Airing now on Showtime Extreme: Timothy Bradley vs. Junior Witter - May 10, 2008

Round 9

Bradley is walking through Witter's very light jabs. Witter is keeping his hands low, drawing the well-pail up and pushing jabs out with whichever hand he's leading with, slow and weak. Witter is concentrating nearly all his energy on elusiveness of foot now, pulling his head back when Bradley throws combos at him leaping in, getting nicked with at least a few pieces of shrapnel every time Bradley detonates. Witter winces when Bradley gets close, keen to avoid the incidental headbutts as much as the punches. Witter is switching his stance constantly, schizophrenically, bereft of ideas, reduced to light push-jabs and those badly telegraphed with the elevator ride up his hip.

10-9 Bradley

87-83 Bradley

 

Round 10

Bradley is fully warmed up now, jabbing his way in and throwing lead boomerang rights up top. Bradley is walking in, bouncing his weight from lead to rear foot, taking a step back, then in again, jabbing and working the body. Witter looks exasperated and old, not happy with Bradley's rhythm. Witter is throwing left hooks at the body, straying borderline low as Bradley folds himself up jumping in. Witter is leaning back as far as he can and reaching with jabs, getting countered with bunches of head punches as he pulls straight back, fearful of Bradley's hard prow which always precedes his gloves.

10-9 Bradley

97-92 Bradley

 

Round 11

Bradley is ducking in throwing combos as Witter throws single lead hooks at him, falling in with them and then pushing off. Witter circles at mid-range, hands dangling low, chin up in the air. Bradley rushes in, slapping up top with a yo-yo left hook as he gets clasped. Headbutt. Witter cut on both eyes now. Witter slaps in some body hooks, glancing off Bradley's elbows. Bradley is bouncing in place, then whips up an overhand right as Witter is loading up on a shot.

10-9 Bradley

107-101 Bradley

 

"I can't give the champion a round in the 2nd half of this fight".

- Nick Charles

 

Round 12

Bradley is pushing Witter's head back with left jabs, bullying his way in past Witter's light poking right jab. Bradley is chopping his way in with both hands, driving Witter back with hammering flurries up close. Witter is overwhelmed by the constant deluge of overhand lefts and rights by Bradley, moving away in straight lines and making the critical error of turning his head and shutting his eyes while pushing out. Bradley is chopping Witter across the face with short punches inside as Witter lines up a southpaw 1-2 after stepping outside and miscalculating the distance and Bradley's forward momentum.

10-9 Bradley

117-110 Bradley

 

"I have 116-111 (Bradley), Nick"

- Farhood

 

Official cards:

Franco Ciminale 115-112 Witter
Daniel Van de Wiele 115-113 Bradley
Omar Mintun 114-113

winner by SD...Timothy Bradley

 

Right?

 

Man, what a raw outburst of joy from Bradley celebrating his first world title acquisition.

I don't think I've ever seen him this jubilant since.

 

The fans actually booed the scorecard of Franco Ciminale when Jimmy Lennon Jr. read it out. They cheered the other two.

Witter even knew he lost. He was shaking Bradley's hand and congratulating him before the announcement.

 

Um, no. :yep

 

Franco Ciminale is still a pro judge. Worse, he is still assigned to world title bouts - albeit mostly female ones.

I'm skimming through his record, though, and there's nothing else too controversial. :think Just the one bad night.

He only gave Bradley four rounds. (including the automatic 10-8 in the 6th)