Witter's Trainer Feels a Weight Move is Necessary
By Terence Dooley
Dominic Ingle, the trainer of Junior Witter, thinks that his man’s defeat to Devon Alexander on Saturday night may be a sign that he has out-grown the light-welterweight division. Witter ceded the WBC title to Alexander in California, a performance that has left Junior questioning his future in the game.
Ingle feels that Witter looked good in his win over Victor Hugo Castro last November, this fight took place at welterweight. Dominic told the South Yorkshire Star that Junior’s future may lie at 147lb. “A win last November over Victor Castro in that division saw him show the speed and power he failed to produce when losing his crown to Tim Bradley and now against Devon Alexander,” explained Ingle.
”It may be shifting the last few pounds are taking its toll on Junior and this was apparent in his last two title fights,” he continued. “I will be speaking to his promoter Mick Hennessy to see what options Junior has at Welterweight although, right now, Junior needs to take a break and give his body time to heal.”
Ingle also told The Star that Witter had aggravated an injury to his left shoulder when overreaching on a shot in the second round of the Alexander contest.
“Derry Suter, from the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, did a great job getting him through the harsh training regime. Unfortunately, in the second round, Junior over-extended his left jab and exacerbated the underlying problem,” claimed Ingle.
He added: “It was obvious early on that the elbow was a becoming a big problem as Junior boxed mainly from a southpaw stance leading with his right hand. It was always going to be a fight of Alexander's speed against Witter's power and I realised Junior wasn't able to make the power shots count and holding Alexander off and turning the fight around with one hand was too much of a ask, so I decided to pull him out.”
Witter’s withdrawal from the fight prompted his vilification amongst boxing fans; Witter, though, had a hard, long route to the top, he has always been a marginalized figure in British boxing circles, that he even got to the WBC title was a testament to his staying power. A fresh start up at welterweight will represent Junior with a make-or-break chance to galvanise his career.
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