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What does everyone think of this Witter Gatti talk
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 09:11
by josh fg
Can't say I have heared anything substantual but there is an artical on the BBC about it now it seems to be gathering some momentum do you think the fight could be made, what chance would you give Witter if it were,
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 09:17
by Goz
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 09:19
by kevo
Not sure of Witters chances in this one. If he fought Gatti the way he fought N'dou, he'd probably get taken out. But he's always got a punchers chance. I'm not saying thats his only chance, but Gatti is a lot more acurate and hits harder than N'dou, so if he tires in the middle rounds like he did in his last fight, it could well be lights out.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 09:39
by REAL_DEAL
Gatti hasnt proved he hits harder than ndou. Witter wouldnt of showed his flaws if he trainer 4-6 weeks for ndou. (shame could be said for ndou) Witter would of stopped ndou if he didnt break his hand.
he comes the hate

Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 09:42
by josh fg
I think you are disscounting the effect on Witters stamina that fighting for 12 rounds against Ndou will have that would certainly make him less likely to tire in the same manner.
I think Gatti is over rated and would certainly be a more winnible fight than Mayweather.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 11:24
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
I hope it happens, I think Witter will win but Gatti is as protected as Hatton but with a nicer strap. He beat up an old time lightweight last time out - weighing mid-150s, beat on Dorin another lightweight weighing 150s, beat limited journeyman Branco on points, and lost then beat a hard hitting limited Ward.
Gatti is every bit as protected (by promoters and TV) as Hatton and they won't risk him against Witter.
Likely scenario is they put him in against another lightweight like Castillo or Freitas who he'll outweigh by at least 10lbs and be able to walk through. Then everyone will say what a warrior Gatti is blahblah without fighting a top 6 fighter in his division.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 11:30
by josh fg
Maybe not a protected as Hatton but certanly post Ward he has been matched cairfully so that he can make as much money out of his resurgent career as possible. WHich promotional outfit is he with?
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 11:54
by stujones
I find that Gatti struggles to be a winner according to some, whoever he fights people have a problem. Jesse James Leija has campaigned at Light Welter for years now, there was no problem when Micky Ward or Hector Camacho Jnr were fighting him, on the contrary - people thought they were good contest. There was some criticism when Kostya fought him, but not as much as when Gatti recieved. When Gatti fought him it was his size that people had the problem with.
Now people are drumming up the criticisms of other fighters who MIGHT fight him. Acelino Freitas isn't a small lightweight, although he campaigned at Super Feather he struggled to make that weight and recently won a latino title at Light Welter.
If Jose Luis Castillo faced Eric Morales, people would be wanking at the prospect of that. Not the fact that Castillo is a huge Lightweight and four years ago Morales was an 8 stone 10 fighter. Same with Morales vs Pacquiao - no complaints that a guy who is on the verge of fighting at Lighweight is fighting a guy who is a small featherweight (only had 3 fights at that weight) and was a champion at flyweight. No complaints, so why the criticism of Gatti.
It not just with the Brits, the yanks are the same but are the opposite. They are moaning because Mayweather vs Gatti is on the rocks and WITTER might be his opponent. After only seeing the last three rounds of the N'dou fight it is easy to see their argument also. I personally would be delighted if Gatti faced Freitas OR Witter next. Infact I was going to make a thread about Freitas being in the Light Welterweight devision and what chance would he have vs the champions.
Unless Gatti tries to unify, ANYBODY he faces will be criticised. However, you don't see the others unifying either.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 11:55
by jamesmcdonnell
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I hope it happens, I think Witter will win but Gatti is as protected as Hatton but with a nicer strap. He beat up an old time lightweight last time out - weighing mid-150s, beat on Dorin another lightweight weighing 150s, beat limited journeyman Branco on points, and lost then beat a hard hitting limited Ward.
Gatti is every bit as protected (by promoters and TV) as Hatton and they won't risk him against Witter.
Likely scenario is they put him in against another lightweight like Castillo or Freitas who he'll outweigh by at least 10lbs and be able to walk through. Then everyone will say what a warrior Gatti is blahblah without fighting a top 6 fighter in his division.
Those are good points, but I think they need to be tempered with the fact that Gatti has shown in the past that he can rally from adversity and come back to win. Ward was indeed limited, but incredibly tough, and still dangerous. You could argue that he was every bit as tough as Tackie and a lot more aggressive to boot. I'm not sure whether I agree with that myself or not.
Leija was an ex lightweight, but a very cagey fighter who had given Tszyu problems, and was an ex world champion too, I would have liked to have seen Hatton take on Leija myself.
Gatti destroyed Dorin, which is all you can ask of him.
