Rabid British boxing fans aren’t the only ones seeking an answer to the question posed in my post title. On the other side of the pond (the U.S.), we a
re just as eager to find out who the best junior welterweight in the world is. Should Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton and Junior "The Hitter" Witter take care of business in their fights this month, we may soon find out. I mean no disrespect to Juan Lazcano (37-4, 27 KOs) and Timothy Bradley (21-0, 11 KOs), Hatton and Witter’s respective opponents, but I hope they both lose.
Forgive my selfishness, but I like seeing undisputed champions crowned. A match between Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter would do just that. The facts that they are both British and Witter has been calling out Hatton for nearly a decade, make this an appetizing, backyard brawl in-the-making! I don’t know about you, but this excites me.
In facing the battle-tested Juan Lazcano, Hatton appears to be facing the bigger obstacle in the ring, of the two fighters. However, I expect him to get back on the winning track after his drubbing at the hands of Floyd Mayweather. To be honest with you, I haven’t seen Witter’s opponent (Bradley) fight. I believe that Bradley will be overwhelmed by the speed and skill of Witter, as he leaves the state of California for the first time in his career. The fact that he has yet to leave his home state of California makes me wonder if his handlers are hiding something. Look for Witter to uncover whatever it is.
So, it appears that Ricky Hatton and Witter are on a collision course, much to the delight of boxing fans the world over. Well, I surely hope so. In recent years, Hatton has not show much willingness to face Witter for reasons both financial (Witter’s limited drawing power at the gate) and competitive (Witter being held in low regard based on his despicable showing against Zab Judah in 2000). Hatton has been quoted as saying that, “He’s (Witter) nothing but a boil in me arse.” Recently, he has softened his stance and seems more willing to participate in this potential battle for supremacy at 140 pounds. Time appears to heal all wounds (in this case, all boils).
Before you get upset and say, "Ja, you idiot, the fight isn’t even signed," please be mindful that I am only predicting that the fight will take place. Once it does, I’ll give you my prediction on who will win. I’ll give you a hint, the fighter is British and has the word hit in his nickname.
They won’t be now. Hatton is going to move on to a rematch with the deserved challenger Floyd Mayweather. For Juniour Witter, i’m afraid it may be the end of the road for him as far as aheadline fight goes. They may fight eachother at the very end of their careers, which shouldn’t be too far away. Witter is keener for the matchup than Hatton though.
Ben, I think that you are right. Witter, for all the trash he talked, has been unable to rise to the occasion when it counted most. Ciao Witter! That being said, there is no way in the world that Hatton and Mayweather ever meet again. One, Mayweather beat him so handily the first time and no one (Hatton included) wants to see a repeat beat-down, and two, Mayweather is more worried about big paydays, inside or outside the ring.
I feel bad for Witter, but George has his ticket to bigger paydays. I do not think Hatton deserves a rematch,the fact that he blames Cortez for his loss proves to me that he is unworthy of a rematch, plus he got his lights smashed by the ring post….lol. It would be funny to see Hatton lose to Lazcano…..that would make two major Jr. Welterweight upsets…lol.
…and then Hatton and Witter could still fight! LOL
thanks for the excellent insights. boxrec.com is a great tool to find boxing records. i even found ‘kid irish’ whom i knew as a young man.
yes, boxrec.com is arguably the best boxing resource out there on the web…sorta like the wikipedia for boxing freaks like us. 🙂