Witter masterclass too much for Harris

The Bradford switch-hitter produced a power-packed boxing masterclass to overcome the tough US-based Guyanan, sending the challenger to the canvas twice on his way to a comprehensive seventh-round knockout win.

But afterwards Witter, 33, admitted that at one stage the bout had looked set to be KOd altogether after he suffered a leg injury playing in a charity match at the new national stadium last month.

"I was playing football in a celebrity five-aside match at Wembley and I got injured," he said.

"I thought I would just be on for a few minutes and then I would come off, so what could go wrong? But I came away limping.

"Dominic (Ingle, Witter's trainer) nearly killed me!

"I have been training since May and it has been a long, hard struggle," he added. "In the end I have had a knee problem, an ankle problem and I have done my thumb in.

"There were times when I thought I could have to pull out of the fight.

"But it all came together over the last few weeks and I just knew I was going to win."

Reflecting on his near miss Witter added: "I think I am better off just watching. I have decided I am a boxer, not a footballer!"

That was well and truly confirmed in front of a boisterous home crowd at the Doncaster Dome as the Yorkshireman dismantled Harris to reassert his claim as the best light-welterweight around.

On a night when the big American matchmakers - and arch-rival Ricky Hatton - would have been watching with interest, Witter knew there was no place for the somewhat negative style which had characterised some of his previous fights, and he established the tone early on.

By the second round he was already beginning to call the shots as Harris twice walked on to the left hook and was shaken, before he responded with a superb short right hand of his own.

As Witter continued to find his range Harris shrugged his shoulders defiantly, but the champion's hurtful punches were having an effect.

Harris was bundled to the canvas midway through the fourth, only for the referee to rule a push, but before the end of the round the first knockdown had come - this time legally - as Witter's sweet right over the top connected flush on the temple.

When the end came in the seventh it arrived in the most emphatic style. Witter's left had looked dangerous all night and when he unleashed it with fury a minute into the round Harris had no response.

He was already wobbling when The Hitter followed up with a chopping right to make sure, and Harris was knocked out for the count.

Witter admitted the decisive blow was one of the best punches he had ever thrown.

"I hit him with some seriously powerful shots and he got up, he wobbled, but when the shot landed it was sweet," he said.

"I landed extremely devastating power out there.

"Harris has got a good chin and I knew I would have to land very strong, but it worked."