However, I agree he has been protected since beating Branco, but after those fights with Ward it's no wonder.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 12:00
by lirva33
Witter: "I'll take on Gatti in June and smash him up"
http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=15744
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 12:16
by jamesmcdonnell
I do wonder whether you have some connection with Witter, do you?
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 12:42
by Kilburn
Witter could do with getting rid of him, at this rate everyone who comes into contact with Lirva is going to wind up wanting to see Junior get beat.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 13:31
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
stujones wrote:I find that Gatti struggles to be a winner according to some, whoever he fights people have a problem. Jesse James Leija has campaigned at Light Welter for years now, there was no problem when Micky Ward or Hector Camacho Jnr were fighting him, on the contrary - people thought they were good contest. There was some criticism when Kostya fought him, but not as much as when Gatti recieved. When Gatti fought him it was his size that people had the problem with.
Now people are drumming up the criticisms of other fighters who MIGHT fight him. Acelino Freitas isn't a small lightweight, although he campaigned at Super Feather he struggled to make that weight and recently won a latino title at Light Welter.
If Jose Luis Castillo faced Eric Morales, people would be wanking at the prospect of that. Not the fact that Castillo is a huge Lightweight and four years ago Morales was an 8 stone 10 fighter. Same with Morales vs Pacquiao - no complaints that a guy who is on the verge of fighting at Lighweight is fighting a guy who is a small featherweight (only had 3 fights at that weight) and was a champion at flyweight. No complaints, so why the criticism of Gatti.
It not just with the Brits, the yanks are the same but are the opposite. They are moaning because Mayweather vs Gatti is on the rocks and WITTER might be his opponent. After only seeing the last three rounds of the N'dou fight it is easy to see their argument also. I personally would be delighted if Gatti faced Freitas OR Witter next. Infact I was going to make a thread about Freitas being in the Light Welterweight devision and what chance would he have vs the champions.
Unless Gatti tries to unify, ANYBODY he faces will be criticised. However, you don't see the others unifying either.
What has Freitas or Castillo done to earn a shot at a 140lb belt - they'll both be murdered by any top6 140lber there too damn small.
Freitas looked small against Corrales at 135 and was destroyed (well would have if he didnt quit). And Castillo got beat but was given a gift against Cassa. If your going to through a lightweight in with a huge light-welter make it Corrales or Cassa, now that may be interesting.
Morales-Paquaio will be great - Pacmans so strong and fast and conditioned and will probably win against the bigger Morales
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 13:37
by Bard of Boxrec
Kilburn wrote:Witter could do with getting rid of him, at this rate everyone who comes into contact with Lirva is going to wind up wanting to see Junior get beat.
whats everyone's problem with lirva, he's entitled to his opinion. Do you all sit at your computers feeling genuinely aggrieved and disgruntled, throwing your arms up in despair at his posts? it's just words on a screen. So what if he thinks the hatton fight won't happen, or witter is better. most of what he says is funny anyway.
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 13:38
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
jamesmcdonnell wrote:I do wonder whether you have some connection with Witter, do you?
Interesting question, he doesn't hype other Henessey fighters so much though
Posted: 07 Mar 2005, 18:07
by stujones
Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:stujones wrote:I find that Gatti struggles to be a winner according to some, whoever he fights people have a problem. Jesse James Leija has campaigned at Light Welter for years now, there was no problem when Micky Ward or Hector Camacho Jnr were fighting him, on the contrary - people thought they were good contest. There was some criticism when Kostya fought him, but not as much as when Gatti recieved. When Gatti fought him it was his size that people had the problem with.
Now people are drumming up the criticisms of other fighters who MIGHT fight him. Acelino Freitas isn't a small lightweight, although he campaigned at Super Feather he struggled to make that weight and recently won a latino title at Light Welter.
If Jose Luis Castillo faced Eric Morales, people would be wanking at the prospect of that. Not the fact that Castillo is a huge Lightweight and four years ago Morales was an 8 stone 10 fighter. Same with Morales vs Pacquiao - no complaints that a guy who is on the verge of fighting at Lighweight is fighting a guy who is a small featherweight (only had 3 fights at that weight) and was a champion at flyweight. No complaints, so why the criticism of Gatti.
It not just with the Brits, the yanks are the same but are the opposite. They are moaning because Mayweather vs Gatti is on the rocks and WITTER might be his opponent. After only seeing the last three rounds of the N'dou fight it is easy to see their argument also. I personally would be delighted if Gatti faced Freitas OR Witter next. Infact I was going to make a thread about Freitas being in the Light Welterweight devision and what chance would he have vs the champions.
Unless Gatti tries to unify, ANYBODY he faces will be criticised. However, you don't see the others unifying either.
What has Freitas or Castillo done to earn a shot at a 140lb belt - they'll both be murdered by any top6 140lber there too damn small.
