The Boxing Blog - Times Online - WBLG

Homework pays off for Timothy Bradley

Some boxers proudly say that they never watch tapes of their opponents, Timothy Bradley, the new WBC light-welterweight champion, is not one of those boxers. In the past, Junior Witter's switch-hitting style has frustrated opponents, but when he faced Witter at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, on Saturday, Bradley had an answer, one he came up with from hours and hours of watching Witter on film.
"My team and I came up with a strategy, a masterplan," Bradley, 24, said. "The smart plan was to come out and be patient, not rush him. He was expecting me to come forward, because I always come forward in my fights, throwing a lot of punches. But I can box and brawl too.

Junior Witter's belt giving challenger "trembles"

After years of being avoided, it was a rare treat for Junior Witter to come face to face today with someone who actually wanted something he had. Timothy Bradley challenges for Witter's WBC light-welterweight title at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham, on Saturday, and the prospect of boxing for the famous green belt has the unbeaten Californian positively bubbling over.
"I've dreamed of winning this belt," Bradley said. "I look at the belt and it gives me trembles. I see his [Witter's] picture on that belt and I can imagine my picture on there.

Witter gets his chance to shine

It is a sad fact of British boxing that most people do not know who Junior Witter is beyond being "that guy that Ricky Hatton hates". An even sadder indictment that most boxing fans take it upon themselves to dislike Witter merely as a sign of loyalty to Ricky.
However, while Hatton is using his IBO light-welterweight title (and its handy little rule that mean he can pick and choose whoever he wants to face) as a benefit gig with his upcoming bout against Juan Lazcano, Witter has a very live challenger to his much more prestigious WBC belt in Timothy Bradley, an unbeaten American, on May 10 at the Trent FM Arena, Nottingham. And with ITV1 showing the fight live, he has every chance to make a big statement.

Tide of opinion could turn against Hatton over Witter bout

It seems Ricky Hatton has set his mind on never facing Junior Witter, a decision which, if he sticks to it, he could turn out to regret. It is clear that Hatton seriously dislikes Witter, but tht is not a good enough reason to deny the best all-British fight of the present generation - did Benn and Eubank like each other? Certainly opinion within boxing seems to be turning against Hatton on this issue.

Now I like Ricky, a lot, but I am one of a number of people who are growing increasingly uncomfortable with the Hattons' attitude towards Witter.

Witter looking at Torres or Bradley

Denied his big break in the United States when Demetrius Hopkins backed out a bout and sidestepped by Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter, the WBC light-welterweight champion, is now looking at a possible unification bout against Ricardo Torres, the WBO champion in the summer.

The 28-year-old from Colombia, is on a two-man shortlist for Witter's next opponent with Timothy Bradley, the unbeaten American who became the WBC's mandatory contender when Jose Luis Castillo failed to make the weight for their recent eliminator.