Witter-Harris heads to UK
Hennessy Sports are pleased to announce that Junior Witter will make the second defence of his WBC light welterweight title against former world champion Vivian Harris in the UK this summer.
The right to stage the Championship was due to have been decided by a purse bid at 6pm GMT today, but Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy was able to agree terms with his counterpart Gary Shaw beforehand.
Former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European champion Witter won the title by dominating former world champion DeMarcus Corley at the Alexandra Palace last September and made his first defence at the same venue in January, stopping Mexico’s Arturo Morua in nine rounds.
Harris has outstanding world championship credentials of his own. He defeated now WBA champion Soulemane M’Baye to lift the same crown in 2003, then twice successfully defended against the highly rated Oktay Urkal, stopping his man second time round.
He suffered a shock defeat to Carlos Maussa next time out, but has since returned to outstanding form, stopping Stevie Johnston in seven before outpointing the highly regarded Juan Lazcano in an eliminator for Witter’s title.
“I can see this being a cracking fight,” said Witter on hearing the news. “Harris is a top level operator and he always comes to win. I hear the Americans are tipping him to do big things in the division. He will be coming over to knock me out, but that will just bring out the best in me.
“It’s been great winning and defending my title in Britain and it means a lot to be able to continue that process.”
Details of the date and venue will be announced in due course by Hennessy Sports.
“This is a tough first mandatory,” said Mick Hennessy. “But that’s how it should be; this is the WBC title. Harris has regained the top form that was making people talk very highly of him a couple of years ago when he beat Oktay Urkal in his backyard and then Soulemane M’Baye. Both of these fighters go for the knockout, so I believe this is going to be an explosive fight.”
The right to stage the Championship was due to have been decided by a purse bid at 6pm GMT today, but Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy was able to agree terms with his counterpart Gary Shaw beforehand.
Former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European champion Witter won the title by dominating former world champion DeMarcus Corley at the Alexandra Palace last September and made his first defence at the same venue in January, stopping Mexico’s Arturo Morua in nine rounds.
Harris has outstanding world championship credentials of his own. He defeated now WBA champion Soulemane M’Baye to lift the same crown in 2003, then twice successfully defended against the highly rated Oktay Urkal, stopping his man second time round.
He suffered a shock defeat to Carlos Maussa next time out, but has since returned to outstanding form, stopping Stevie Johnston in seven before outpointing the highly regarded Juan Lazcano in an eliminator for Witter’s title.
“I can see this being a cracking fight,” said Witter on hearing the news. “Harris is a top level operator and he always comes to win. I hear the Americans are tipping him to do big things in the division. He will be coming over to knock me out, but that will just bring out the best in me.
“It’s been great winning and defending my title in Britain and it means a lot to be able to continue that process.”
Details of the date and venue will be announced in due course by Hennessy Sports.
“This is a tough first mandatory,” said Mick Hennessy. “But that’s how it should be; this is the WBC title. Harris has regained the top form that was making people talk very highly of him a couple of years ago when he beat Oktay Urkal in his backyard and then Soulemane M’Baye. Both of these fighters go for the knockout, so I believe this is going to be an explosive fight.”
posted by Robert Halter at 1:40 PM
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