Freitas looked small against Corrales at 135 and was destroyed (well would have if he didnt quit). And Castillo got beat but was given a gift against Cassa. If your going to through a lightweight in with a huge light-welter make it Corrales or Cassa, now that may be interesting.
Morales-Paquaio will be great - Pacmans so strong and fast and conditioned and will probably win against the bigger Morales
What has Castillo done to earn a shot at 140. Partially unify the Lightweight title and the fact it is a HUGE struggle for him to make the weight. He was the first fighter to really batter Casamayor at the end of their bout - Corrales had him down but not cut up and looking unsteady like Castillo had.
As for Castillo vs Freitas, Freitas was destroyed!?!?! He was Winning the bout before he quit (which he did do, no doubt). However, he again really couldn't make Super Feather any more (lets not forget that was Corrales' weight also). Just because he isn't a Freak like as Corrales (and I mean that as a compliment), he is equally as Big at Lightweight, because he couldn't win the battle with the scales at Super Feather and had to move up.
Corrales will make Hatton look small, doesn't mean to say he is any bigger at the weight than Freitas.
Castillo a guy who regularly has to have more than one attempt to make Lightweight = too small, Corrales, a guy who has said only last year that he could make Super Feather but then that is acceptable according to you.
I would love the three of them to move up. Casamayor should move back to Super Feather, he was too small at Lightweight vs Castillo.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 05:23
by lirva33
jamesmcdonnell wrote:I do wonder whether you have some connection with Witter, do you?
I have no connection with Witter, I am just a fan of him.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 06:37
by jamesmcdonnell
That's fair enough, but why do you seem to hate every other British fighter?
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 06:46
by Sweet P
Castillo could easily move up he weighed 147 on the day of his fight against Diaz. Casamoyer is a small lightweight and although he is an awesome fighter he would be to small at 140. Corrales could easily move up he is 6 foot tall and would be even more powerful without sacraficing speed.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 06:52
by lirva33
jamesmcdonnell wrote:That's fair enough, but why do you seem to hate every other British fighter?
I dislike a fair few fighters, but I like a fair few British fighters too. I only really dislike the likes of Hatton/Calzaghe/Macrinelle etc. (Understandable) I like Haye, Nelson, Thompson and a few others.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 07:14
by Kilburn
Riddick Blowe wrote:Kilburn wrote:Witter could do with getting rid of him, at this rate everyone who comes into contact with Lirva is going to wind up wanting to see Junior get beat.
whats everyone's problem with lirva, he's entitled to his opinion. Do you all sit at your computers feeling genuinely aggrieved and disgruntled, throwing your arms up in despair at his posts? it's just words on a screen. So what if he thinks the hatton fight won't happen, or witter is better. most of what he says is funny anyway.
It's called a discussion forum......
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 10:07
by Phenomenal-Nutrition
stujones wrote:Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:stujones wrote:I find that Gatti struggles to be a winner according to some, whoever he fights people have a problem. Jesse James Leija has campaigned at Light Welter for years now, there was no problem when Micky Ward or Hector Camacho Jnr were fighting him, on the contrary - people thought they were good contest. There was some criticism when Kostya fought him, but not as much as when Gatti recieved. When Gatti fought him it was his size that people had the problem with.
Now people are drumming up the criticisms of other fighters who MIGHT fight him. Acelino Freitas isn't a small lightweight, although he campaigned at Super Feather he struggled to make that weight and recently won a latino title at Light Welter.
If Jose Luis Castillo faced Eric Morales, people would be wanking at the prospect of that. Not the fact that Castillo is a huge Lightweight and four years ago Morales was an 8 stone 10 fighter. Same with Morales vs Pacquiao - no complaints that a guy who is on the verge of fighting at Lighweight is fighting a guy who is a small featherweight (only had 3 fights at that weight) and was a champion at flyweight. No complaints, so why the criticism of Gatti.
It not just with the Brits, the yanks are the same but are the opposite. They are moaning because Mayweather vs Gatti is on the rocks and WITTER might be his opponent. After only seeing the last three rounds of the N'dou fight it is easy to see their argument also. I personally would be delighted if Gatti faced Freitas OR Witter next. Infact I was going to make a thread about Freitas being in the Light Welterweight devision and what chance would he have vs the champions.
Unless Gatti tries to unify, ANYBODY he faces will be criticised. However, you don't see the others unifying either.
What has Freitas or Castillo done to earn a shot at a 140lb belt - they'll both be murdered by any top6 140lber there too damn small.
Freitas looked small against Corrales at 135 and was destroyed (well would have if he didnt quit). And Castillo got beat but was given a gift against Cassa. If your going to through a lightweight in with a huge light-welter make it Corrales or Cassa, now that may be interesting.
