A Junior in the Junior Welterweights.

At the forefront of boxing is the junior welterweight division. A boxer trying to push and defeat other fighters so that he can be counted in and not out is Junior Witter. Top- notch performances, upsets and redesigning are all part of the junior welterweight division as of late. So, Witter’s comments in his prediction of knocking out Kostya Tszyu can make you say, “Sure you can, after Hatton

© Mike Cleary

paved the way.” The typical dream matchmaking consists of Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, with respectable shuffling around of the three. Witter is trying to define his mark in a division that can place you in dangerous waters. The fine display of boxing skills against a sturdy Lovemore N’ Dou is a thought of yesterday. This division is fierce and holds no room for inactivity. Vivian Harris is on the backburner now and that is not a low blow to the talented boxer, it is just the reality of a division that can grow without you and Witter is clearly keyed in on this option.

Hatton, Cotto and Mayweather are the only three boxers who can shed out a lackluster performance or loss and still retain there marketability. Witter is the sole owner of a 31-1 record, belting out nineteen knockouts. That is an impressive record and what is even more positive is his only loss coming by decision to the current welterweight king Zab Judah, and that loss was in 2000. Witter can truly be a competitive addition to the junior welterweights, if he plays his cards right. A match with Hatton would sell well in England, I could see Cotto really shutting the critics up if he defeated Witter, Mayweather Jr. could increase his talent perception to the public with a win and Harris and Carlos Maussa would benefit enormously if they had a chance to fight Witter. Of course, if Witter earned a win over Mayweather, Cotto or Hatton, the boxing ring will form legs and walk to him with fighters waiting.

That is all potential thinking, Witter has a hurdle in front of him; he needs to put on a high-level boxing display on Andreas Kotelnik come this Saturday. Andreas Kotelnik is a boxer with a 24-1 record and eleven knockouts. Kotelnik should be good rounds for Witter, who enjoys the physical aspect of boxing, but he is clearly gripping the pen with hopes of signing a big name fight. What is even more inspirational is Hatton’s chance to break into the mainstream boxing world. Witter might feel a little animosity, but at the same time, he can see the road of making it actually being there. Those are the little things that can keep your ambitions at pace with your needs, and Witter is on a wrecking path. Another thing that could play against Witter is Hatton’s success in the USA, which could be stirring a match between the two into a “No way zone.” You have to understand the structure of the junior welterweight division as Cotto, Mayweather Jr. and Hatton increase their wins, the level of opposition goes up a notch and that will push the chances of any up and coming fighter to the back of the line.

Of course, Witter could prepare and focus on fighting Carlos Maussa, but you have ten other junior welterweights that want Maussa’s WBA belt, knowing that is the best chance for them landing a fight with the royalty of the division. Even if Witter was fortunate enough to bait the promoters into constructing a match between him and Maussa, a win for Witter is not going to seal his paperwork for fighting Hatton or Mayweather. It could push him right into the hands of Harris. The cycle of being below the big fights can make a fighter frustrated and dismay could settle in on the bottom of their aspirations. The only advice I have for Witter is to take it one round at a time and to let him know that there is room for him at the top, just ask Ricky Hatton. I am sure Witter is wishing he had the chance to ask that same question in the ring this coming Saturday. One day Junior, one day you will.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn can be reached at filmmaking_mentality@msn.com