WBC light welterweight champion Junior Witter will make his second defense this summer in the UK, taking on Vivian Harris.
Witter (35-1-2) won the vacant title against Chop Chop Corley last September, and defended against lightly-regarded Mexican Arturo Morua in January, scoring a ninth-round TKO. Harris (28-2-1) battled past Juan Lazcano in an eliminator fight in February on the undercard of Mosley/Collazo. The tall Guyanan-born, Brooklyn-based Harris will have a four-inch height advantage on the crafty, 33-year old Witter, and likely has power on his side, as well.
Witter has not lost since 2000, when he fell to Zab Judah, and Harris is on a three-fight win streak of his own since being stopped by Carlos Maussa in 2005.
Much has been made of Witter wanting to fight Ricky Hatton over the years, and I subscribe to the Larry Merchant thought: We'll see it, but later on, when it doesn't mean all that much, and just gives both fighters a big UK payday for a grudge match.
Also, isn't it just nice to see the mandatory challenger (1) be worthy, and (2) actually get his fight?
In other news, Willie Gibbs lost again last night, falling in a 10-round unanimous decision to Raymond Joval (96-94, 97-93, 97-93), and Andrey Tsurkan dropped journeyman Sammy Sparkman in the ninth round to win his sixth straight fight.