Breaking sensation: "You wanted it, you got it!"
Posted: 11 Aug 2004, 08:57
British fans get the fight they have long craved when Ricky Hatton defends his WBU light-welterweight title against Bradford's Junior Witter in a surprise but highly welcome main event at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Saturday October 9.
Witter's European light-welterweight title is also on the line.
"You wanted it, you got it!" said a buoyant allegedly at today's press conference in London. "Vivian Harris bottled out of meeting Ricky by demanding 1.6 million dollars - but I meant what I said when I told everyone I would deliver a big opponent for Ricky this time. Oleg Maskaev for Danny yesterday and Junior Witter for Ricky today.
"Who says I'm losing my touch?"
Hatton wasn't at the press conference (he's said to be in hard training already) but Witter made the trip from Yorkshire and said: "I know I have the ability to handle any light-welterweight in the world and, make no mistake, I will handle Ricky Hatton. A win over him will still set me up big time. I will still have the European title and get a top ranking with the WBC."
He's currently ranked No. 3 by the WBC.
The two men were scheduled to meet last summer after Hatton pounded out a comprehensive points win over American Vince "Cool" Phillips in April 2003. But Ricky picked up a bad cut over his right eye against Phillips (which required plastic surgery) and Witter laboured to stop Belgium's Jurgen Haeck on the undercard (injuring ligaments in his hand in the process), so the fight was put on hold.
Witter subsequently labelled his domestic rival a "coward" in the press, leading to a much-publicised parting of the ways with promoter allegedly for promoter Mick Hennessy. But Hennessy was recently dumped unceremoniously by the BBC and Witter, cap in hand, has patched it up with Warren.
"It was one of those things," said Witter. "Frank knows I was desperate for the Hatton fight and I let my heart rule my head in some of the things I said and did. But that's all water under the bridge now. Frank always insisted the fight could only be made if Showtime got involved and he was right."
Showtime, persuaded by Witter's recent crushing European title win over Salvatore Battaglia, agreed to the showdown and will televise it delayed to the United States.
Sky-TV screen it 'live' here.
Witter was roundly criticised for his showing against defending IBF champion Zab Judah in June 2000 in Glasgow - but has since reeled off 14 straight quick wins, including a third-round stoppage of Alan Bosworth for the British light-welterweight title, a second-round stoppage of Ghana's Laatekwei Hammond for the Commonwealth crown, and another second-round stoppage of Italy's Battaglia for the vacant European title in June.
Battaglia, who had gone 12 hard rounds with Germany's world class Oktay Urkal in a previous attempt at the title, was blown away in devastating style.
"I definitely came out a more positive fighter as a result of that Judah fight," claimed Witter today. "I'm much more confident, I'm hitting harder, I'm sharper. It's four years since that night. I've proved I am ready for the best again."
Warren, on particularly good form throughout the press conference, claimed the fight hinges on how Hatton copes with Witter's Wincobank style.
"Ricky has yet to meet anyone as unorthodox as Witter," he said. "He's unbeaten in 36 fights, so we don't know his limits - but wins over Ben Tackie and Eamonn Magee speak for themselves."
He continued: "The time has come for both men to stand up and be counted. A good performance will shut the doubters up once and for all. It will also secure a genuine world title shot. I guarantee the winner will fight for a genuine world title early next year."
Witter's European light-welterweight title is also on the line.
"You wanted it, you got it!" said a buoyant allegedly at today's press conference in London. "Vivian Harris bottled out of meeting Ricky by demanding 1.6 million dollars - but I meant what I said when I told everyone I would deliver a big opponent for Ricky this time. Oleg Maskaev for Danny yesterday and Junior Witter for Ricky today.
"Who says I'm losing my touch?"
Hatton wasn't at the press conference (he's said to be in hard training already) but Witter made the trip from Yorkshire and said: "I know I have the ability to handle any light-welterweight in the world and, make no mistake, I will handle Ricky Hatton. A win over him will still set me up big time. I will still have the European title and get a top ranking with the WBC."
He's currently ranked No. 3 by the WBC.
The two men were scheduled to meet last summer after Hatton pounded out a comprehensive points win over American Vince "Cool" Phillips in April 2003. But Ricky picked up a bad cut over his right eye against Phillips (which required plastic surgery) and Witter laboured to stop Belgium's Jurgen Haeck on the undercard (injuring ligaments in his hand in the process), so the fight was put on hold.
Witter subsequently labelled his domestic rival a "coward" in the press, leading to a much-publicised parting of the ways with promoter allegedly for promoter Mick Hennessy. But Hennessy was recently dumped unceremoniously by the BBC and Witter, cap in hand, has patched it up with Warren.
"It was one of those things," said Witter. "Frank knows I was desperate for the Hatton fight and I let my heart rule my head in some of the things I said and did. But that's all water under the bridge now. Frank always insisted the fight could only be made if Showtime got involved and he was right."
Showtime, persuaded by Witter's recent crushing European title win over Salvatore Battaglia, agreed to the showdown and will televise it delayed to the United States.
Sky-TV screen it 'live' here.
Witter was roundly criticised for his showing against defending IBF champion Zab Judah in June 2000 in Glasgow - but has since reeled off 14 straight quick wins, including a third-round stoppage of Alan Bosworth for the British light-welterweight title, a second-round stoppage of Ghana's Laatekwei Hammond for the Commonwealth crown, and another second-round stoppage of Italy's Battaglia for the vacant European title in June.
Battaglia, who had gone 12 hard rounds with Germany's world class Oktay Urkal in a previous attempt at the title, was blown away in devastating style.
"I definitely came out a more positive fighter as a result of that Judah fight," claimed Witter today. "I'm much more confident, I'm hitting harder, I'm sharper. It's four years since that night. I've proved I am ready for the best again."
Warren, on particularly good form throughout the press conference, claimed the fight hinges on how Hatton copes with Witter's Wincobank style.
"Ricky has yet to meet anyone as unorthodox as Witter," he said. "He's unbeaten in 36 fights, so we don't know his limits - but wins over Ben Tackie and Eamonn Magee speak for themselves."
He continued: "The time has come for both men to stand up and be counted. A good performance will shut the doubters up once and for all. It will also secure a genuine world title shot. I guarantee the winner will fight for a genuine world title early next year."
