BoxRec

Witter closing in



Bradford’s Junior Witter has moved closer to a shot at a genuine world title having recently been installed into the top three of all the major governing bodies light welterweight rankings.

This includes the IBF - of whom long-term domestic rival Ricky Hatton is champion – who place him at third. Significantly there is no other fighter ranked above him.

“I am the obvious choice to become Ricky’s first mandatory contender, whether directly or through a final eliminator,” explained the 31-year-old Witter.

“Obviously that would be a dream come true for me; it is a fight I have wanted for years.

“Once Ricky had become IBF champion I thought the chances of it ever coming off had passed completely – why would he risk his position by facing me?

“But the job my promotional team have done has made it a distinct possibility again. Ricky will have to fight me if I’m his mandatory.”

The Ingle trained switch-hitter – who recently defeated Andreas Kotelnik, the mandatory contender for his European title – is highest ranked at #2 with the WBC.

A fight with current champion and pound for pound operator Floyd Mayweather may also be on the cards then given that the #1 contender Gianluca Branco is rumoured to be challenging WBO champion Miguel Cotto.

“I would not be fazed at taking on Mayweather, despite that fact that most people regard him as the best in the sport,“ said Witter. “I know that when I land flush I can take out any 140lb fighter, including the ‘Pretty Boy’.

“The fight is becoming a real possibility, particularly if Branco moves out of the way, potentially making the need for a final eliminator redundant.”

Witter now occupies the number #3 berth with both the WBA and WBO, whose current champions are Carlos Maussa and Miguel Cotto respectively. Given that the future intentions of fighters ranked above him by both organisations are unclear, challenges for these titles are also within touching distance.

“Sooner or later one of the champions is going to have to defend against me,” Witter added. “I am now in pole position; how many other fighters are ranked so highly with all the governing bodies?

“In the past I have been put forward as a potential challenger for the likes of both Mayweather and Cotto and was turned down.

“The only way these guys will be able to avoid me soon is by giving up their belts.”

Witters had to do it the hard way, but like I always said, if he keeps on winning then eventually the sanctioning bodies will have a hard job avoiding him, and this seems to be the case.

I would love to see Witter get a shot as a mandatory, as this is precisely the only way it's likely to happen. I should imagine Warren would be lobbying furiously to avoid this.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Witters had to do it the hard way, but like I always said, if he keeps on winning then eventually the sanctioning bodies will have a hard job avoiding him, and this seems to be the case.

I would love to see Witter get a shot as a mandatory, as this is precisely the only way it's likely to happen. I should imagine Warren would be lobbying furiously to avoid this.

Why to you think FW will want to avoid this madatory, Hatton will have a voluntary first plus the way Witter has looked in his last two outings Hatton might not be so fearful.

Its still a huge match in the UK.

If Witter does get a shot, to beat either Hatton or Mayweather I think he needs to sort a few things out in the gime (gym), perhaps a fancy nutritionist or a dedicated conditioning coach to help with that stamina problem.
You can't challenge good champions and expect to win if you knacker yourself in five rounds and I've had to alter my opinion of his chances since he's faded twice (very badly the second time) in a row doing twelve.

Why to you think FW will want to avoid this madatory, Hatton will have a voluntary first plus the way Witter has looked in his last two outings Hatton might not be so fearful.

Hatton fearful.

stujones wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Witters had to do it the hard way, but like I always said, if he keeps on winning then eventually the sanctioning bodies will have a hard job avoiding him, and this seems to be the case.

I would love to see Witter get a shot as a mandatory, as this is precisely the only way it's likely to happen. I should imagine Warren would be lobbying furiously to avoid this.

Why to you think FW will want to avoid this madatory, Hatton will have a voluntary first plus the way Witter has looked in his last two outings Hatton might not be so fearful.

Its still a huge match in the UK.

I doubt Hatton is fearful in any way of Witter, personally, judging by Witter's last two performances, he has little to fear, he would stop Witter in 9.

However, that's not the point, it's just opinion of course, but I think Frank would rather staple his own cock to the table than give Witter a shot, and to an extent you can't blame him.

Witter's spent half his career slagging off Hatton and Warren, even when he was being promoted by the same man.

