BoxRec

Witter expecting a tough night



Junior Witter claims his WBC light-welterweight title showdown with Vivian Harris in Doncaster on September 7 will decide who is the best ten stone fighter in the world.

The Bradford switch-hitter faces his New-York based challenger in his second defence of the most-coveted world title at the The Dome at Doncaster Lakeside on Friday, September 7 in a show to be screened live on Sky Sports.

The fight with Harris follows Witter’s points defeat of DeMarcus Corley to lift the belt a year ago and ninth round stoppage of Mexican Arturo Morua in January.

Witter rates Harris as better than his other rival world champions – American Paulie Malignaggi (IBF champion) and Welshman Gavin Rees (WBA champion).

“The WBC title is the world title that holds the most respect and this is between the two top fighters in the world now at light-welterweight,” said Junior.

“The other world champions are good as well. Paulie Malignaggi looked really good, very slick, in his last fight while Gavin Rees did everything right and Souleymane M’Baye did everything wrong when they fought recently.

“But I think Harris is better than both of them. It’s a very tough, tough fight for me and will sort out who is the best light-welterweight in the world.

“He has travelled well and I expect a tough fight. It’s not a foregone conclusion and he has a lot of skills.

“I expect it to be a very technical fight and he will try to use his range while I will try to use my speed.

“He’s a tougher opponent than someone like Jose Luis Castillo, who Ricky Hatton beat last time out. Harris is big at the weight and is a boxer.”

Hennessy Sports Proudly Present
“Vicious Hitters” @ the Doncaster Dome
Friday 7th September 2007.
Doors 6pm, Boxing Starts 6.30pm.

Ticket Prices:

• Premium Ringside £200 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar

• Inner Ringside £150 – Reserved with access to VIP Bar

• Outer Ringside £60 – Reserved

• Premium Unreserved (ground floor tiered) £50

• Unreserved (balcony) £40

For Tickets call the Box Office on: 01302 370777 or book via the web: http://www.the-dome.co.uk

12x3 WBC Light Welterweight World Championship
Junior Witter (Bradford ENGLAND) vs Vivian Harris (New York USA)

10x3 English Super Flyweight Championship
Robert Nelson (Bradford) vs Andy Bell (Doncaster)

8 x 3 Lightweight
Lee Meager (Salford) vs TBA ()

6 x 3 Lightweight
Nadeem Siddique (Bradford) vs Tom Glover (Maldon)

4 x 3 Light Middleweight
Andy Butlin (Huddersfield) vs Karl Chiverton (Mansfield)

4 x 3 - Light Heavyweight
Danny Grainger (Chesterfield) vs TBC

4 x 3 – Lightweight
Femi Fehintola (Bradford) vs Matthew Martin Lewis (Colchester)

Bollocks will it decide the best. Titles don't define who is the best. It should, but it doesn't.

Harris has yet to really recover from the Maussa loss, beating Witter would do it but as it stands, that loss still hangs over his head.

And Witter has failed to look good since the first 5 rounds against N'Dou.

As for Malignaggi, I think he'd beat Witter and possibly Harris. He gave a P4P fighter in Cotto a severe run for his money and beat N'Dou by a much wider margin than Witter did. I think he would simply out work Witter. Torres is no mug either.

Of course this debate about the best is only viable when Hatton decides to move out for one fight deals because Hatton murders the lot of them.

i thought hennessy would of put a better undercard on than this he could of put micky steeds on this show besause steeds would of sold more tickets than most of the undercard put together

Now that Hattons fighting at Welter (for now anyway), Witter and Harris are the 2 most proven fighters at 140, obviously that doesn't mean they'd both beat Maliganni who looks an absolute nightmare to fight, but this is a BIG fight and I think the winner has the right to claim the #1 spot til proven otherwise.

I'm intrigued by this fight, I think it'll be a cracker.

COME ON JUNIOR!!!!

1southpaw wrote:besause steeds would of sold more tickets than most of the undercard put together

In Doncaster????

Best fight he can take given that hatton don't want him so fair enough really. Undercard isn't great your right.

is troy ross not fighting on the undercard of witter/harris

The main event is a good fight but that undercard is weak when you look at the ticket prices.

I've seen much better undercards at York Hall for £20-30.

Good to see Fehintola back in action its a crap undercard though particularly by Hennassy standards.

Chambers2 wrote:

1southpaw wrote:besause steeds would of sold more tickets than most of the undercard put together

In Doncaster????

yes micky took more people to wales to fight gammer than gammer did and gammer was at home steeds fans will travel all over

I actually think that whoever wins this fight deserves to be called number one at the weight.

Frankly Ian, I'm shocked by your statement.

Whatever the outcome of this fight, Hatton has a better track record than either man, and I fail to see how Witter beating Harris or vice versa does anything to affect that.

I'm not sure what version of Harris we are going to see, but if it's the best Version, then I think Witter is in for a bloody hard night's work, and would make Harris the slight favourite.

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:I actually think that whoever wins this fight deserves to be called number one at the weight.

Harris might as well take his pimp slap like a man then.

Witter-Harris is as good a match as any other being made at light welter at the moment (on paper at least), so the winner does have a claim to be numero uno at 10st.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Frankly Ian, I'm shocked by your statement.

Whatever the outcome of this fight, Hatton has a better track record than either man, and I fail to see how Witter beating Harris or vice versa does anything to affect that.

I'm not sure what version of Harris we are going to see, but if it's the best Version, then I think Witter is in for a bloody hard night's work, and would make Harris the slight favourite.

Don't be daft, Jim, I haven't gone mental - I mean discounting Hatton who has gone up to welter (until 08 at least).

Oh, yeah, I knew that....was just um, teasing.

Dont see how Witter can make that claim - Malinaggi is an awesome fighter who would be very hard to beat and I reckon Rees would stay with Witter and beat him on workrate - If Ricky was still in the mix, he would definately still be the top dog - Mind its all opinion and as we all know Witter is very self opinionated - Having said that I have to concede Witter is being far more humble than usual saying that beating Harris is no forgone conclusion - He is of course absolutely right and Harris is big at the weight - It looks like being a good fight and close one as well with Harris just ahead by a round or two - Cant see Witter finishing it with one of his big bombs, he is finding it harder to land them at this level.

Rees would beat Witter? Come on. He was lucky to catch a very average champ M'Baye on his worst night and he's going to beat Witter now?

I think Malinaggi has some way to go before he can be labelled an "awesome fighter".

Cotto is nearer to an awesome fighter and he did indeed give Malinaggi a real spanking.

Rees wouldn't beat Lynes no way does he beat Witter. Rees' workrate isn't even all that.