-Photo Credit: Tom Casino/Showtime-

Last noche’s SHOBOX Saturday special found USA’s Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley over the pond at Nottingham, UK in quest of Junior “The Hitter” Witter’s WBC s/lightweight bauble. 

Much like a Yankee doodle dandy, it would be Bradley bringing home the proverbial bacon via split decision win - the down side is what we got was an ugly affair at best. 

But don’t put the onus on “Desert Storm” - after a tentative opening stanza that went to Witter who switched in style from port to starboard - the champion would elect to use the quickness for defensive purposes alone. 

Bradley would then pick up the tempo and claim and retain the aggressor posture over most of the dozen stanzas - highlighting the pressure tempo was a big right hand in candle six finding the mark - Bradley down late in the round but survives to the bell. 

Witter has the edge in numbers eight and nine with Bradley saving something for the proverbial championship rounds of 10-11-12 that was virgin territory for the Palm Springs, California kid of 24 years. 

The run to the wire all Bradley as Witter settled for survival with the challenger the busier. 

Scoring went Bradley 115-113, 114-113 and Witter 114-113 on one of the cards - my unofficial saw it Bradley 117-110 in points and 9-3 under round by round method.

Post Scripts: Timothy Bradley (22-0, 11 KO) age 24 and physically strong at 5’6” with good power- my first peek and not quick to judgment. The field at 140 not easy pickings. Some in alphabetical order go Hatton; Kotelnik; Malignaggi; Torres. Jury sequestered.
                     Junior Witter ( 36-2-2, 21KO) age 34 but wears it well. Quickness is there and tough to read with unorthodox moves. Problem too defensive in technique. Would have trouble collecting flies at that old wall in Jerusalem.

Closing comments: SHO-BOX commentator duo Nick Charles and Steve “Far-out” Farhood once again proved no match for the HBO crew of Lampley, Merchant, Steward.

Merchant tops by far in post-fight ring interview game - and Larry or Manny both superior next to Farhood. Lampley over Charles in overall commentary.

Late night toss-in s/middleweight mismatch a total waste. Local Carl Froch ( listed underneath #1 under Calzaghe among WBC group) handed a gimme Albert Rybacki who complied in stanza four. Victim at age 37 with no more than 15 outings pretty much sums it up. Froch remains undefeated - but displayed enough shortcomings to be uninsurable risk once facing real, live opponent among the 168 gang.