Tweet
skysports thu 7th jul:Junior Witter's hopes of a long-awaited showdown with Ricky Hatton were dealt a massive blow after he was snubbed for an IBF eliminator bout.
The European light-welterweight champion was not only overlooked by the governing body, but turned down in favour of a fighter he has already beaten - Lovemore N'Dou.
Witter, who has spent the best part of two years calling out the Hitman, took N'Dou apart back in February in front of an American TV audience on the Bernard Hopkins-Howard Eastman bill at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
But despite the comfortable points win, it is South African N'Dou, who has been given an eliminator fight for Hatton's IBF belt.
He will take on the Spanish-based Colombian Juan Urango, the WBC Latin American and IBF Latino champion, who is unbeaten in his 16 fights so far (15 wins, 12 KO's).
The winner of the eliminator, scheduled to take place in Florida on August 19, will then be installed as Hatton's mandatory challenger, with the title fight due to take place within a 12-month timeframe. With Hatton expected to make one defence before another superfight, it is now hard to see the domestic showdown with Witter happening in the next 18 months.
The news is sure to upset Witter, who defends his European belt against Andreas Kotelnik in Nottingham on Saturday. He has long claimed to be the best light-welter in Britain and began his public hunt for Hatton as soon as the Manchester man had dethroned Kostya Tszyu.
Looks like the long anticipated fight between the hitman and PBF/Coralles/Cotto will be next summers highlight!
Witter is ranked third in the world by the WBC and fourth by the WBO, but not recognised by the IBF, while N'Dou only makes the WBC (sixth) and IBF (fourth) ratings and is widely considered to be on the way down after losing against Miguel Cotto, Sharmba Mitchell and Witter inside the last 17 months - a period which has seen him fight no fewer than eight times.
Looks like the much anticipated superfight between the hitman and either PBF/Coralles/Cotto will be next summer...CANT WAIT!
The European light-welterweight champion was not only overlooked by the governing body, but turned down in favour of a fighter he has already beaten - Lovemore N'Dou.
Witter, who has spent the best part of two years calling out the Hitman, took N'Dou apart back in February in front of an American TV audience on the Bernard Hopkins-Howard Eastman bill at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
But despite the comfortable points win, it is South African N'Dou, who has been given an eliminator fight for Hatton's IBF belt.
He will take on the Spanish-based Colombian Juan Urango, the WBC Latin American and IBF Latino champion, who is unbeaten in his 16 fights so far (15 wins, 12 KO's).
The winner of the eliminator, scheduled to take place in Florida on August 19, will then be installed as Hatton's mandatory challenger, with the title fight due to take place within a 12-month timeframe. With Hatton expected to make one defence before another superfight, it is now hard to see the domestic showdown with Witter happening in the next 18 months.
The news is sure to upset Witter, who defends his European belt against Andreas Kotelnik in Nottingham on Saturday. He has long claimed to be the best light-welter in Britain and began his public hunt for Hatton as soon as the Manchester man had dethroned Kostya Tszyu.
Looks like the long anticipated fight between the hitman and PBF/Coralles/Cotto will be next summers highlight!
Witter is ranked third in the world by the WBC and fourth by the WBO, but not recognised by the IBF, while N'Dou only makes the WBC (sixth) and IBF (fourth) ratings and is widely considered to be on the way down after losing against Miguel Cotto, Sharmba Mitchell and Witter inside the last 17 months - a period which has seen him fight no fewer than eight times.
Looks like the much anticipated superfight between the hitman and either PBF/Coralles/Cotto will be next summer...CANT WAIT!
Comment