Risky Business - The Brits who take risks by Jonny Callender May 12th 2008

Junior Witter's mandatory defence of his ten stone WBC title proved to be a disastrous night for the ‘Hitter' from Bradford. This was Witter's second loss in his professional career, the first coming via a unanimous decision to a peak Zab Judah in what was only Witter's sixteenth pro bout. His early loss to Judah has since been cast aside and labelled as a ‘learning curve' fight that Witter was never supposed to win.  However, Saturday's defeat against California's Tim Bradley could prove to be a devastating loss in the career of the 34-year-old former champ. I had Bradley a clear winner, although I felt that referee Massimo Barravecchio should have deducted at least one point from the American for constant use of the head. Witter's awkward, switch-hitting style appeared to work to his own detriment against Bradley as regular use of his southpaw jab followed by sharp, straight left crosses would have been enough to fend off the game but shorter challenger. ‘The Hitter' spent far too much time posturing with his lead hand held stagnant in front of him, as if he were mimicking a tea-pot, and this allowed Bradley the time and space to carry out his aggressive but predictable attacks. Witter was simply not busy enough to retain his WBC crown in front of a large Nottingham crowd, huge exposure on ITV and via a delayed telecast in the United States on Shobox. Witter now joins Enzo Maccarinelli, Gavin Rees, Clinton Woods and Ricky Hatton as a British fighter to have failed in world title defences or attempts in the last six months. This begs the question, are the British fighters being too risky? Indeed, David Haye took a risk when he travelled to France in November to challenge undisputed cruiserweight King Jean Marc Mormeck in his own backyard. But Haye's seventh round stoppage was a huge reward for his huge risk. I was therefore one of the many who were surprised when Maccarinelli signed to fight Haye (even if Haye was supposed to be ‘weak' at the weight). Maccarinelli himself blames his second round destruction at the hands of Haye on a loss of concentration on his part, and there are also those who put it down to Macca being obviously ‘nervous' about the fight. I however, never thought Enzo had the tools to beat Haye as David is simply in another class and nothing in the pre-fight build up, the weigh in or the fight itself showed otherwise. The bout was only a risk for Haye in as much as he may not have been strong at the weight (something which he since claims to of been a ploy to get Enzo to sign for the fight), but it was a great risk for Enzo, one that I am especially surprised that usually ‘cautious' promoter Frank Warren took. Warren had little choice but to risk Gavin Rees' WBA light-welterweight title against German based Andreas Kotelnik as it was a mandatory defence for the Welshman. Again, although Rees put in a valiant and a proud effort, it seemed that he would always struggle against the naturally bigger Ukrainian, who managed to force a late twelfth round stoppage to take the title. Much like Witter had the tools to beat Bradley, Clinton Woods was more than capable of retaining his IBF light heavy-weight title and taking Antonio Tarver's IBO strap in their clash last month. The risk of travelling to the United States to Tarver's native Florida was one that was negated by the fact that Woods had boxed in America before against a ‘near-peak' Roy Jones Jr. Woods however, appeared to be very nervous throwing less punches than in recent contests and allowing Tarver to work at his own pace. Tarver himself was very poor, working in ponderous spurts and regularly leaving himself open to counter punches, but Woods was too flat to capitalise on the opportunities and lost a wide unanimous decision. However, it is not all bad for our risky British boxers as Joe Calzaghe, like David Haye, has proved that great risk can lead to great reward. In convincingly out-pointing solid Danish (former) WBC and WBA super middle-weight champ Mikkel Kessler, Calzaghe cemented his claim of being the best twelve stone fighter in the world and looked to risk the light-heavyweight division. In taking on Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas, Calzaghe took on the man who many viewed as the best fighter in the division. At 43 years old, Hopkins still posed great danger to Calzaghe's unbeaten record, and this danger was made abundantly clear as Hopkins floored Joe in the opening round, only the third time the Welshman has been down. It what was admittedly an ugly fight, Calzaghe continuously outworked the cagey veteran to earn a deserved split decision and reap the rewards of his risk. Perhaps the seemingly negative results of all this risk taking could lead to some great match-ups for British fight fans. With Hatton losing his unbeaten record to pound-for-pound King Mayweather Jr over the Winter period, it looked as if a highly anticipated fight between himself and Junior Witter was sure to happen. However, after suffering his first professional defeat, Hatton has since appeared to try his best to avoid a match up with Witter, a fight that was viewed by many as a 50-50 affair, with both fighters making justified cases for why they would win. With Witter losing over the weekend, and especially with the way he looked in losing, Hatton maybe more tempted towards an encounter with Witter, a fight that I am further convinced he would win. As for Calzaghe, the leading risky British fighter, a fight with another man who was once great but is now way past his peak in Roy Jones Jr would no doubt make vast money, but the true risky fight out there is right here, right at home in Great Britain. Younger, hungry, unbeaten with nineteen KO's from 23 contests, Carl Froch is the mandatory challenger to Joe's WBC super-middleweight crown. This is a risk that the British fight fans would love to see Calzaghe take and it would serve as a worthy fight for the Welshman to retire from his stellar boxing career on. We shall see.

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