Witter to fight Demetrius Hopkins on HBO - 22nd March

[Conrad]

Copy and pasted form Sky Sports site.

A good fight for Witter I feel, he's not gonna get Hatton as things stand and this gives him decent US TV exposure.

Witter UD for me...

Junior Witter will be out to boost his reputation when he defends his WBC light-welterweight title against Demetrius Hopkins in America on March 22.

The Sheffield bomber has been given the chance to prove his worth by TV network HBO with victory likely to assure him of a huge pay day against Ricky Hatton or IBF title holder Paulie Malignaggi.

Witter, who floored the dangerous Lovemore N'Dou in his one and only fight across the pond almost three years ago, is confident he can make a name for himself against the undefeated nephew of middleweight great Bernard.

"I'm going to deliver in America," he told the Bradford Telegraph & Argos. "I'm not just going to kick the door wide open but rip it off its hinges.

"Hopkins is good but he's not met anyone like me. It may be in his own back yard but it's just him and me in a square ring when that first bell sounds. I'm not interested in winning on points, I'm going to knock him out."

Arrogance

Hopkins is unbeaten in 28 fights but is not known as a knockout artist, winning just 11 inside the distance.

However, Witter was struck by the arrogance of 'The Gladiator' when the pair met after the N'Dou fight in Los Angeles.

"We spoke for a bit and Hopkins came over as cocky and arrogant. He acted all big and brash as if I should be scared of him because he'd won 15 fights or so," he added.

"He found out we both boxed at 140lb and said we'll have to fight some day but it's got to be for a title. I said that I only fight for a title.

"I'm not saying he isn't a good fighter but he struck me as over-confident and who thinks he's better than he is.

"He is taller and has a good reach but why should that bother me? (Vivian) Harris was about six foot as well with a very similar style - and look what happened to him.

"He's got a good reputation in America but I'm going to win in style and put the pressure on everyone out there like Hatton and Paulie Malignaggi."

[Fenster]

Chances are this will be shit.

Witter might NEED the KO.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Good for him. A fight he should win pretty convincingly.

More importantly From my perspective it also removes Hopkins from the next Hatto fight equation, leaving Holt and Torres.

[SweetPea]

Looks like HBO is doing this to give Witter some exposure in the US.

If Witter and Hatton both win this spring, then I would say that HBO's preference for late '08 would be:

1. Hatton-Malignaggi
2. Hatton-Witter
3. Witter-Malignaggi

Obviously, HBO cares more about Paulie than Witter because Paulie is from the US.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Hey Swetpea,
In my opinion HBO, don't care about anything except money. Witter hasn't been exposed to the US publice enough yet so don't be surprised if they fob him off even longer (unless he obliterates Hopkins)

[Steelie]

Nah, it makes sense to build Juniors profile on HBO as that's where Ricky Hatton is. If HBO have an interest in Junior then it only makes that fight more likely.

[Conrad]

It feels to me that HBO are lining up a fight with Paulie for the end of the year regardless of who with.

Hatton would be first choice obviously, but if that doesn't happen they have a WC in Witter with some recent US TV exposure to step in as back-up - permiting he beats D-Hop.

[ono]

I actually wouldn't be surprised if he lost to D-Hop.

On the other hand he could absolutely cain him. It depends which Witter shows up.

[donnydarkoIRL]

Steve Forbes ia a nice slick boxer with some pretty good skills remaining.
However, he's not what he once was nor is he the best at Junior Welter weight right now.
Yet he had enough to beat Demetrius Hopkins (although he was robbed of the decision.)

For me Junior Witter is top 2/3 in the world at Junior Welter and he is a far more complex puzzle than Steve Forbes due largely to his unorthodox style and love of switch hitting. Therefore I see another win for Witter but also presume that it may be mared by some fouls as Hopkins gets frustrated.

[ono]

As impressive as Witter was against Harris (who i really really don't rate), i can't shake off his performances against Colin Lynes and Kotelnik....where in both fights he was quite fortunate to get the decision.

Also against N'dou.....the knockdowns saved him from losing that fight....


Who knows. He has talent.....but he sometimes get's lazy in fights.

Hope he wins anyway. I met him last year and he was a really nice guy....surprisingly.

[Althugz]

Good fight..this is exactly what Junior Witter should be doing. Beat fighters like Harris, DHop and it will only be a matter of time before Hatton is backed into a corner and forced to fight.

[ono]

Good fight..this is exactly what Junior Witter should be doing. Beat fighters like Harris, DHop and it will only be a matter of time before Hatton is backed into a corner and forced to fight.

Personally i think this is what Hatton wants Junior to do....raise his profile on HBO. He'll fight him then.....no probs

[Phil]

Good fight..this is exactly what Junior Witter should be doing. Beat fighters like Harris, DHop and it will only be a matter of time before Hatton is backed into a corner and forced to fight.

agreed! the better Witter does just highlights more the fact Hattons ducking him.
Hatton used to say he brings nothing to the table, then he wins the wbc and comes up with
another excuse that he doesn't want to give him a payday

[No Contest]

I agree that this is the best move for Witter, few more big wins and Hatton will look like the ducker he is.....this will go farther than calling him out over and over again.

[Tam Seddon]

This is what Witter needs, a guy like d-hop on his record. He will get american sighting in the fact hes related to bhop and hes a great 140 contender. He needs to fight in America so that he can get their sightings and maybe set up a mega fight in this fight being a unification fight with Hatton in the states.

If he beats d-hop he needs to fight PM and then offer Hatton a mega fight in the states, with two belts and a bigger name, Hatton will fight him, simple as really. Hatton isnt ducking him he just needs to fight bigger names like dhop, to get his name bigger so Hatton can get more money in the fight. If Hatton would fight Floyd Mayweather, why on earth would he be scared to fight Junior Witter, please somebody answer that?