Witter-Ndou...I just don't get it

[dondada]

I didn't see the PPV and have only just watched it on tape. I scored it 118-108. Not even close. I didn't see the first round so just went with the commentators on that one, who gave it to Witter.

They didn't help matters...in the ninth Ndou was literally chasing Witter around the ring and managed to land one or two but Junior had already outboxed him in that session until then. The commentators kept saying Ndou was making a real fight of it as if they were willing him to. He certainly kept coming but there's no doubt who was the boss throughout.

They also kept saying Witter tired badly which I just didn't see either. Yes, he tired certainly, but who wouldn't? This 'tale of two fights' I've heard is rubbish, in my opinion.

Two judges scored it by only two points? Ridiculous. I know they like to reward aggression. I tend you reward how many times you land rather than swing.

In saying that, Junior did get hit too often, perhaps by switching too much.

And the crowd booing...what for? If he was American, they'd have loved it. The commentators spent the last three minutes castigating Witter for his 'clowning'. FFS, give me a performance like that anytime over 'P4P number one' Bernard Hopkins.

[stujones]

Disagree with you Ian. I actually noted that the commentators very rarely pinpointed that Witter was knackered, they were giving the latter rounds to N'dou but saying it was because Witter had changed his tactics.

Perhaps his damaged hands had something to do with it, but I definately thought it was a tale of two 6 rounds.

[mrbassie]

I thought the judge who scored it 115-111 got it about right.

[Kit]

I watched the fight live, well from the fourth round on and I couldn't believe how close the judges scored the fight. I can not agree with the American judges that if it wasn't for the Knock downs N'dou was the winner.
I agree in scoring for the most aggressive and positive fighter in a closely fought round, but surely not for a fighter blindly walking forward and receiving vastly more leather than he is landing.
Witter wasn't as completely dominant late as he was early however he was still comfortably outlanding N'dou and winning the rounds.

[Kit]

I watched the fight live, well from the fourth round on and I couldn't believe how close the judges scored the fight. I can not agree with the American judges that if it wasn't for the Knock downs N'dou was the winner.
I agree in scoring for the most aggressive and positive fighter in a closely fought round, but surely not for a fighter blindly walking forward and receiving vastly more leather than he is landing.
Witter wasn't as completely dominant late as he was early however he was still comfortably outlanding N'dou and winning the rounds.

[Matchfixer]

I thought the judge who scored it 115-111 got it about right.

I had it 114-111 Witter if I remember correctly.

[Matchfixer]

And the crowd booing...what for? If he was American, they'd have loved it. The commentators spent the last three minutes castigating Witter for his 'clowning'. FFS, give me a performance like that anytime over 'P4P number one' Bernard Hopkins.

Agreed!

[liamlion]

They also kept saying Witter tired badly which I just didn't see either. Yes, he tired certainly, but who wouldn't?

In my opinion Witter tired alarmingly so. If he had been in with someone who could do damage for 12 rounds (perhaps Cotto) I think Witter would have been in real trouble.

When Witter decked himself by trying to load up in the 12th, that to me was a clear sign of fatigue and also a sign of desperation for although Witter decked Ndou twice, and gave him a wicked upper cut in th 10th(?) towards the end of the fight Ndou effectively kept coming at Witter.

The fight did a lot for the reputation of Witter, however I couldnt help but think that the 15 straight stoppages since Judah played a huge part in Witter's deterioration during the fight. For instance look at Witter after five rounds he didnt look nearly as in control as during those first four rounds.

[Smit]

They also kept saying Witter tired badly which I just didn't see either. Yes, he tired certainly, but who wouldn't?

In my opinion Witter tired alarmingly so. If he had been in with someone who could do damage for 12 rounds (perhaps Cotto) I think Witter would have been in real trouble.

When Witter decked himself by trying to load up in the 12th, that to me was a clear sign of fatigue and also a sign of desperation for although Witter decked Ndou twice, and gave him a wicked upper cut in th 10th(?) towards the end of the fight Ndou effectively kept coming at Witter.

The fight did a lot for the reputation of Witter, however I couldnt help but think that the 15 straight stoppages since Judah palyed a huge part in Witter's deterioration during the fight. For instance look at Witter after five rounds he didnt look nearly as in control as during those first four rounds.

Thats because he broke his hand... or so he says

[Blue]

He has a medical suspension by the California Commission until Aug. 18th & must clear possible left hand fracture with Dr.

[liamlion]

I appreciate that Witter breaking his hand would account for him not looking so comfortable, but a broken hand doesnt make you fatigued.

Perhaps Witter had to work harder with one hand than two, despite this however at the start of the fight Witter looked razor-sharp but soon after he look ragged, somtimes confused and weary.

The body soon gets into a routine, however hard you train it will never account for the realities of a proper fight. Witter having not done the championship distance for coming up 5 years, in my opinion showed big time. However, having just done the 12 rounds I reckon Witter will be better for it next time.

[dondada]

liamlion - Again, I just don't see it. He tired but for the most part managed to keep out of the way and was well on his toes for the 12th. He got clattered only a few times and was never in any danger. He didn't seem any more tired than any other fighter would be in the same circumstances.

[liamlion]

Fair play Ian. Perhaps Witter wasnt as tired as others fighters would be, but I cant help but think that Witter's style of fighting (The Brendan Ingle style) doesnt lend itself to hard, long distance fights.

