BoxRec

Witter Lynes up Colin, Branco and Mayweather



Bradford’s Junior Witter will meet Italy’s Gianluca Branco in a final eliminator for the WBC light welterweight title once he has successfully defended his British, Commonwealth and European crowns against Colin Lynes at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on October 21st.

Whilst the Lynes fight – promoted by Matchroom Sports - has been scheduled for a while now, the WBC’s decision to mandate a contest for the right to fight their champion Floyd Mayweather was only made today, (October 6th), at their annual convention being held in Cadiz, Spain.

“This news means that Junior is rapidly closing in on a super fight against Mayweather, one of the world’s best pound for pound fighters,” said promoter Mick Hennessy, who is in Cadiz representing his boxers.

There was more good news for Witter. The WBC also decided that if a purse bid were required to establish who had the right to promote the fight against Branco, he would be entitled to 60% of the winning offer.

“Normally, in this situation the winning bid is split 50-50 between the two co-challengers for the mandatory position,” Hennessy explained.

“But after a vigorous discussion between the WBC, Branco’s promoter and Hennessy Sports, it was agreed that the split would be 60-40 in Junior’s favour.

“This is in order to reflect the fact that Junior has already won a WBC eliminator – when he dominated the world class Lovemore N’Dou in Los Angeles in February, scoring two knockdowns on the way to a sensational points win.

“When you also consider Junior’s recent performances, his loyalty to the WBC and the fact that we have requested final eliminators for him in the past, it becomes even more evident that he deserves the bigger share.”

Witter, of course, first has to get past Lynes, who fancies his chances of causing an upset. Last week the 26-year-old from Dagenham stated that it was time for Witter to be beaten by a younger fighter. It is a claim that has been met with derision.

“Is that all he can say about why he is going to win this fight? Sounds like he is grasping at straws to me,” said Witter. “Yes I am older than him, but if anything I will use that as motivation. I enjoy beating young up and comers who think they can take me on; it gives me satisfaction.

“And after all, I am only 31 – and a young 31 at that. You haven’t seen me in too many wars have you? How am I going to get old yet?

“In fact, I am still improving. I am fitter that I have ever been, faster than I have ever been and packing a bigger punch with both fists. Unfortunately for him, he’s going to be finding that out first hand.

“Hopefully I will peak around the time I get to fight Mayweather next year. I will need to be at my best for that, but I know that if I land flush on him, or any other 140lb fighter, its lights out.”

Tickets for Junior Witter’s fight against Colin Lynes at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on October 21st can be bought on 07932 941764.

Witter will have to preform better than he has been to beat Branco

What are the chances of Branco pulling out at some point though?

Witter would/will beat Branco quite easily IMO aslong as he doesn't fade within the first 7 or 8 rounds.

Still dont think the fight will happen though, Branco will pull out of it for some reason.

Jesus, Branco is well in with the WBC.

He's already had his mandatory shot - he fought well against Gatti but ultimately lost. Meaning Branco has to climb his way back up the rankings (surely?). Instead however after the defeat to Gatti, Branco was effectively put back into the mandatory position where in a scheduled final eliminator against Witter he pulls out - Witter instead fought and beat N'dou.

Yet instead of Witter being the mandatory Branco still, somehow has a hold on the position. Perhaps Branco pulled out of the fight with Cotto, on the basis that the WBC offered him a final eliminator?

Contrary to what the Hennessey press release says, Witter being confirmed for a final eliminator with Branco is not good news. A fight with Mayweather...now that would be good news.

Branco already ducked out of a fight with Witter. How many chances is that pudendum going to get?

If Mayweather moves up in weight we could see Witter v Branco for the title proper.

nickd wrote:Branco already ducked out of a fight with Witter. How many chances is that pudendum going to get?

Thats a valid point.

But after the defeat to Gatti, what has Branco done since? Has he beaten anybody of note? Should Branco have even been awarded an eliminator against Witter? - and on the basis that he was awarded the fight, having pulled out, Branco should be shunted to the back of the cue.

Personally I think Mayweather is on the move and that by the time Branco and Witter materialises it will be for the vacant WBC title.

