Witter out to foil Hatton in world title bid

[HAFRIDI]

JUNIOR WITTER expects to be crowned WBC world champion in the Summer - one in the eye for his domestic rival Ricky Hatton.
Sheffield's European and Commonwealth light welterweight champion will be Floyd Mayweather's mandatory challenger in a fight in the US before July.
While Hatton has enjoyed the limelight in the last 12 months, Witter's achievement could be recognised on an even bigger scale, given that Hatton's IBF belt is considered junior to the WBC trinket.
And the huge challenge of de-throning the unbeaten American - considered by some as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer - on his own turf doesn't worry the Brendan Ingle switch-hitter, either.
"To be the man you have to beat the man. And this fight with Mayweather is where I have wanted to be all my career," says Witter. "It is the belt that everybody wants. It will take super-human effort to beat him but I've never done anything the easy way. It can be done, and when I do it, I will be recognised above Hatton."
Witter, 31, is confident he can hold his own with the Las Vegas-based 28-year-old 'Pretty Boy' saying: "He has never been hit by anybody who punches as hard as me at this weight. But he has got speed, experience and agility - he is an awesome fighter in every way."
Witter had been preparing for a final eliminator against Gianluca Branco - but he opted to fight WBO champ Miguel Cotto instead.

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[HAFRIDI]

Commonwealth and European light welterweight champion Junior Witter is another Hennessy Sports fighter set for a massive 2006 after being officially installed by the WBC as the mandatory contender to their light welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather. A purse bid was due to be held today for his contest against Gianluca Branco to establish who would fill that position, but the Bradford switch hitter woke up to a letter from the governing body this morning that read:

“You have been officially appointed as mandatory challenger for the super lightweight division as per the agreement at our convention in October, since Gianluca Branco has withdrawn from the final elimination bout ordered by the WBC.”

It added: The WBC is very proud of you; you participated in an elimination bout beating Lovemore N’Dou in a great fight and we would like to wish you the best of luck in your career.”

Branco has opted to fight WBO champion Miguel Cotto rather than face Witter.

It was a turn of events predicted by Hennessy Sports head Mick Hennessy, who duly sought assurances from the WBC at their convention in Cadiz last year that should the Italian withdraw, his man automatically be given the right to challenge Mayweather.

It comes at the end of a good week for the promotional company. They had already secured Howard Eastman a final eliminator for the IBF middleweight title, Carl Froch the #6 position in the super middleweight rankings with the WBC and Lenny Daws a final eliminator for the British light welterweight title.

Witter, who actually vacated the British light welterweight title yesterday, is understandably upbeat. “I’m really happy to finally have the mandatory position,” he said. “Fighting for the WBC title will mean the world to me. It’s the belt everyone wants; it’s the dream.

“That’s why I have patiently gone about earning my shot and remained very loyal to the WBC, despite being presented with other opportunities.

“Thanks to my promoter Mick Hennessy, they have recognised this. This is a result of Mick fighting my corner at their convention in Spain last year. He told them Branco would go missing and he did.

“I’m glad he is finally out of the picture. He has pulled out of fights before. He was supposed to fight me a while back for the European, but pulled out. He was then next to me in the WBC rankings, but was withdrawn because he was supposed to fight Cotto.

“That fight didn’t happen, so he was put back in the WBC rankings and mandated to fight me. Now he has pulled out again. He has swerved me at world and European level. He must know I will knock him out, even though he started talking big a while back when I said he was scared of his own shadow. Let’s hope he goes through with this latest world title shot.”

Witter, who’s only defeat came in November 2000 when as a novice he took then IBF champion Zab Judah the distance on seven days notice, now has bigger fish than Branco to fry. Next up could be ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather, regarded by many as the world’s best pound for pound, although his next move remains unclear.

“I’ve given up predicting what fighters are going to do, but I hope Mayweather sticks around,” Witter added. “Even though he is the toughest fight out there I want him and genuinely believe I can beat him.

“I think he is a brilliant fighter and has grown into the light welterweight division much better than I thought he would do, but his chin still hasn’t been tested by a proper puncher at the weight like me. I have been a light welterweight since I was 16.

“I am stronger than anybody else he has ever fought. I would build on that by getting myself into fantastic condition. This is the fight I need to motivate myself. If it happens I am going to go into a training camp in America. My focus will be unbelievable.

“It would be a very skilful, technical fight. He is a great thinking fighter, but I know that I will catch him. Then I wouldn’t let him get off the hook. I would jump on him.”

Should Mayweather vacate, Witter will meet a co-challenger for the vacant WBC crown. There is no potential foe that worries him.

“I don’t mind who I have to fight if Mayweather does go elsewhere, as long as it’s soon,” he continued. “I am confident I can beat any 140lb fighter in the world. Maybe Zab Judah could step in. That might make for an interesting rematch if he comes back down to light welterweight now that he has been beaten. It would be a whole different affair this time round. I have championship experience now and would get notice this time. I would knock him out.”

With this development, the Ingle trained fighter could be forgiven for letting his mind race forward to a unification match against long time rival Ricky Hatton. He’s having none of it.

“I’m not thinking that far ahead,” he stressed. “I want to get that green belt round my waist first. Mayweather has to fight me before the end of June and I will start making decisions after that. I am sure that there will be plenty of opportunities once I am champion, but I will leave Mick to handle that.”

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

maybe witter should stop talking as much - he was awful against zab judah - ok he took fight on a week's notice and was a novice - but why take it if ur not in shape - he took judah the distance by running around the ring and then he brags about his power at the weight - dont make me laugh - ppl know judah has a suspect chin why not have a go?

As for hatton, he has nothing to prove to someone like junior witter - ricky hatton has shown what he can do - junior witter just seems to carry on talking - well if he does face FMJ - i wish him all the luck in the world coz he would need it!

[Waqar's inswinging yorker]

there is a cracker of a fight coming up on the weekend - rematch between

erik "el terrible" morales and manny "pacman" pacquaio.

First fight was a cracker which morales won but the pacman has stopped marco antonio barrera in the past who coincidenatlly is one of two men to have beaten morales ( a personal favourite fighter of mine).

Morales was upset last time out by zahir raheem - but am sure he wont make same mistake again!

[HAFRIDI]

maybe witter should stop talking as much - he was awful against zab judah - ok he took fight on a week's notice and was a novice - but why take it if ur not in shape - he took judah the distance by running around the ring and then he brags about his power at the weight - dont make me laugh - ppl know judah has a suspect chin why not have a go?

As for hatton, he has nothing to prove to someone like junior witter - ricky hatton has shown what he can do - junior witter just seems to carry on talking - well if he does face FMJ - i wish him all the luck in the world coz he would need it!

im a fan of witter, witter called out at hatton enough times, even at witters fights which hatton was ringside, witter was talking big to him like i will knock u out etc..i think hatton should have fought him anytime before breaking through america.

[Geordie Ahmed]

Witter is an average boxer - Hatton and FMJ would be stupid to waste their time on him

Oh and he's from Bradford which is not a good thing :D