By Richard Hookham

Jubilant Witter celebrates his world title defence against Harris

Witter, 33, produced a dominant display before knocking out his brave opponent one minute into the seventh round.

Harris had been put down in the fourth, but gamely climbed off the floor to continue offering resistance.

But Witter upped the ante again to see off the former WBA champion for a second successful defence of his belt.

Harris, at 5ft 11in, opened well and used his four-inch height and reach advantage to throw some probing japs to keep Witter at bay.

But after an even first round, the 29-year-old New York-based Harris always looked in trouble.

Harris is a great fighter, I landed some big punches but he kept coming back at me Junior Witter

Witter produced a dazzling display of in-and-out boxing, switching from orthodox to southpaw and back again, almost at will, as Harris become increasingly frustrated.

The writing was on the wall when Witter stepped it up in the second and landed a thundering double left-right salvo before connecting with a big right.

Harris replied with a solid right himself, evidence of the skills that made him a world champion and the mandatory challenger to his Yorkshire opponent.

But for the next two rounds, he looked tormented by Witter's glove trickery until he was floored in the fourth, although the referee insisted it was a slip, rather than a knock-down.

Witter, who showed uncanny punch accuracy, threw out a nasty left to kick-off the fifth round before Harris regathered his senses and had his best spell in the fight, launching a string of fluent straight jabs.

He actually looked on top in the early minutes of the sixth, landing a hammer right as Witter came on the attack. But just at the bell he was rattled by another big bomb from Witter which was still having an effect as the seventh started.

Witter connected first and as Harris countered, he was caught with the telling blow which put him down by the ropes, leaving him unable to beat the count.

606: DEBATE Witter just battered Harris. It was great punch to knock him down trueToffee

"I'm absolutely esctatic," Witter said afterwards.

"But what a fighter Harris is. I connected with some really big punches but he kept coming back but in the end I was able to finish him off.

"I landed extremely devastating power out there.

"I had a lot of niggling injuries coming into the fight so it was very pleasing to win it like this.

"I've been in with seriously good fighters and beat them, I've had world titles and still people don't give me credit. But I am the best 140lb fighter around. I am the man."