Excellent news for Junior and excellent work from Mick Hennessey . Lets hope that Junior is fully focussed (I'm sure he will be) because it would be an absolute travesty if he were to lose before getting to Mayweather.

The purse bids and home advantage is going to be very important for the final eliminator with Branco, so lets hope Mick (or Oscar??) digs deep. I reckon this could quite easily be staged in the US on a BIG fight undercard, ala Witter-N'Dou.

If all goes to plan we could be watching Witter-Mayweather next summer or at least Junior contesting the vacant title. I think Hatton is making his way towards a fight with Mayweather as well as he wants to unify the division, so that could prove to be an interesting twist as well!!

I'm trying to calm my brain down, BUT what if Junior sparks Floyd then Witter-Hatton could be a unification contest (fornicate it....I'm going for a wank)

All this eliminator rubbish!

PBF would spank Witter anyway! He should concentrate on the WBO and a fight with Cotto. I'm starting to lose count at how many eliminators that Witter is being lined up for!

I still see the Branco fight closer than some of you, i'm not saying that he deserves to be in an eliminator, but Witter in his last couple of fights has looked a bit dodgy in the closing rounds, Branco is a good all round boxer with good stamina, if Witter doesn't blow him out early he could struggle

nickd wrote:Branco already ducked out of a fight with Witter. How many chances is that pudendum going to get?

If Mayweather moves up in weight we could see Witter v Branco for the title proper.

my thoughts exactly.

love to c witter pancake branco in his hometown.

then get bottled to within an inch of his life.

I think Hennessy will win the bid,he wont let it go to Italy.

numpty wrote:All this eliminator rubbish!

PBF would spank Witter anyway! He should concentrate on the WBO and a fight with Cotto. I'm starting to lose count at how many eliminators that Witter is being lined up for!

i agree with that.

cotto looked for the taking against torres and witter has the type of punches in his arsenal to exploit those defensive gaps.

mayweather would just outbox witter with his speed.

Witter would knock out Branco, but it will never happen Branco will pull out before it happens GUARANTEED. He already did it once, and then pulled out of the Cotto fight.

Why does a mandatory contender then have to fight an eliminator? It strikes me as simply a scam for more sanctioning fees. As has rightly been pointed out Branco has had (and blown) his shot. And looking at his record he's not done much since. That said, call it a European Title fight and that'll be fair enough. Not that this matters as I reckon Witter would win.

Exactly Dan, The WBC are starting to make a bit of a mockery of this whole mandotary/eliminator bullshit..

Witter is not a very attractive champion for them and probably wont make as much money for them as say some like Ffloyd! They are doing whatever they can to have a 'star' as their 140lb champion.

PBF will probably vacate the 140 and head to 147 soon anyway after a couple of defenses and Witter will fight a b+ fighter for the belt, so I suppose Witter and Hennesey aren't doing anything wrong. I wonder if you see Hatton calling out Witter if he had hold of the WBC belt. It would go nicely next to his IBF and WBA! I still think he should fornicate the WBU piece of shit in the bin though!

I doubt he throw wbu away. He probably get stripped of it as he not with sports network anymore.

Witter we beat Branco could be on points

topper123 wrote:Witter will have to preform better than he has been to beat Branco

No he wont Kotlenik is better than Branco

every chance lynes will spoil the party, he deserves some respect,everyone here is talking like its a done deal

oscar wrote: every chance lynes will spoil the party, he deserves some respect,everyone here is talking like its a done deal

Witter is several notches above Lynes, I think he'll knock him out in 2 or 3 rounds.

If Floyd moves up, which is very possible, Witer v Branco would be for the title. If Witter then beat Branco, which is very possible, he would be the WBC champion.

Then Hatton v Witter would have to take place to unify the division. Fcuking mouth-watering stuff.

Ooops, did i mention Hatton still has to beat Massua


Its all very possible, but then, perhaps Witter gets a shot at Mayweather first and we have to watch him run like a bitch like he did against Judah! In all fairness though, he'd have time to prepare for this one, and he does seem to be hitting with much more accuracy and power. If he got lucky he could spark Floyd early, though, i would expect him to be schooled and finish up doing the 100 meters backwards.

There is no way Witter-PBF would happen. There would not be enough reward for PBF for the risk of taking on a relatively unknown puncher.