BoxRec

Taken for Witters site

Hennessy wins bid
Promoter Mick Hennessy takes another step along the World Title trail with his European Champion Junior Witter, after securing his next title defence in the UK.
Hennessy beat Italian promoters OPI by a wide margin therefore forcing their fighter Gianluca Branco to face Junior Witter on homeground.
Branco,WBC No 2 took Auturo Gatti the distance when they met to contest the WBC Title but lost on points after being floored in the 10th by Gatti.
It will be a tough test for Witter who some say he still has to prove himself at "World level". An impressive win in this fight takes him closer to that elusive World Title.
"My aim is to KO Branco and show Gatti how it should have been done",said Junior.


Nowhere else is reporting this. Hot air I wonder?

Good fight for Witter, hopefully he'll get through this one and then maybe get a shot at the WBC title in 2005, Branco may actually take Witter into the later rounds, which i personally feel he needs.

Let's hope we don't have another pullout by the opponent this time.

Good fight for Witter to prove himself if he can do a number on Branco, he proves to me he's definetly world class.

Witter will KO Branco early. I'm thinking about the 4th or 5th. Branco is good but I can't see him adapting to juniors style.

I can't think of anyone on Hatton's record who would beat Branco. There are some 50-50's but at the time Hatton fought most of the people on his record, Branco would have beaten them IMO.

Therefore, with this fight, Witter has fought up to the same level of competition that Hatton has or even more actually. Obviously Judah is much better than anyone Hatton faced, or indeed Hatton himself.

Eamonn Magee?

Branco is good, but he's not really beaten many top flight opponents. He did well against Gatti, but prior to that he was seen to a bit of an easy ride for Gatti.

Im really chuffed about this fight. Im glad Witter is getting on with his career as it is clear that Hatton will not fight him unless there is a belt in it for him. He has shown real ambition and I think he could win this.

http://www.boxing-central.com/modules.p ... e&sid=5469

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Eamonn Magee?

Branco is good, but he's not really beaten many top flight opponents. He did well against Gatti, but prior to that he was seen to a bit of an easy ride for Gatti.

brano is higher in the rankings than witter (wbc) so he has to get to the number 1 and force a fight, he wont get one not being there.

Fight seems signed and everything is set to go .

I'd pick Witter to win by KO around the 7th

Good fight, i have always said i believe Witter will get the big title fight before Hatton does...it still might happen.

steve689 wrote:Good fight, i have always said i believe Witter will get the big title fight before Hatton does...it still might happen.

Witter already HAS had a big title fight.

tuaman2004 wrote:"This again vindicates my decision to move to Hennessy Sports," said Witter. "I truly have a promoter who is serious about my career. Since joining Mick Hennessy’s team I have won and defended the European title – a genuine title – on the BBC. Now I am featuring in a world-class old school tussle for the biggest purse of my career. Even bigger than when I fought Zab Judah for the IBF title."
Nice little dig at Frank

Nice shot, Sports Network have only promoted one EBU title fight in the last four years. Of course it isn't as prestigous as the Warren Boxing Union belt.

stujones wrote:

steve689 wrote:Good fight, i have always said i believe Witter will get the big title fight before Hatton does...it still might happen.

Witter already HAS had a big title fight.

Well i was right then

Can anybody present a case for a branco win?

lirva33 wrote:Can anybody present a case for a branco win?

Spoiling for an arguement again Lirva....happy to ablige..

Branco is a better oppoenent than anything Witter has faced previously (apart from Judah and we all know what happened there)

Yes he got floored by Gatti but proved he is a tough fighter with a resonable defence and the big key is that he hits back. This is something Witter isn't used to.

I say Branco takes Witter to school and exposes him for what he is which is a mouthy c*nt...

We all moan about Hatton and Calzaghe having the padded records well Witter takes the biscuit.

I pick Witter, hitting him back and trying to hit him back are two different things

Amen brother Jedi! Witter is an annoyance in my eyes, he claims to be the best, but given his chance with Judah he chose to run rather than fight. He's only himself to blame if his credability was shot.
He's awkward, and strong (another Ingle dirtbag!) but unorthadox. He will get shown up soon, as he does everything wrong! People have a guard for a reason.
s'cuse the rant, but he gets my blood boiling!

Jedi Knight wrote:

lirva33 wrote:Can anybody present a case for a branco win?

Spoiling for an arguement again Lirva....happy to ablige..

Branco is a better oppoenent than anything Witter has faced previously (apart from Judah and we all know what happened there)

Yes he got floored by Gatti but proved he is a tough fighter with a resonable defence and the big key is that he hits back. This is something Witter isn't used to.

I say Branco takes Witter to school and exposes him for what he is which is a mouthy c*nt...

We all moan about Hatton and Calzaghe having the padded records well Witter takes the biscuit.

Bollox Witter hasn't had that padded a recored he had a number of easy fights after Judah granted but look at his last 3 fights; Krzysztof Bienias who had a record of 22-2-0 and had taken Oktay Urkal the distance, Salvatore Battaglia 21-3-0 took Urkal to a SD and Oscar Hall 24-2-1