Poor Old Junior Witter :)

[Shamrock]

Witter looked old against a fitter more foccused opponent last night. Bradley himself said that Witter may have been looking past him to a bigger fight with Hatton or another champ. Maybe - but this would have been a tough fight for Witter even with out that distraction. Bradley had come with a game plan - worked on after studying Witter for at least a year - and he stuck to it beautifully.

Using the overhand right over the jab is the classic weapon against a southpaw and Witters normally cat like reflexes were not in tune enough to avoid them last night.

To be honest Witter looked off balance - more than Ingle fighters usually do - and his timing looked off too. He struggled to find Bradley with the Jab - often holding it out and wiggling the glove in an attempt to confuse Bradley - it didn't work and in fact Witter was doing this when Bradley connected flush with the right hand that dumped Witter on his arse in the 6th.

Witter was being out jabbed - out worked and did not seem to have enough power to convince Bradley to take a backwards step. Witter looked tired from the middle of the 8th Bradley seemed to be fighting well within himself.

The only negative for Bradley in my book was his use of the head - he was lucky not to lose a point for what seemed like intentional rather than careless use of the head.

I thought for one horrible moment we were going to see the wrong fighters hand raised when they anounced a split decision.. but in the end justic eprevaled with Bradley announced the winer - deservedley so and by 3 rounds on my scoring.

Where does this leave a 34 year old Witter - well boxing is a funny sport... Hatton may consider the fight more of an option now - on that performance you would have to take Hatton to break up and stop Witter inside the distance. Witter needs a dramatic win to get himself back to where he was but I just wonder if the Hamed template is being folllowed here - Witter at 34 so reliant on his reflexes - have they just slowed enough to revert him from special to ordinary - is so Witter is in a for a bumpy ride in his next few fights.


All credit to Bradley he manned up as they say - fighting abroad for the first time (the first time outside of California I believe they said !!!) and at a level he has been nowhere near before. He showed good speed - decent power and an excellent mental attitude by sticking to his game plan. I'll look forward to his future fights !!!


Edit - I realise that a lot of Hatton 'fans' will be celebrating but the Hatton doubters will now be saying that Hatton has been ducking a second rate British loser so Witters loss is not really a plus. It would be much more mature to get behind all of the British fighters at world level and have been able to look forward to a mega British showdown with Hatton and Witter - fighter bias can be so petty guys :-(