BoxRec

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 10:21**

Junior's at Wit's end
TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR HATTON CLASH
By Steve Royce, sundaymirror.co.uk 02/09/2007

Junior Witter knows time is running out for the showdown with Ricky Hatton that he has been chasing for nearly five years.

On Friday Witter defends his WBC light-welterweight title against brilliant American Vivian Harris in Doncaster, but it is Hatton he is still dreaming of.

"In my opinion Harris is one of the best at my weight in the world and I can't take my eye off this fight," said Witter. "But every single day I think of Hatton because that's the fight I've wanted for far too many years.

"I've done everything that's been asked of me in the last few years but I still feel I'm no closer to getting him in the ring. As the world champion I now have options but if I put my hand on my heart I'd still prefer Hatton in the ring to anybody else."

Next Friday's showdown at the Doncaster Dome will not be easy for the Sheffield-based fighter. Harris has lost just twice in 31 fights and held the WBA version of the title until 2005.

"Witter is a good fighter, so is Hatton, but I truly believe I bring something extra to the table," said Harris. "I know how Witter feels because I was ignored by other world champions for a long time until I got my shot at the title.

"This is just the latest chance to show what I can do and then I'm also going looking for Hatton."

Witter is seriously considering a future without a Hatton fight and has now set his sights on IBF champion Paulie Malignaggi and Welshman Gavin Rees, the new WBA champion.

Witter added: "If it proves impossible to get Ricky to the table there's always the chance of a unification fight against Malignaggi in Madison Square Garden.

"I don't care where I fight so fighting in front of his home-town fans would not be a problem - and the same goes for Gavin.

"It's a great time to be a light-welterweight and a great time to be a British world champion at the weight, and that's why it makes sense for Hatton to finally see sense and agree to fight me."

I'm a fan of Hattons, been to 3 of his Manchester fights inc Tszyu and I should be going to Vegas in December, but even the most hardened British Hatton fan must find it impossible to defend his stance of refusing to fight Junior.

Come on Ricky fight him after Floyd FFS!!!! (providing Witter beats Harris) I'll be appalled if Ricky fights DLH next instead of Witter

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 10:30**

dont write it off if hatton gets beat badly by PBF.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 10:32**

Hatton will never ever fight Witter. There's not enough money to tempt him.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 10:46**

His fee for the Mayweather fight, and the style he will face, will not only remove any doubt he would have beaten Witter - who could clumsily be regarded as a dilute Mayweather in terms of the problems he may cause Hatton - and also further place Witter so far beneath him in terms of monetary value that the fight will never happen.

Hatton is pretty adamant about it isn't he.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 10:46**

boxingchat wrote:Hatton will never ever fight Witter. There's not enough money to tempt him.

Sad but (probably) true

Its a high risk low reward fight to fight Junior, but Ricky shits money these days, so hopefully he'll fight his arch-rival adn stop bottling it.

I'll remember Ricky as much for not fighting Witter as I will for his great wins

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 12:23**

i don't see anyone actually demanding the fight apart from the odd person here & there on this little internet community

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 13:36**

Don't like to admit it, but I doubt we'll ever get to see Hatton vs Witter & if we do, it will probably happen too late. In financial terms, Hatton is way beyond Witter's level.

As someone stated in an earlier reply, the purse Hatton would receive fighting Witter, would probably not even tempt him.

No matter what you think of Witter, you have to give credit to the guy for making his enthusiasm for the possible bout known. It's clear Witter wants the fight.

With Witter being disrespectful to Hatton in the past, I've no doubt Ricky would relish the chance to face Junior. It would be a grudge fight. Maybe Junior went too far in disrespecting Hatton, that Ricky will not even entertain the thought of boxing him?

The brithish public would turn out in their droves for this one, but it seems highly unlikely imo. If Hatton loses to Mayweather, then perhaps that makes Hatton-Witter a little nearer.

If the fight were to happen, it's one I'd like to be at ringside.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 14:05**

I've been a Witter fan for years and don't see Hatton taking this in any circumstances. Even if Mayweather humiliates him he won't fight Witter - Juniors the 1 fighter Ricky couldn't stand losing too.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 14:17**

Hatton is the only huge pay day for Witter, and Hatton knows it and wont give Witter the cash, simple as. Whats Witters biggest pay day to date? I'll bet Ricky earns more opening a local kwiks!!

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 14:19**

This is getting bloody stupid. BC blaming ppl for not wanting to go to fights for starters, then the whole Witter thing...

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 15:12**

I know exactly where Ricky's coming from. It's not the amount of money HE'D get for it, it's the amount Witter would get, obviously by far his biggest payday, that is stopping him fighting Witter. He is 100% certain he would beat Witter, but refuses point blank to put any amount of money in his bank because of the disrespect he has shown him, starting from after the Thaxton fight when he gatecrashed his interview. I personaly wouldn't like to see it anyway, I think Witter would piss about all night and make it boring. Much rather see Hatton V Cotto, now that would be a fight!!

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 16:02**

J wrote:dont write it off if hatton gets beat badly by PBF.

I could see that happening If Hatton loses to Floyd If Witter's still WBC champ by the time wanting to use Witter as a lifeline.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 16:06**

Mooresy wrote:I know exactly where Ricky's coming from. It's not the amount of money HE'D get for it, it's the amount Witter would get, obviously by far his biggest payday, that is stopping him fighting Witter. He is 100% certain he would beat Witter, but refuses point blank to put any amount of money in his bank because of the disrespect he has shown him, starting from after the Thaxton fight when he gatecrashed his interview. I personaly wouldn't like to see it anyway, I think Witter would piss about all night and make it boring. Much rather see Hatton V Cotto, now that would be a fight!!