Truth is, there's nothing unusual in a promoter not matching his own fighters together, where's the sense in doing so? The problem with Witter, is that he wasn't getting the fights he needed from SN, so in the end he had to jump ship.

Having said that, he did have that fight with Pinto which he seemed to want no part of. Had he beaten Pinto then he would have suddently been on the world stage, but he preferred to take another route.

Hatton would fight King Kong if you waved a banana, he's not scared, but there are bigger fights out there for him right now, though the LW division is clearing out pretty quick, with Gatti, Tszyu and pretty soon Cotto gone, then there could be more spur for this fight to happened.

jaspey wrote:

Why to you think FW will want to avoid this madatory, Hatton will have a voluntary first plus the way Witter has looked in his last two outings Hatton might not be so fearful.

Hatton fearful.

Yes, badly worded by myself there. Didn't mean it to sound like that - of course Hatton isn't fearful of Witter but his last two performances have shown huge chinks that perhaps Hatton didn't realise he had before.

we should take mayweather out of the reckoning @ 140lbs,he's won his title he'll move up for the next title @ 147 then 154.....so leave him out of it cos the guys a freak..

how about witter v maussa...unless harris has signed a rematch with maussa and then witter faces the winner of that

Witter should go for the WBA or WBC then fight Hatton. His stamina didn't seem to be that in his last fight he looked like he was trying to get through his guard though since he kept it high.

Witters career is boring as hell he's almost 32 now and still the only time he gets mentioned is when he's trying to insult Hatton. He needs to get a move on with his career because he's only got a year or two left.

No way Maussa will want to fight Witter. He'll be looking for a payday and there will be an endless queue of contenders wanting to fight him which is led by Harris.
Opinion has changed as well on Junior now and I don't think there are the people now who give him much of a chance against Hatton with his obvious stamina problems. Maybe they will want to get rid of him for good, one more loss for Junior and it's all over.

What's going on with the IBF eliminator?

stujones wrote:

jaspey wrote:

Why to you think FW will want to avoid this madatory, Hatton will have a voluntary first plus the way Witter has looked in his last two outings Hatton might not be so fearful.

Hatton fearful.

Yes, badly worded by myself there. Didn't mean it to sound like that - of course Hatton isn't fearful of Witter but his last two performances have shown huge chinks that perhaps Hatton didn't realise he had before.

I don't think its bad wording when hes blatantly ducked Witter for years. But your right based on the last fight Hatton may make the fight

I don't think its bad wording when hes blatantly ducked Witter for years. But your right based on the last fight Hatton may make the fight

Witters been looking for a payday off Hatton for years you mean. Hatton even in his lowest grossing fight in the last 4 years earnt more than witter has in his entire career, Witter is strictly smalltime . Witter brings absolutely nothing at all to the table besides his big mouth.The only time he ever gets in the news is when he's talking about Hatton. .

jaspey wrote:

I don't think its bad wording when hes blatantly ducked Witter for years. But your right based on the last fight Hatton may make the fight

Witters been looking for a payday off Hatton for years you mean. Hatton even in his lowest grossing fight in the last 4 years earnt more than witter has in his entire career, Witter is strictly smalltime . Witter brings absolutely nothing at all to the table besides his big mouth.The only time he ever gets in the news is when he's talking about Hatton. .

Oh;…
I guess the British, Commonwealth, & European Titles aren’t worth much in England.
I wonder why he never got a shot at the highly esteemed WBU Title.
He must have had a real crapy manager before he hooked up with Hennessy. 8)

they are worth much Blue, people are just getting fed up of listening to the same old diatribe from Witter followed by mediocre performances in the ring.

I know you dont like hatotn but at the end of the day he has now done it, has reached the pinncale in his weight division despite your opinions mate and hopefully can go on to be a genuine P4P top tenner over the next 24 months.

must hurt to see him do that and your boy Cotto still fighting b grade fighters such as Branco

J wrote:they are worth much Blue, people are just getting fed up of listening to the same old diatribe from Witter followed by mediocre performances in the ring.

I know you dont like hatotn but at the end of the day he has now done it, has reached the pinncale in his weight division despite your opinions mate and hopefully can go on to be a genuine P4P top tenner over the next 24 months.

must hurt to see him do that and your boy Cotto still fighting b grade fighters such as Branco

Here here!