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Showtime ShoBox Recap

May 10, 2008

Trent FM Arena-Nottingham, England

 WBC Super Lightweight (140 pounds) 12-Round Championship Match:

Junior Witter (36-1-2, 21 KO's, 139.5 pounds) (c) vs. Timothy Bradley (21-0, 11 KO's, 139.25 pounds)

Witter won this title when it was vacant via 12-round unanimous decision over DeMarcus Corley on September 15, 2006 at Alexandra Palace in London, England. The previous champion was Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who vacated the title to move up to 147 pounds. This is Witter's third defense of this title.

Witter was supposed to face Demetrius Hopkins in March, but Hopkins had issues with his promoter (Golden Boy Promotions) and the match was canceled. (That is very strange, because Demetrius' uncle, Bernard Hopkins, is an executive at Golden Boy Promotions.) Witter is now using this match as a showcase to try and get a match with Ricky Hatton.

The champion's last match was a knockout victory 1 minute into round 7 over Vivian Harris on September 7, 2008 at the Doncaster Dome in Doncaster, England.

Witter is The Ring's number 1 contender at 140 pounds to their champion in the weight class, Hatton.

This is Bradley's first match outside of California as a professional, and first scheduled 12-round match. Bradley was scheduled to face Jose Luis Castillo in Cancun, Mexico on March 8, 2008. However, Castillo failed to make the 140 pound weight limit for the match and it was canceled. Therefore, the WBC decided to name Bradley the number 1 contender to Witter's title without Bradley needing to win an elimination match. The cancellation of the Castillo match means Bradley is coming off an 11-month layoff, which is the longest of his career.

The Palm Springs, California resident's last match was a successful title defense of his WBC World Youth Championship at 140 pounds. Bradley defeated Miguel Vazquez by 10-round unanimous decision at Omega Products International on July 27, 2007 in Corona, California. That belt is not on the line in this match.

Bradley is unranked by The Ring, and the number 24 ranked boxer at 140 pounds by boxrec.com.

At 24-years-old, Bradley has a 10 year age advantage over the 34-year-old Witter. Witter has the height advantage standing 5' 7" tall, while Bradley stands 5' 6" tall. Bradley has the reach advantage with a 69" wingspan, compared to Witter who has a 67" wingspan. The boxers' unofficial weight approaching match time are unavailable, but they should be relatively the same size entering the ring. Both boxers will employ the orthodox stance. However, Witter will switch stances frequently. According to ESPN.com Bradley is a 6-to-1 underdog.

The unified rules of boxing are in effect for this match, except for one change. In case of an accidental foul leading to an early stoppage, the match will be determined by the scorecards after the start of round 5. Usually in that situation the match would be sent to the scorecards, after the end of round 4. The judges are from Italy, Mexico, and Belgium. The referee is Massimo Barrovecchio. The referee's native language is Italian, but it appears his English will be good enough to communicate with the boxers in this match.

In round 1, Bradley throws a lot more punches then Witter. However, Witter lands more punches to win the round, 10-9. Witter wins round 2, 10-9. The champion has boxed the majority of the first 2 rounds out of the southpaw stance, and not the traditional southpaw stance. He is standing very awkwardly. At times Witter is holding his lead hand very high to knock down the lead hand of Bradley. It is the same tactic that Wladimir Klitschko used against Sultan Ibragimov in their awful match earlier this year, only Witter is using less force to knock Bradley's hand down. Then, at times out of the southpaw stance Witter will hold his lead right hand low and do almost nothing. That is allowing Bradley to score with straight hands, when rushing in. However, Witter then immediately ties up Bradley. This means very little is happening in this match, and it can be credited to Witter. Close round 3, because nothing happened. Bradley was better in the last minute, which may have won him the round, 10-9. Witter is ahead in the match on my scorecard after 3 rounds, 29-28. However, I suspect all 3 judges have the Englishman ahead after 3 rounds, 30-27.

Bradley may have won round 4, by being relatively more active and trying to make something of this match, 10-9. This match cries out for the adoption of the Pride yellow card system in boxing. If that was in place, this debacle may already be over. Witter could have already received 3 yellow cards for doing nothing in the first 4 rounds. Witter wins round 5, 10-9. This is easily the worst match that has been recapped this year, so far. Witter has a history of being a boring boxer, and this match is enhancing that reputation. A right hand out of nowhere sends Witter to the canvas with 16 seconds to go in round 6. The right hand Bradley caught Witter with was similar to the awkward overhand right that Chuck Liddell throws as his favorite knockout punch. Witter is up immediately and appears fairly steady, when answering the referee's count.  The action resumes with 8 seconds to go in the round. Witter decided to hold on against the Bradley flurry to end the round, and appeared in real trouble in the final few seconds of the round. The first decisive round of the match goes to Bradley, 10-8. After 6 rounds, Bradley leads on my scorecard, 57-56. On color commentary for Showtime, Steve Farhood has Witter winning the match after 6 rounds, 57-56. That knockdown is the first time Witter has been knocked to mat in his professional career.

