Junior Witter

Just want to make a post about this guy as I think he gets forgotten about a lot of the time. Won British, Commonwealth, European and WBC belts. Never protected, often ridiculed for being boring (often by Hatton) but knocked out 15 guys in a row after being thrown in with an undefeated Zab Judah at a weeks notice (and didn't embarrass himself). I think the unluckiest man in boxing that I can remember, maybe on par with Herol Graham. Ended up defending and losing his WBC belt to relatively unheard of Tim Bradley and then when he got his next shot it was against Devon Alexander.

Just want to make the point as well that Witter was approaching his mid 30s by the time he fought those two. Was wasted by ****** in his peak and definitely kept away from Hatton. Witter called him out incessantly and while Hatton continuously agreed to fight him he then played it down with the 'I'd close my curtains if Witter was fighting in my garden' type gag. With all the Soccer a, brigade clapping and laughing. Yet from 2002 to the the Tszyu fight in 2005 Hatton fought around half a dozen guys that sold less that what Witter would have done. ****** knew there was no gain to be made and he knew that Witter was dangerous.

Don't get me wrong, Hatton was good but he was open and Witter was a lethal puncher back then and could have taken his head off. Witter didn't just want a pay day, he knew he could beat Hatton. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mJS-HttWeio

I personally think it's a sad story of how boxing politics can get in a way of a good fighters career and ambitions. Had a messy style but made people look awful and people don't criticise B-Hop for the same thing! Think the last 3-4 years have probably tarnished his legacy in some peoples eyes but I think it's a credit to him that he regained the British title aged 38, against a Colin Lynes who boxed Lee Purdy's head off a few months earlier.

 

I had a lot of arguments with mates and such at the time. People genuinely gave Witter no chance against Hatton. But that was the common man and Witter could have sparked him. Frank is no mug and knew the same.

I suppose watching the 'Sheffield Steel' documentary got the blood pumping again. Even on that programme, Ryan Rhodes seemingly perceived as a bigger winner than him. Maybe Junior was unlikeable but he made the most of what he has and was held back by outside forces. That's my reading of his career anyway.

 

Opinions are opinions but I can't see how it is silly at all. Hatton a fine fighter but fought with his face. Vince Phillips had him in trouble, Collazo had him out on his feet. Witter didn't get stopped until he fought Alexander and was 35 odd. I generally don't think Hatton would land enough punches to think of stopping Witter and I can't see how Junior wouldn't hit him enough to at least bust him up and cause cut issues.