TalkingBoxing Interviews
Witter Speaks Out, Prepares for Fall Return
TUE August 23, LUKE CHANCE - For several years British Boxing fans have followed the career of dynamic and stylistically unique Bradford switch hitter Junior Witter 32-1-2 with 19 ko’s. It has long looked as if Witter has been destined for that elusive world title belt. His only shot to date has been as a late replacement against top drawer fighter and current Welterweight champ Zab Judah. This has resulted in Witters only loss by UD, although he gave a good account of himself despite having just hours to prepare.
Since then he has wracked up a staggering 17 wins, with 15 by way of stoppage. This includes wins over world rated Lovemore N’Dou and Andreas Kotelnik as well as the best of what Europe has to offer.
With Ricky Hatton's recent win over Kostya Tszyu Witter has been prepping himself to burst onto the scene and, with the help of Oscar De La Hoya and Mick Hennessy start picking up some world title belts. I caught up with Junior to get his take on how things are progressing for him...
Luke Chance: So last time out a good win against Andreas Kotelnik, how happy were you with your performance?
Junior Witter: Not very really (laughs). I know I won it but I probably could have done a bit more, I could have probably done a bit better.
Luke Chance: Your last two fights against Kotelnik and Lovemore N’Dou have gone the distance, but you have looked to slow down a little bit in the second half of the fight, do you think you have had stamina problems?
Junior Witter: No. If I had stamina problems I wouldn’t have been able to beat them. I wouldn’t have been able to come back at the end of the fight. With both the fights the opponents came on in the middle rounds, did really well and towards the end I came back at them. Luke: At the moment Light Welter is a great place to be, and there are some really exciting fighters out there like Mayweather, Hatton and Cotto, who do you want to fight most?
Junior Witter: I’m going to have to go with Mayweather, followed closely by Hatton
Luke Chance: Any particular reasons?
Junior Witter: I’m just looking for the best out there. He’s ranked as the best out there, so you beat the best to become the best.
Luke Chance: I read in an article that you said you would have stopped the Kostya Tszyu that fought Ricky Hatton, do you think Ricky caught him on a bad night?
Junior Witter: I think he did. I think he caught him just about perfect. I mean, I’m not saying when it comes to his (Tszyus) next fight he’s going to be that poor, he might not be. The thing is on that night Kostya Tszyu was poor. The power wasn’t there, timing wasn’t there, speed wasn’t there. On that night he was just very poor, compared to what we normally expect from Kostya Tszuyu because we know how good he is, and that night he was just not his best.
Luke Chance: How does it feel to be co-promoted by Oscar de La Hoya in the United States?
Junior Witter: It’s great, and a little bit weird! It was good when I met him, he knew exactly who I was, and where I was going.
Luke Chance: How far do you feel you have been ducked at the top level? You seem to call these guys like Mayweather and Hatton out, but they don’t seem to want to talk about you.
Junior Witter: They don’t because they know how dangerous I am. They know how dangerous I am, they know that what they really want is to take money out of the sport, and they can find fights that are easier. They aren’t going to take a dangerous fight when they can just get a better payday, which is why the don’t mention me.
Luke Chance: Now after two UD wins against world ranked opponents do you feel ready for a world title shot?
Junior Witter: Definitely. I’m definitely ready for it. I’ve been about the game a long time. These last couple of years I’ve come along, I’ve changed my training. Right now, I’m ready.
Luke Chance: Yourself and Ricky Hatton have always enjoyed the sort of rivalry that could give the British public a real grudge match. How disappointed would you be if that fight didn’t come off?
Junior Witter: I’d be disappointed, but it’s not the end of the world. I just do what I do, I want that fight to prove I’m the best. It would be an awful shame for that fight not to happen.
Luke Chance: Yeah absolutely, shame for the fans as well, that would be superb.
Junior Witter: He’s said he’s wanted it a couple of times, he’s in a position now where he can make it. So if he wants it he can make it.
Luke Chance: All the pressures on him really.
Junior Witter: I’m the highest ranked contender in his organisation. (IBF No. 3, nobody is ranked above him, Junior is also WBC No. 1)
Luke Chance: He’s really got no excuse has he?
Junior Witter: None at all.
Luke Chance: So when can we expect to see you back in the ring and do you have an opponent in mind?
Junior Witter: I’d say October. October or November. There’s nothing set as yet. Mick (Hennessy) needs to talk to a few people and I’ll just let him get on and do his thing. I’ll just keep in shape, and keep sharp and wait for the fight to be announced.
I would like to thank Jason Frost at Hennessy Sports and of course Junior Witter for taking time out of his schedule to talk with us.
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