Witter drops to his knees dodging a right hook with 2:24 to go in round 7. The referee correctly rules it a slip, and the action is restarted with 2:18 to go in the round. With around 2 minutes to go in round 7, there is some swelling beginning to form under Bradley's left eye. It is not impairing his vision, but could later in the match. With around 1 minute to go in round 7, Witter is cut under his right eye. It was probably caused by a Bradley headbutt. Bradley has been warned numerous times in this match, already about leading with his head. The challenger may be on the verge of losing a point for leading with his head. The cut below Witter's right eye should be no factor in this match. Close round 7 that Bradley probably wins, 10-9. With 2:38 to go in round 8, the referee calls time to admonish Bradley about rough tactics on the inside. The action is resumed with 2:32 to go in the round, because the timekeeper failed to stop the clock. Bradley's aggression wins a close round 8, 10-9. Close round 9, that Witter may have barely won, 10-9. After 9 rounds, Bradley leads on my scorecard, 86-84.

Bradley wins round 10 decisively, 10-9. Witter has gone from a boxer in his prime to an old man during the last 5 rounds. With around 1 minute to go in round 11, there is a cut opened up around near the corner of left eye of Witter. Again, it was likely caused by a Bradley headbutt. A point deduction, may cost Bradley the match. Bradley wins round 11, 10-9. To win a champion's title on their home turf, you need to beat them decisively. Bradley is doing that. Witter is not doing anything offensively to try and score a come from behind knockout to preserve his title. It appears the cut near the corner of Witter's eye was actually caused by a left hand from Bradley. After 11 rounds, Farhood and my scorecard have Bradley winning the match, 106-102. This match is on the verge of being the upset of the year.

Bradley closes out round 12 as the aggressor and taking the round decisively, 10-9. The English crowd that had been silent for most of the match, because of Witter's boring style began to boo their boxer in the last minute. Witter put his hands up after the match to celebrate and the crowd began to boo him more vociferously. If Witter takes this decision, the home crowd will turn on him in a way only Tim Sylvia knows. Farhood and my scorecard have Bradley taking Witter's title by the score of 116-111. Assuming everything goes the way it should this is one of the best feel good moments in boxing in a while.

Before the scores are in, Timothy Bradley drops to his knees on the canvas and begins to cry, overwhelmed at the enormity of what he has accomplished. Bradley acknowledged before the match, that the only reason he got this title match was because it was mandated by the WBC, and that he had never faced an opponent who was nearly as good as Witter. The scores are taking a long time to be added up. That is usually a bad sign in cases like this. The official decision as read by the always "Classy" Jimmy Lennon, Jr. is that the judges have scored the match as a split decision (and the crowd has begun to boo that): 115-112 (Witter, which was booed), 115-113 (Bradley, cheered), 114-113 in favor of the winner and new WBC Super Lightweight Champion of the World, "Desert Storm" Timothy Bradley. In a great scene, Bradley is receiving a standing ovation from some of the English crowd for winning the match, while the crying boxer is hoisted up on the shoulders of his corner men. The win moves Bradley to 22-0 with 11 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Bradley said in his post match interview did not say anything of note, but came across very likeable. He was not asked about potential next opponents, but that was probably the last thing on his mind.

The Californian pulled off a shocking upset here, and it will be the likely upset of the year. The fact that it was a split decision, and the scores were so close is terrifying. Bradley dominated this match, and appeared to be the only boxer interested in winning this match. There are a host of potential opponents for him, and at 24-years-old it is unclear what he really is as a boxer, yet. Bradley will need to prove that this win was not, because Witter got old. He needs to have strong follow up performances to prove he is the future of the 140 pound division.

Witter looked very old in this match, and boxed a boring match. After, not having lost since June 24, 2000, when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Zab Judah, Witter is now in boxing purgatory. There is no reason any top boxer should face him. Witter is too boring to market, and could potentially beat them, if he returned to his previous form. However, it appeared he had nothing left at the end of this match. Witter has been calling out Hatton for years. A match with Hatton at this point, would likely end in Witter's retirement. Witter had problems with the physicality of Bradley. Hatton's physicality retired future hall of famer Kostya Tszyu on his stool after round 11. Witter would be unlikely to fair that well. Witter has one last shot, it appears he will be given an immediate rematch. That should be in the United States, where the judging would be more reasonable. If Witter loses the rematch, it may become a de facto retirement match with the future prospects that may be available for the aging boxer.