Floyd's disrespected Hatton loads too but Hatton only Ignores It when It's a big name.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 17:07**

Not only is the Witter fight meaningless now, but it would also be a horrible spectacle if it did happen. Both men hold a lot and Witter's awkward style combined with Hatton's somewhat clumsy aggressiveness would not make for pleasant viewing.

I don't think Hatton is worried by Witter at all, he's already taken tougher challenges. Hatton just doesn't want to give him the payday as has already been mentioned. There are plenty of fights that need to happen in boxing and this is not one of them. I'll be much more disappointed if Hatton doesn't fight Cotto regardless of how they both do in their next fights. That is a fight that is long overdue.

Hatton beats Witter everyday of the week anyway in my opinion. Witter has struggled with fighters not half as good as Hatton and while Hatton has been in a few ugly fights he's only ever been in one close fight against a bigger man. People talk about Witter's style being a problem for Hatton, but it's Hatton's style that would be be a problem for Witter. Witter can't fight at a high pace, he'd wouldn't be able to cope with Hatton's pressure.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 18:29**

Only tougher challenge than Witter for Hatton Is Mayweather.

If Witter's meaningless then why fight Urango.

Hatton struggled with Urango who's not as good as Witter.

Witter can cope with Hatton;s pressure If he times his counters right, Hatton's defence when putting on the pressure Is non existent. Castillo just couldn't hurt him when he landed the straights as Hatton dived In with the pressure and Witter hits harder than Castillo.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 18:53**

All this 'I don't want to line Witters pockets' is abit petty and an excuse IMO.

I just want to see the 2 best in Britain at 140 and possibly the world square off. Its the nearest we'll have got to a Eubank-Benn clash since ....... err Eubank-Benn,but if Ricky had any intention of fighting Junior he'd have done it instead of fighting Urango and Collazo.

With regards to Ricky saying that Junior disrespected him, what does Ricky expect "this is boxing, not a tickling contest"

Witters definately not the first boxer to try and talk his way into a fight, the difference is the one on the recieving end of the abuse usually wants to shut him up in the ring.

Would like to see Hatton-Cotto as well, not too arsed about seeing DLH-Hatton its a clash of the cash cows a fight with more marketing potential than substance IMO. I think Mosley has still got plenty in the tank as well, I reckon he beats Cotto in a great fight.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 18:57**

Floyd's disrespecting him loads but It's ok when your American and can make you at least 8 million.

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 19:50**

I think the only way Witter will get Hatton in the ring is if Ricky has a couple of losses and America isnt interested anymore.

If it does happen it'll be far too late but Hatton would still spark him

Posted: **03 Sep 2007, 20:19**

THe point about hatton's defence being a bit dogey when he is on the attack being shit is true, he also can't fight southpaws so well I think that witter is all wrong for him and Ricky boy knows it.

I don't get it because if I was hatton I would like the oppertunity to prove Im the best fighter in Britain as well as the rest of the world... but people from Lancashire

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 03:03**

There are still a couple of people around trying to justify Hatton v Witter, I hope they remain on their medication.

Desperate desperate tactics in the forelone hope a fight can be made. It was laughable after Witter beat Chop Chop, Hennessy even tried to justify a joint promotion, yet a year on Witter cannot sell out a venue in Doncaster.

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 03:31**

Mooresy wrote:I know exactly where Ricky's coming from. It's not the amount of money HE'D get for it, it's the amount Witter would get, obviously by far his biggest payday, that is stopping him fighting Witter. He is 100% certain he would beat Witter, but refuses point blank to put any amount of money in his bank because of the disrespect he has shown him, starting from after the Thaxton fight when he gatecrashed his interview. I personaly wouldn't like to see it anyway, I think Witter would piss about all night and make it boring. Much rather see Hatton V Cotto, now that would be a fight!!

But If Ricky believed that he'd have fought WItter in a winner takes all as was offered to him instead of Urango

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 04:07**

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I've been a Witter fan for years and don't see Hatton taking this in any circumstances. Even if Mayweather humiliates him he won't fight Witter - Juniors the 1 fighter Ricky couldn't stand losing too.

What a senseless, contradictory and idiotic thing to say.

Why should Ricky care about the other title holders when he's fighting Mayweather and possibly de la Hoya afterward for HUGE money?

Boxing is business. When I talked to Hatton in '04, he didn't want to fight Harris in Detoit for cruddy money. He stuck around for that guy, whatsisname, the guy that "Witter would of beat" (yeah right), Tszyu.

Now he's fighting another guy with the claim to being one of the best p4p, so why should he care what internet sadboys won't let drop?

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 04:51**

The difference is he absolutley HATES Witter, he doesn't feel the same about Mayweather, even if he is annoying. Plus Mayweathers a step up, Witter a couple back IMO.

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 05:15**

Witter's definitely a step back from the fight that Hatton's going in to. Witter has the Golden Boy connections but I don't think they even want him. IMO Golden Boy are just saving him for when Demediocrus Hopkins is ready for a title shot.

There's plenty out there for everyone. I wish Witter luck in beating Harris and hopefully making a good living. But no way is a Hatton fight his birthright.

Posted: **04 Sep 2007, 05:27**

Albert wrote:There are still a couple of people around trying to justify Hatton v Witter, I hope they remain on their medication.

Desperate desperate tactics in the forelone hope a fight can be made. It was laughable after Witter beat Chop Chop, Hennessy even tried to justify a joint promotion, yet a year on Witter cannot sell out a venue in Doncaster.

Hatton's lucky he got Mayweather after DLH though. Took him long enough to finally make the fight.

Hatton's very contradicting at times when It comes to subjects like Witter or his humbleness.