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Witter claims vacant WBC title

16/09/2006

Junior Witter has claimed the vacant WBC light welterweight title after a unanimous points win over DeMarcus Corley in London.

The Bradford fighter took the bout 118-112, 117-111 and 116-114, but it was a lacklustre fight as both men sat back and waited to counterattack.

It is the first time Witter has claimed a world title, after losing his only other shot to Zab Judah in 2000, and he admitted his delight.

"A lot of people did not have faith in me, from before I turned pro, but I have proved them all wrong," Witter said.

"Now I am world champion and I am on top of the world."

Witter had claimed before the fight there would be fireworks but it seemed in the early rounds this would never happen as both fighters waited for the other to make the first move.

Corley started slowly but was starting to find his feet when Witter knocked him down in the fifth with a big uppercut only for the referee to say the American had slipped.

Witter continued the pressure into the sixth round and had Corley swaying with a good combination but he stayed on his feet and the 32-year-old Briton's chance was gone.

However, the two rounds were the difference so when the result went to the judges, Witter came out on top.

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