Boxing Preview Analysis: Junior Witter – Vivian Harris

ByLee Bellfield

While Britain’s Ricky Hatton makes big headlines on both sides of the Atlantic, Bradford’s Junior Witter moves on with a potentially tricky defence of his WBC Light Welter title against Vivian Harris on Friday, September 7.

Home advantage will be once again be in Witter’s favour as the Doncaster Dome plays host to the fight between Ring Magazine’s top two 140 pounders.

Witter, 33, has won every title available to him in the pro boxing game and has only one defeat in 38 fights. That one defeat came back in June 2000 when, as a late substitute, he took American Zab Judah the full 12 rounds distance in an IBF title bid. Who knows what would have happened had he the full time to prepare?

Witter would spend a further six years undefeated before he eventually gained an opportunity to fight for the WBC version of the 140 lb title, vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. September 15, 2006 would be the date when “The Hitter” finally got his hands on that elusive title.
Veteran Demarcus Corley was the opponent and was deemed to be a tricky one. However, Witter was on fire, producing an almost faultless performance and winning on points.

Now after one defence, he faces another potentially awkward night.

Opposing him on the 7th is Vivian Harris, a former WBA title holder. At age 29, Harris is a ten year veteran of the squared circle. After a two year reign as world champion, in which he was being touted as a future opponent for Ricky Hatton, Harris dropped the belt in a truly dismal performance against rugged Carlos Maussa in June 2005. Ironically for Harris, Maussa would go onto face Hatton in his next bout.

Since that fight Harris has rebuilt his career with three consecutive wins.

So what problems can Harris give Witter? He certainly seems back to his best. Promoter Mick Hennessy believes Witter’s task is more difficult than the one that faced Hatton in June against Jose Luis Castillo.

On the 7th, I predict an entertaining fight but I feel Witter is just too good to lose after waiting so long for a world title bout.

Once again, the prize is a bout with Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather Jr, which is what Witter craves if he is successful in this title defence.

I feel he will be a winner in the ring against Harris. As for Hatton or Mayweather, just getting the fight could be a totally different problem.