champion, retaining his title four times, including another points win over Bertozzi, until France's aggressive and underrated Fabrice Colombel (who gave Colin Lynes a tough fight in Belfast recently) stood up to his early onslaughts, fired back, and ultimately outlasted him in the eighth of their 2001 encounter. Battaglia, bleeding from his nose, was floored in the round and jumped up too quickly. He was pulled out by the referee as he protested on wobbly legs.
It was a setback, but he showed character to essentially start again, winning back the Italian title (which he had vacated for the Colombel fight for the vacant IBF intercontinental light-welterweight title) as he built up to a second, much harder step-up against European champion Oktay Urkal in 2003 - a man whose only previous defeat had come on a close one to undisputed light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu.
After a nervy start, which saw him touch down in the opening round, Battaglia showed he had learned his Colombel lesson well. The gutsy challenger pressed the action hard and this time maintained the pace - and finished far stronger than a ragged-looking champion. Urkal landed the cleaner shots, but found himself backed up and tagged more than many in the big German crowd could have anticipated prior to the fight (Danilo Haussler won a bloody rematch with Glenn Catley on the same bill in Chemnitz).
Scoring was split: 116-113 twice for Urkal and 115-113 for Battaglia. That says a lot in Germany, and Battaglia gave Urkal a much tougher fight than fellow southpaw Eamonn Magee did four months later, which makes him look useful.
He has since twice outpointed the tough but limited Antonio Mastantuono in 10-rounders in defence of his long-held Italian title (though he's vacated the title again to concentrate on this Witter clash) and deserves this second stab at the big-time. And, in today's multi-title climate, the European title is big.
Trained by former European featherweight champion Salvatore Melluzzo, a southpaw himself and a man who once rocked Pat Cowdell to his boots, the 30-year-old Battaglia is a tough, aggressive and cagey campaigner, who is probably right at the top of his game. He's a couple of inches taller than Witter, so will presumably have reach advantage, too (though Junior is long-armed), and the way he performed against Urkal in Germany will give him every confidence of going one better against Witter in Britain. Urkal is a true world class operator.
But it's still unlikely the Italian has the know-how to match the awkward, slick and hurtful Bradford man. Witter can finish strongly to force a late stoppage or a clear points win.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:42

Is that your own preview Bennie, if so, I will attribute something to you when I write my preview for maxboxing.....

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:46

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Is that your own preview Bennie, if so, I will attribute something to you when I write my preview for maxboxing.....

No need, mate. Help yourself.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:47

Sounds a good fighter then. Though the American's will find it hard to believe, I think Witter is actualy a very hard puncher when he sets himself. I've always thought he might give Hatton a shock if they ever met.
Not sure the Italian has met anyone who punches as hard as Witter so far. Witter TKO 10.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:54

The thing is, it's easy to punch hard and set your feet when there's fornicate all coming back, not so easy when you're actually in a fight, all of Witter's destructive KO performances since the Judah fight, have come against sub-standard opposition. Let's see what happens against someone with more of a pedigree.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 01 Jun 2004, 08:57

Witter might struggle in this fight. Also keep an eye out for Big Bob on Saturday. He was kicking Danny's arse till Danny did him with a low blow. Mirovic is a decent opponent for Skelton. As for Vanzie-Earl on the same bill...can you believe I've gone for Earl! Just feel he will find a way to beat a faded Vanzie.

DIRT SUGAR · Post by **DIRT SUGAR** » 01 Jun 2004, 09:21

I also think Witter's in for a long night. He's not been very active of late and although he does punch very hard when he sets himself, that is also when he's at his most vulnerable. The Italian is taller and I think will give him a real hard tussle, so much so that I think he'll beat Jnr on points. Witter's not had a hard fight for a long time and this, I think, will go against him.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Jun 2004, 09:29

Without actually seeing the Italian myself, I find it hard to make a prediction, however I cannot remember the last time Witter faced a taller opponent, most of the guys I remember him facing in recent times seem to have been diminuitive and outgunned opponents.

At the end of the day, this is the acid test for Witter, if he blasts his opponent out of there, he signals his credentials at a higher level, if he struggles to a close points win, and looks bad doing so, then most people will say that his level is already reached. If he loses, then it's all over for Witter, and I don't see him getting anywhere near a world title.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 01 Jun 2004, 09:33

Incidentally, for those making their way to Hereford on Wednesday to watch a cracking-looking rematch between Dazzo Williams and Roy Rutherford for the British featherweight title, Michael Hunter also appears on the bill in a non-title eight-rounder with Russia's Marcel Kasimov.

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 01 Jun 2004, 14:33

I've not seen that fight with Urkal, but if he can back up Urkal (like Bennie mentions) he ain't no mug. I've always wanted to see Hatton or Witter take on Urkal. His performance with zoo a few years back impressed me.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 01 Jun 2004, 16:14

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
At the end of the day, this is the acid test for Witter, if he blasts his opponent out of there, he signals his credentials at a higher level, if he struggles to a close points win, and looks bad doing so, then most people will say that his level is already reached. If he loses, then it's all over for Witter, and I don't see him getting anywhere near a world title.

That basically sums up my opinion of Witter. I'll take it a step further by saying far too many boxing fans have been sucked in by the shite that has come from Witter's gob.

