Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Last night at the Doncaster Dome, in Doncaster, England, WBC Light Welter Champion Junior Witter faced his mandatory contender, ex-WBA titlist, Vivian Harris. On a Hennessy Sports Promotion, billed as “Vicious Hitters”, local boy Witter was to make his second defence of the title and, for many, this would be his toughest test.
“Vicious” Vivian Harris from Guyana, now based in Brooklyn, New York, looked relaxed as he entered the ring.
Junior “The Hitter’ Witter entered the ring alongside trainer Dominic Ingle to the sounds of the rap song, “Junior Witter's in the House”
Round one and both men are cagey as they suss each other out in the ring with the only real action happening in the last 40 seconds of the round as Harris lands a body shot and then Witter pushes forward with a flurry of shots.
Witter starts the second round in his usual “fencing-style’ stance; left arm high as his glove teases the space in front of Harris’ forehead. They exchange a couple of shots. Witter seems to be looking for the big shot as a couple of wild swinging rights go in.
In the last minute of the round, Witter throws the left hand and keeps up the pressure as he lands another and then seconds later, a right hand.
Harris does well to keep him off, but he looks frustrated by Witter. With 20 seconds to go, Witter throws a left as Harris is backed up on the ropes and immediately Harris counters with a right, catching Witter off-balance. Harris saunters back to his corner, still looking really relaxed.
In the opening seconds of round three, Witter lands a right followed by a left hook seconds later, but Harris stands his ground and comes back with his own shots. “Junior, Junior…” the crowd are chanting. In the second half of the round, Harris seems to be getting caught more often.
After half a minute of round four, both men are in a clinch then Harris lands a couple of left hands. In the last minute of the round, Witter throws a right, which 'pushes' Harris to the canvas.
Referee Daniel Van de Wiele waves it off and Harris beckons to the referee to help him up (!) Then ,with 22 seconds to go, Witter lands a left following on from three or four light punches and this time there is no question as Harris lands on the canvas and takes the count. He holds on till the end of the round, but looks dejected as he walks back to his corner.
Witter looks even more confident and Harris manages to stay out of trouble in round five.
In the opening seconds of round six, Harris lands a right-hand but doesn’t follow it up. There’s some grappling mid-way through the round. With just over a minute to go, Harris lands a right hand but Witter doesn’t look phased by the shot.
Round seven and Witter catches Harris with a couple of good shots again but after 50 seconds, Witter has Harris backed in the corner as he lands a powerful left hook and Harris goes down.
Holding on to the ropes, his head through the gap, Harris was getting “snapped’ by the ringside photographers and didn’t look to be getting up off the canvas. Junior Witter wins by KO. Harris is helped back to his corner and Team Witter are jubilant!
Afterwards, Witter gave Harris some credit and Mick Hennessy said “We want Paul Maliggnagi…a unification fight….that’s the biggest fight in the division”.
Click for larger image © Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing
Other results included:
Adam Kelly v Matthew Martin Lewis (Colchester)
4 x 3 minute Lightweight Contest
Kelly wins on points 39:37
Nadeem Siddique (Bradford) v Tom Glover (Maldon)
6 x 3 minute Lightweight Contest
Siddique wins on points 60:55
Lee Meager (Salford) v Laszlo Komjathi (Hungary)
10 x 3 minute International Lightweight Contest
Komjathi was retired by corner in round 4
Robert Nelson (Bradford) v Andy Bell (Doncaster)
10 x 3 minute Inaugural English Super-Flyweight Title
Bell wins TKO round 7, Nelson stopped by Referee.
Danny Grainger (Chesterfield) v Danny Thornton (Leeds)
4 x 3 minute Light-Heavyweight Contest
Thornton win on points
Femi Fehintola (Bradford) v Karl Taylor
4 x 3 minute Lightweight Contest
Fehintola win on points
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