BoxRec

A press release today from Hennessy Sports has confirmed that Branco has pulled out of the Junior Witter fight.

More at http://www.britishboxing.net

aaah bugger.

surprise surprise, an italian pulls out of a title fight

awwww jesus fricken christ.

who the hell is he going to fight now.

somehow this 'exciting news in the pipeline' isn't inspiring me.

ndou is the lastest romour who gave mitchell and cotto a good and close fight.

well, that would be a start, a good opponent for junior and also a decent benchmark, if witter stops him it will do him the world of good.

No way would Witter stop N'Dou. Excellent replacement if they do get him, as good if not better than Branco.

be a very interesting fight with Ndou. it will be the first time witter has gone past 5 rounds in a long time and will be keen to see whether or not he keeps his new attacking style once he realises ndou isn't going to fall over in 2. Massive statement if he can floor him but I doubt it. Good fight

What a fornicating wanker! What is it with Italian and Spanish fighters, they have a history of doing this all the time. I hope they can get N'dou on the bill, a better win than Branco who is completely unknown to American fight fans.

You have to feel for Witter, poor bastard, hope it works out. I'm far from his biggest fan, but I'd like to see him get the chance to prove me wrong.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:What a fornicating wanker! What is it with Italian and Spanish fighters, they have a history of doing this all the time. I hope they can get N'dou on the bill, a better win than Branco who is completely unknown to American fight fans.

You have to feel for Witter, poor bastard, hope it works out. I'm far from his biggest fan, but I'd like to see him get the chance to prove me wrong.

recently the british fighters have been pulling out of fights as well, i think its epedemic in boxing now, the thing is there is so much pressure to have an unbeaten record , that the slightest injury will cause the fight to fall apart

British fighters do tend to pull out of fights too, but usually against one another in recent times, though of course Witter pulled out through injury against Pinto.

If Witter does get N'dou, and turns in an impressive display, then he will definetly make a name for himself.

Isn't Corley down next for Miguel Cotto? If he get's N'dou then that would be a massive bonus at short notice...i am starting to like Hennessy more and more, he seems to genuinely want tests for his fighters and good competetive matchups. No WBU shite/last minute filler opponents from two weight division below etc He said in an interview he wants to take all of his talented fighters the genuine Area/British/Commonwealth/European/World route.

Yes his philosophy seems to be paying off. Despite all the laughs up sleeves when it looked like Hennessy was in big trouble, he's pulled off the biggest fight for a British fighter since Hamed fought Barrera, and if he gets Froch and Witter on the bill, well, it'll be a bit of a coup.

I must admit, I thought at one time Hennessy was going down the crapper, but I'm happy I was wrong, we need more promoters, not less in this country.

When this match up was first mentioned I thought it was a bit too brave for the Italian to take.
It does not make sense for him, he’s in the mix already over there and he is a bit too old for a setback.

From what I heard from an italian friend, its Brancos manager/promotor thats the problem not Branco himself. His brother have fourght alot of times away from home, why shouldnt Gianluca do the same thing?

jamesmcdonnell wrote:I hope they can get N'dou on the bill, a better win than Branco who is completely unknown to American fight fans.

I got the impression the septic were reasonably impressed with Branco, having expected Gatti to wipe the floor with him. N'sou is a more recognised name, though. I know N'dou has shown he's willing to travel and fight whoever, but would he want to take the fight at 2 and a bit weeks notice? Would he be in anything like proper shape? And how would Witter react having, presumably, been training for Branco?

More info:

By Per Aake Persson
Italian jr welter Gianluca Branco is off the fight against EBU champ Junior Witter which was to have taken place February 19 on the Hopkins v Eastman show in Los Angeles. According to his promoter, OPI 2000, they got notice of the fight, a mandatory defence, January 24. They were to fly out three days before, which they viewed as way too short time to adjust to the nine hour time difference. -Gianluca is one of the most important fighters for OPI 2000 and not an animal, states Cristian Cherchi of OPI 2000. Next up for Branco is a spot on the undercard to EBU 135 lb champ Stefano Zoff´s February 25 defence of the title. Opponent for Zoff is likely to be Dane Martin Kristjansen.

I will be mightly impressed if its N'dou, I don't think it would be a particularly good move for Witter - N'dou is the type of fighter who can make anyone look bad, and Witter has looked bad in the past (infront of US TV). I just hope he wins well, but he could be made to look ordinary.

If the N'dou fight doesn't come off another fighter who I think as an "will fight any where, any time" fighter with a good name in the US is Victoriano Sosa.

if it is ndou, will it still be a WBC eliminator? i'd hate for witter to lose his position because of his opponent pulling out.

Kevin wrote:A press release today from Hennessy Sports has confirmed that Branco has pulled out of the Junior Witter fight.

More at http://www.britishboxing.net

FECK!!!!

Freiheit wrote:More info:

By Per Aake Persson
Italian jr welter Gianluca Branco is off the fight against EBU champ Junior Witter which was to have taken place February 19 on the Hopkins v Eastman show in Los Angeles. According to his promoter, OPI 2000, they got notice of the fight, a mandatory defence, January 24. They were to fly out three days before, which they viewed as way too short time to adjust to the nine hour time difference. -Gianluca is one of the most important fighters for OPI 2000 and not an animal, states Cristian Cherchi of OPI 2000. Next up for Branco is a spot on the undercard to EBU 135 lb champ Stefano Zoff´s February 25 defence of the title. Opponent for Zoff is likely to be Dane Martin Kristjansen.

What so the reason he's not going is jet-lag

He would have had plenty of time to get over a flight, presumably he's been in training already, so I don't see it as tht big an issue. I smell bullshit.

As for fighting N'dou, it's win win for Witter, so long as he wins, nobody will expect him to dazzle against N'dou, if he does, he'll make up for the Judah fight overnight, and if he doesn't well, nobody ever looks good against N'dou anyhow.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

Freiheit wrote:More info:

By Per Aake Persson
Italian jr welter Gianluca Branco is off the fight against EBU champ Junior Witter which was to have taken place February 19 on the Hopkins v Eastman show in Los Angeles. According to his promoter, OPI 2000, they got notice of the fight, a mandatory defence, January 24. They were to fly out three days before, which they viewed as way too short time to adjust to the nine hour time difference. -Gianluca is one of the most important fighters for OPI 2000 and not an animal, states Cristian Cherchi of OPI 2000. Next up for Branco is a spot on the undercard to EBU 135 lb champ Stefano Zoff´s February 25 defence of the title. Opponent for Zoff is likely to be Dane Martin Kristjansen.

What so the reason he's not going is jet-lag

He would have had plenty of time to get over a flight, presumably he's been in training already, so I don't see it as tht big an issue. I smell bullshit.

As for fighting N'dou, it's win win for Witter, so long as he wins, nobody will expect him to dazzle against N'dou, if he does, he'll make up for the Judah fight overnight, and if he doesn't well, nobody ever looks good against N'dou anyhow.

Deleted

That makes far more sense, and probably explains why other of their fights have fallen thru.

REAL_DEAL wrote:ndou is the lastest romour who gave mitchell and cotto a good and close fight.

That was my initial thought, surely N'Dou would be willing to fight Witter even at short notice.