Remember Naseem Hamed v Paul Ingle, Hamed battered Ingle till the last quarter of the fight then Hamed got very tired, Hamed kept getting nailed and just like Witter decked himself by loading up in nothing more than shear desperation. But for Hamed's power getting him out of the shit he looked terrible towards the end of the fight.

He also often claimed he had broken hands - any coincidence, is it the only excuse the Ingle boys know?

Witter's style relies on lots of concentration and massive amounts of movement. When tired both these "basics" disappear and expose the fighter somewhat.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I have to say Ian, I am one of THEM, you refer to.

When I watched it live, it seemed to me that the main problem was that Jr didn't pace himself too well, but then maybe the hand was a factor, who knows. He looked a big ragged at times and the showboating was OK I guess, depends on the crowd, apparently Californian crowds aren't too mad about that shit.

Watching it live and on tape are different, when you already know the result and know that Witter doesn't get stopped, the bad patches don't look as telling as they do watching it live. Haven't been able to see it since.

Overall, whilst it was a very good performance, especially early on, the latter half of the fight became a little bit scrappy. People are probably becoming hypercritical because Witter looks a genuine chance of a world title.

[stujones]

Good last sentence James. I got a bit criticised for my take on the fight... but really it was only because he looked like the best Light Welterweight on the planet (bar none) for the first 5 rounds.

[liamlion]

he looked like the best Light Welterweight on the planet (bar none) for the first 5 rounds.

Couldnt have put it better myself.

[johnswan1]

FFS, give me a performance like that anytime over 'P4P number one' Bernard Hopkins.

I enjoyed watching Witter but there are plenty other fighters out there better than him.

I really enjoyed watching Hopkins against Eastman that night, the man is a genius, like him or loathe him.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I enjoy watching Bernard fight. If anything made the fight with Eastman boring it was the fact that Eastman wasn't able to force the fight. Hopkins is already a champion, and his 'job' is to retain that title, there's no onus on him to make his fights exciting, certainly not at the age of 40 when fighting a different style is only going to play into the hands of his opponents.

Watching him fight is a bit like swilling a fine cognac around a glass, there's nuances there to be appreciated, but it's not a real rush.

Fights like Witter v N'dou are more like getting bladdered on Alcopops. Instantly gratifying with a few sketchy moments towards the end of the
night but ultimately more fun.

Witter went out there to make a statement, and by and large he succeeded, to the extent certainly that Golden Boy have become believers.

I for one hope to see Witter in the ring again soon, against someone like Leija perhaps who can give him a few rounds and the benefits of experience. However, he would probably just go through Leija at this stage.

[stujones]

Leija has retired, but I think it would be a good fight - and of course very easy to make if Leija can be persuaded.

Gatti landed a peach of a punch to flattern Leija - his previous work (and Gatti can dig a bit) wasn't budging the hardend Texan. Big hits like Micky Ward and Bojado were not hurting him either.

Witter might land a Gatti esque shot (and has the power for it to cause a similar effect) but I don't think he would walk through Leija and it would be very interesting. Because Leija is faster and better than N'dou still.

[kevin]

Witter calls out Cotto. Press release up at BBN

[Shirow]

Watching him fight is a bit like swilling a fine cognac around a glass, there's nuances there to be appreciated, but it's not a real rush.

Fights like Witter v N'dou are more like getting bladdered on Alcopops. Instantly gratifying with a few sketchy moments towards the end of the
night but ultimately more fun.

I bow down before the king of simile.

[stujones]

Witter calls out Cotto. Press release up at BBN

Read it, Witter seems to forget that he pulled out of the Pinto fight for this very title and then he acts surprised why he is down on the rankings. His injury might have been geniune but it still p'd the WBO off.

[nickd]

Yes he did but that was some time ago. Still doesnt explain how he has gone from #4 to #6 in the last month despite beating N'dou while other guys have sailed above him for no reason. The WBO's ratings are ridiculous anyway, most of their mandatories have been a joke.

[dondada]

I enjoy watching Bernard fight. If anything made the fight with Eastman boring it was the fact that Eastman wasn't able to force the fight. Hopkins is already a champion, and his 'job' is to retain that title, there's no onus on him to make his fights exciting, certainly not at the age of 40 when fighting a different style is only going to play into the hands of his opponents.

Watching him fight is a bit like swilling a fine cognac around a glass, there's nuances there to be appreciated, but it's not a real rush.

Fights like Witter v N'dou are more like getting bladdered on Alcopops. Instantly gratifying with a few sketchy moments towards the end of the
night but ultimately more fun.

Witter went out there to make a statement, and by and large he succeeded, to the extent certainly that Golden Boy have become believers.

I for one hope to see Witter in the ring again soon, against someone like Leija perhaps who can give him a few rounds and the benefits of experience. However, he would probably just go through Leija at this stage.

I actually thought the Eastman fight was one of his more palatable ones. Then again, some of the crowd booed him as well so at least they are consistent.

Hilariously, some started to boo Ikeke's fight incredibly early in and it wasn't as if either fighter was running away!

Indeed, interesting analogy. I take it the cognac would be one old, expensive one!

[BunglesFingers]

Watching 2 guys playing cat & mouse from the cheap seats in a 20,000 seat arena is probably not much fun, hence the booing. I thought it was great watching them size each other up, especially as neither fighter is known to rush things. They just have no patience!