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Junior Witter has vowed to do his country proud when he appears on this Saturday’s promotion at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles alongside fellow Britpack team mates Howard Eastman and Carl Froch. “We are here to fly the flag for British Boxing,” said Witter, who will meet South Africa’s Lovemore N’Dou in a Commonwealth title defence and WBC eliminator after contracts were completed this morning. “We are here to show that boxing in Britain isn’t just about mismatches and fringe titles. There are some of us who like to do things the traditional way. That means mixing it on the genuine world stage, whenever and wherever necessary against the likes of N’Dou. N’Dou is a world class opponent. He has mixed at the highest level and no one has even put a dent in him.
“He has known about this fight for five weeks so will be in terrific shape. But I have no concerns at fighting the best to prove I am the best. I don’t want to take the easy route like so many fighters do.”
He added: “The British fan has been sold short for too long.
“You have promoters getting their MC’s at certain shows to announce fights as being for world titles when they are no better than Area clashes. You have the general press getting behind mismatches but not respecting those who choose to do things the hard and proper way. The trade press aren’t much better; they rarely criticise any of our so called “world’ champions who hide behind a title that doesn’t even make you fight a mandatory contender. You have broadcasters hyping up untested prospects with padded records or falling over themselves just to show the latest fad. They should all know better. They all have a responsibility to help re-establish British boxing by getting behind the right kind of fighter. When boxing is done right nothing can touch it for popularity. We have all seen that in the past. The Brit Pack are going to bring those good days back by bringing home genuine major titles.”
Witter continued: “You could see me challenging for the WBC title later this year. I am already ranked at #3 by them,” he explained. The #2 Branco was supposed to fight me on this show but pulled out, so he should lose his ranking. That puts me in line to fight the winner of champion Gatti and #1 ranked Floyd Mayweather, particularly as this fight against N’Dou is an eliminator.”
Junior Witter fights on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Howard Eastman bill at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 19th. Setanta PPV 1 (Sky Channel 435) will provide live coverage of both Eastman and Witter’s contests in the UK. Witter’s contest is scheduled for 12.45am. Please note this slightly revised start time.
