Junior Witter: Matthew Hatton is an easy stepping stone

Livefight.com29th October, 2010

Former WBC light-welterweight WBC champion Junior 'The Hitter' Witter (37-2, 22ko) has revealed the agonising last year as he rehabilitated himself from a devastating cruciate ligament injury.

The Bradford born fighter says that he spent many months housebound and even had to learn to walk again following the knee injury sustained whilst playing a casual game of football with friends.

"I've been in a world of torment." Said Junior.

"I had a game of football and snapped my cruciate ligament. It's been really annoying. I had my operation in January and spent months iced up in the house. But I've slowly got back into my training, working myself up. But now I'm fit and ready and raring to go."

Witter's lost 2 of his last 3 fights - but all in WBC title situations against hungry, young unbeaten fighters in Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley.

Witter was troubled by his father being diagnosed with cancer ahead of the Bradley fight, with hospital trips featuring prominently amongst his training camp. A subsequent lacklustre performance handed his title to Timothy Bradley in a split decision defeat.

A subsequent tune-up fight against Victor Castro went to plan by knockout, then Witter sat in the sidelines until his promoter Mick Hennessy arranged for a showdown with young gun Devon Alexander for his old WBC title, which was vacated by Bradley following a disagreement.

Junior's bad luck continued as an elbow injury was sustained mid-contest, forcing Witter to retire in the 8th round.

"I think I did OK in that fight given the elbow. But it killed me to make the weight.

"But from now on I'm going to fight at full welterweight. I've been looking at the domestic welterweights and I think there could be some good fights with Craig Watson and Denton Vassell." Said Witter.

Matthew Hatton, the current EBU champion is enjoying a career best run of victories and titles is also a fight that interests Witter.

"The Hatton fight is one I'd definitely take and one I'd expect to do in just a few rounds" stated Witter. "I see Denton Vassell as a really easy stepping stone and I also see Hatton as a really easy stepping stone."

But he ruled out a fight with stablemate Kell Brook stating "We're training partners and mates. So I wouldn't fight Kell, it just wouldn't happen."

In closing the fighter revealed that he hoped to make his Welteright debut in December, adding that his promoter Mick Hennessy was currently at the WBC conference and was hoping to have a name and a date organised for him shortly.

If Junior can regain his form at 10.5 stone and put the last couple of year's worth of misfortune behind him, then the British division will certainly benefit from him fighting on.