Let's hope Ricky Hatton remembered to set his video before jetting off to America.

The Hitman had sneered at the performance that earned Junior Witter the WBC title four months ago.

He wasn't hugely impressed with the way Witter had toyed with DeMarcus Corley, particularly the move when the Bradford ace froze like a statue with his arm cocked in front of him.

Hatton had joked to his gym pals: "I thought my Sky plus had gone on the blink because nothing was happening."

Well if he caught the action from Alexandra Palace on Saturday night, he would have seen Witter jump all over the stubborn Arturo Morua to clock up his first stoppage win since November 2004.

It was a brutal finish from the champion, who needed to win well in his first voluntary defence to send out a message of intent to the rest of the light-welterweight division's big hitters.

Almost ten years to the day since his first pro outing against Cameron Raeside, Witter chalked up his 20th success inside the distance.

But Hatton and anyone else who recorded the fight may want to fast foward through a few of the less enthralling moments.

While Witter won comfortably against the 15th-ranked Morua, it was hardly the sort of clash that fans will recall for years to come.

Witter admitted he had under-sparred in the gym. Christmas is a notoriously difficult time to attract suitable candidates to the gym and a little nick over his eye a couple of weeks before fight night meant his team had to be cautious.

Extended sessions on the pads kept his eye in and fitness levels high but his timing suffered.

And he wasn't helped by an opponent whose negative approach couldn't have been less Mexican if he tried.

From a nation who pride themselves on churning out fierce, in-yer-face brawlers, Morua proved the total antidote. He made the cautious Corley look like Mike Tyson at times.

Having branded Witter a "clown" in the build-up, it was the Mexican who deserved all the custard pies.

"Maybe that was his gameplan," said Witter afterwards, "Perhaps he tried to fool me by saying he'd go all out when instead he was trying to outbox me.

"I had an inkling he might box a little more than your typical Mexican but not that much.

"It was a little frustrating because I backed him up a good few times and was just waiting for him to try something new. But he never really did.

"He went into a shell when he felt my power. It's strange because that seems to happen with quite a lot of people at the minute. But it's one of those things and I can deal with whoever's in the ring at any given time. I think about everything in there, not just one particular style, and I'll adapt to whatever you're doing and find a counter."

Trainer Dominic Ingle admitted: "The timing was a little bit off but the guy didn't come to fight. Once Junior started putting a bit more pressure on in the later rounds, he was catching him with the heavy shots."

Witter wants - and needs - the bigger challenges that lay ahead of him. Guys that won't just put on their gloves for show and will actually try to use them - if they can get anywhere near the slippery target.

Morua got through Witter's guard once or twice but never often enough or with the sort of conviction to wobble the champion. It was always a case of when, rather than if, Witter would notch up another victory.

The early stalemate was always heading towards checkmate once Witter began to find his range. Hurtful left hooks were hammered home with increasing regularity as the rounds wore on, though Morua took a bit of budging.

Bemused at times by Witter's hand speed, the Mexican defended solidly and was not going to be blown over early. It was no surprise that his ten previous fights had all gone the whole way.

But none of those opponents came close to the elusive, "now you see me, now you don't" phantom who stood in front of him.

He may not have looked as visibly agitated as Corley but Morua must have been inwardly screaming for Witter to stay still just long enough to present something to aim at. This is why Witter makes the opposition look so bad.

But it was no straight-forward painting by numbers job for the champion, who still had to unravel a challenger who stoically refused to come out and play.

After four 12-rounders on the bounce, the champion could sense an earlier night.

And in the ninth round, he delivered. There was a glint in Witter's eye from the sounding of the bell and he quickly nailed Morua with a mini-barrage.

Morua came through but that was just the opener and he was thrown back into his own corner, powerless to resist as punches fired in from all angles.

The referee pulled Witter away - only to give Morua an unexpected second chance by starting a standing count rather than waving the fight off. But the Mexican was on his way and a few precious seconds of respite made no difference. As the action resumed, Witter was straight in his face again unloading a volley which his opponent could not answer.

"I haven't got a clue what shot finished him," the champion added, "I'll just have to watch the tape to find out."

I wonder if a guy in Manchester could lend him a copy...

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