Desert Storm Derails Witter

By Anson Wainwright (ringside)

Britain's Junior Witter 36-2-2(21) was expected to retain his WBC
Light Welterweight title and go closer to his dream match with Ricky
Hatton against 7-1 outsider Timothy Bradley 22-0(11) however he was
upset by split decision and saw that fight go up in smoke.

Witter and Bradley started tentatively with both guys sizing each
other up waiting for the other guy to lead and then counter. Witter
34, fighting out of his southpaw style would wait and look for his
American mandatory to lead then counter over the first half of the
fight Bradley 25, had his success with the right over the top and his
body work however he didn't seem to be doing enough to take the title.
However towards the end of the sixth Bradley landed a fight changing
overhand right which landed perfectly square on Witters chin dumping
him on the seat of his pants. Witter rose and seemed shaken, Bradley
went for the kill but the bell ended the round. Would a minute rest be
enough? Witter came out and got on his bike and seemed to clear his
head though he was never the same fighter again in the fight and
Bradley landed several right hands and was the busier from then on and
simply out worked Witter. At the end of twelve rounds it was obviously
close and a very difficult fight to score as numerous rounds were cat
and mouse affairs. When the scores were announced as Split decision
Bradley must have been worried especially when the first one read
115-112 Witter from Franco Ciminale they were over ruled by 115-113 &
114-113 for Bradley from Daniel Van de Wiele & Omar Minton
respectively. Making Desert Storm the newest world champion in Boxing.

After the fight an ecstatic Bradley made time to speak to everyone and
posed for photo and signed autographs when we caught up with him in
his changing room he was still beaming. He admitted that over the
first half of the fight he knew that as Champion Witter must have been
claiming the rounds but said he'd gone to the body knowing it would
impact the fight latter on. Bradley went on to say that before the
fight he only had a $100 dollars in his bank account! When asked who
he'd like next the new champion was has happy to fight anyone and said
he'd happily fight Ricky Hatton if the money was right. On this
performance nobody will be queuing up to face Bradley as he mixed
speed and power up well. As for Witter he cut a disconsolate figure
and declined to speak. No more money worries for Bradley now it's
certain he'll have a lot more than $100 in his bank account by the
time his career is over.

The co main event was local Carl "The Cobra" Froch 22-0(19) the WBC
168 number one contender kept busy stopping over matched Albert
Rybacki 15-1(8) in four one sided rounds. Rybacki who was previously
stepped in when previous opponent Denis Inkin pulled out and Alejandro
Berrio declined the opportunity leaving Rubin Williams to take the
fight only to then not to have a visa sorted out in time. Froch 167
3/4 had a look at Rybacki 168 in the opening round. Then stepped on
the gas a little in the second before going through the gears in the
third and finally scoring a stoppage in the fourth. In fairness to the
tough Rybacki it was a little soon but he was to brave for his own
good and was only going to take a systematic beating.

Afterwards Froch spoke with several members of the press. Froch was
obviously disappointed at the pull outs. He'll likely next be in
action when Joe Calzaghe relinquishes the WBC title possible opponents
could be the winner of the upcoming Jena Pascal-Fulencio Zuniga fight
or even Jermain Taylor according to Mick Hennessy he's spoken with Lou
Di Bella about Taylor. This would be a fantastic fight.

Another fight that fell out was John Murray against John Fewkes in a
battle of young unbeaten fighters at lightweight battling for
supremacy. Both are highly touted in Britain and the fight was highly
anticipated. Unfortunately Fewkes had a stomach complaint leaving
Murray 24-0(12) to face Youssef Al Hamidi 4-9-1(1) an uninspired
Murray did enough but seemed flat presumably due to Fewkes pulling
out. In fairness to Al Hamidi he's much better than his record
suggests having beaten another prospect Anthony Crolla last time out
and having run British Featherweight John Simpson, former European
Champion Michael Hunter & Ricky Burns close in the past. Al Hamidi is
a classic spoiler who certainly worked Murray hard. Murray was cut
from a head butt on the right side of his head which poured blood from
the fifth onwards. Ultimately Murray ran out 77-75 winner on referee
Terry O'Connor's card. Hopefully Murray-Fewkes can be rescheduled at
some point this year.

Also on the card Adnan Amar 22-0(6) outpointed Mark Lloyd 10-0(2)for
the vacant BBBofC English welterweight title in a close affair which
was often untidy Terry O'Connor scored it 97-95 for Amar.

Tyrone Wright moved to 8-2-1(3) in a Light Heavyweight contest beating
Paul David 9-3(3)in an intriguing battle 97-93 scored by Shaun Messer
for the BBBofC Midlands Area light heavyweight title.

Nadeem Siddique 22-0(6) stopped Alex Brew 9-4-1(7) in two.
John O'Donnell 16-1(5) outpointed Billy Smith 12-68-1(0) over four.
Nathan McIntosh won his debut fight beating Danny Stewart 1-2(0) on
points over four.

Dave Ryan 5-1(1) won a four round decision over Carl Allen 18-66-7(5).
Jack Perry 6-0-1(1) & Tom Glover 5-4-3(0) drew over four.
In a battle of debutants Keiron Gray stopped Lee Duncan in the third.