Morales-Paquaio will be great - Pacmans so strong and fast and conditioned and will probably win against the bigger Morales
What has Castillo done to earn a shot at 140. Partially unify the Lightweight title and the fact it is a HUGE struggle for him to make the weight. He was the first fighter to really batter Casamayor at the end of their bout - Corrales had him down but not cut up and looking unsteady like Castillo had.
As for Castillo vs Freitas, Freitas was destroyed!?!?! He was Winning the bout before he quit (which he did do, no doubt). However, he again really couldn't make Super Feather any more (lets not forget that was Corrales' weight also). Just because he isn't a Freak like as Corrales (and I mean that as a compliment), he is equally as Big at Lightweight, because he couldn't win the battle with the scales at Super Feather and had to move up.
Corrales will make Hatton look small, doesn't mean to say he is any bigger at the weight than Freitas.
Castillo a guy who regularly has to have more than one attempt to make Lightweight = too small, Corrales, a guy who has said only last year that he could make Super Feather but then that is acceptable according to you.
I would love the three of them to move up. Casamayor should move back to Super Feather, he was too small at Lightweight vs Castillo.
Witters done more to earn a shot at Gatti than Castillo. Castillos a decent lightweight but won a gift against Cassa who boxed Castillos ears off. Whats the point in Gatti fighting Castillo as Mayweathers beat him. Castillo-Gatti may be a decent fight but Mayweather and Witter should get shots first
Freitas wasn't destroyed but he would've been as soon as Corrales landed he walked through Freitas easily as soon as Freitas stoped running, the top 6-7 140lbers will easily do the same to Freitas. He is a fine size to fight at 135 but not against the best at 140.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 10:24
by stujones
I never said Witter wasn't more worthy, its just if Gatti fought Castillo, Freitas, Casamayor or Corrales he would recieve some criticism (as indicated in this thread).
Similarly, if Gatti fought Witter he would recieve criticism in some quarters, not necessarily on a British forum, but on US forums.
As I said, he cannot win unless he unifies or fights Mayweathers, but then there are no complaints that the others are not unifying.
Look at the list and look at the excuses.
Shamba Mitchell - Shot, too old, overated.
Jesse James Leiga - Old, Small.
The top four Lightweights - Too Small (Casamayor / Freitas and maybe Corrales), to chinny (Corrales / Freitas), lost to Mayweather (Corrales / Castillo), lucky champion (Castillo).
Junior Witter - (from the US) almost came a cropper vs the limited N'dou.
Corely - Faded, beaten twice in three fights.
Urkal - Aging.
Hatton - I don't think there would be any complaints, but he is not available.
So WHO do you think Gatti could fight (apart from Mayweather and in a unification fight) that he would recieve zero criticism for. I personally think there would be less criticism for Gatti vs Castillo as there would be Gatti vs Witter on the whole.
Remember, alot of American folks think Castillo beat Mayweather the first time. I didn't, but alot did.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 10:41
by josh fg
I think what Witter needs to do is make a couple more good fights so that the americans understand they have to take him seriously, possibly a defence of his european title then someone like Takki who is a respected bench mark and then the fight will make its self. I think those fights will make him more accustom to top level fights and also it will mean that he is an opponent that the American audiance will want to see in their with Gatti, mayweather et al.
I think it is important for him to try to make a fight with gatti particularly while he is still world champion becuase he is a big name who is maybe a little over rated, I also fully respect him for calling Gatti out, however if he dosen't get this fight then in the time it takes Gatti to fight one opponent he should come back from his injury and fight maybe two or three so that Gatti's likely next fight in the views of the all important amreican audiance is him.
Posted: 08 Mar 2005, 10:45
by jamesmcdonnell
josh fg wrote:I think what Witter needs to do is make a couple more good fights so that the americans understand they have to take him seriously, possibly a defence of his european title then someone like Takki who is a respected bench mark and then the fight will make its self. I think those fights will make him more accustom to top level fights and also it will mean that he is an opponent that the American audiance will want to see in their with Gatti, mayweather et al.
I think it is important for him to try to make a fight with gatti particularly while he is still world champion becuase he is a big name who is maybe a little over rated, I also fully respect him for calling Gatti out, however if he dosen't get this fight then in the time it takes Gatti to fight one opponent he should come back from his injury and fight maybe two or three so that Gatti's likely next fight in the views of the all important amreican audiance is him.
There's no point fighting Tackie at all. N'dou was fresher than Tackie was and so a fight against the now largely inactive tackie would be a step back.
Witter needs to keep busy whilst waiting for a shot at gatti though, needs to keep attuned and ready for that big fight if and when it comes.
I'd love to see it happen, but I am not sure how keen Gatti's backers would be.