Let's see him fight a few decent operators, and then he can talk the talk.

theguru · Post by **theguru** » 02 Jun 2004, 22:28

Mr Mc donnell and Bennie will no doubt be singing Witters praises now after just watching witter demolish the Italian

J · Post by J » 03 Jun 2004, 05:02

doubt it, what did that win prove?

that witter can beat a top ten european. big deal.

good performance mind.

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 03 Jun 2004, 05:16

I'm not a typical Witter fan, but to be fair he beat very impressively a guy who dropped a SD to Urkal in Germany not long ago.

However, most US fans remember him from the Judah stinker, he's not ranked by any of the big three organisations (I think), and he just doesn't bring enough to the table to justify the risk. He's got to be monstrously hard to match. I think he's improved no end over the last couple of years. Good defence, unusual and varied attack, good power. That, allied to the state of play with the sanctioning bodies and whatever promotional limbo he's in at the moment mean that he's reduced to facing sparring partners and Fred Kinuthia while waiting for small stepping stones like Battaglia. I genuinely think he'd give anyone at 140 a decent fight. The Judah match might have been a shocker, but Judah was at the time one of the best attacking fighters in the divisions around, and althoughWitter was overly defensive, I don't think that for a late call-up against a world class guy that's too bad a showing.

So give the guy a chance, that's what I say. But no-one listens anyway.

J · Post by J » 03 Jun 2004, 05:25

i agree yeah give him a chance but dont criticise hatton and carry on like (not directed at you coconut but some on here seem to think so) Witter is the second coming when he is only working his way back up against top ten europeans only.

fair is fair and all. Witter made ground on hatton last night and looked good but losing a split decision to Urkal a while back does not make you world top ten does it.

Im not saying he was a poor opponent far from it, just looking for a degree of consistency in our criticism of both fighters from someone somewhere please?

and as I say good perfromance from witter kudos to him, good platform to relaunch an attack on the world stage.

DOG · Post by **DOG** » 03 Jun 2004, 05:32

J wrote:i agree yeah give him a chance but dont criticise hatton and carry on like (not directed at you coconut but some on here seem to think so) Witter is the second coming when he is only working his way back up against top ten europeans only.

fair is fair and all. Witter made ground on hatton last night and looked good but losing a split decision to Urkal a while back does not make you world top ten does it.

Im not saying he was a poor opponent far from it, just looking for a degree of consistency in our criticism of both fighters from someone somewhere please?

and as I say good perfromance from witter kudos to him, good platform to relaunch an attack on the world stage.

I think this is fair comment J.
I have been both a critic of Hatton and a chmpion of Witter over the last couple of years.
I'm not getting too carried away about last night though.(although a good performance)
Until we see both of our guys in with real top 10 fighters, then we can assess.
All I will say is that Witter seems to have a more transparent roadmap to a genuine World title than Hatton at this moment in time.
It would have been interesting to hear what Mr Hennessy himself thinks on the situation... Rather than rely on Witter's usual banter

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Jun 2004, 05:33

Impressive stuff from Witter, couldn't ask for more than that. Showed why Warren has kept Hatton well clear of him for so long - because if he thought Ricky would beat Witter, he'd have made the match by now.

J · Post by J » 03 Jun 2004, 05:36

cheers fellas agreed, like I say that does give Witter the limelight again, which wont please team hatton.

I think its coming to the point now MW that hatton will start insisting on calling the shots if he backs up what he has said. It seems he has lost patience.

That will be very interesting then.
heres hoping.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:04

MightyWarrior wrote:Impressive stuff from Witter, couldn't ask for more than that. Showed why Warren has kept Hatton well clear of him for so long - because if he thought Ricky would beat Witter, he'd have made the match by now.

Well done, mate. You picked an early win for Witter.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:13

Very impressive performance, but you have to put it into perspective. Battaglia was a good European, but no more than that.

However, you cannot argue with the way Witter fought and the rapidity with which he got the job done, showed great purpose of thought and action, and beat the guy up.

However, as others have said, Witter needs profile to get a shot at a title, it's not about what you deserve in boxing, you have to make the fights happen with money, and as it stands Witter just isn't a draw.

I would love to see Witter go fight a couple of ranked Americans, if he performed like he did last night they would love him, however which ranked American is going to want to fight Witter when they see a tape of him, he's a fornicating nightmare opponent.

The problem remains that Witter is going to find it very hard getting from this point, to the point where he is challenging someone for a world title belt.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:14

It hurts me to say this as a European, but Italian boxing is on its knees. The game is really struggling there.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:15

bennie wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:Impressive stuff from Witter, couldn't ask for more than that. Showed why Warren has kept Hatton well clear of him for so long - because if he thought Ricky would beat Witter, he'd have made the match by now.
Well done, mate. You picked an early win for Witter.

I didn't think Witter would do him so early to be honest - I was thinking late stopage. But the Italian was just completely out gunned.
I missed the interview, but I hear Junior toned it down a bit.

Already a few people in the office have come up to me and asked about "this Witter bloke" - looks like he's got himself a few new fans

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:17

Yeah, who wouldn't be impressed with that performance....?

Does anyone else think Witter is gradually turning into Zab Judah?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Jun 2004, 08:18

He's got a better title than Hatton's for sure. Didn't see the fight. Carl Froch fighting someone who I can hit harder than, combined with Jim Neilly, forced me to vacate the premises.