If Junior Witter's career has been played out in Ricky Hatton's shadow, his downfall took place in the biggest glare of publicity he has faced. Witter lost his WBC light-welterweight title via a split decision to Timothy Bradley, a 24-year-old unbeaten and untested Californian, who had been a 6-1 underdog. Several million viewers of ITV1 shared the moment with him.

One wag suggested that, in defeat, Witter had a better chance of facing Hatton, his long-time rival, than he had during his eight-year unbeaten run, but that seems unlikely. “He will just add it to the list of reasons why he avoids me,” a downbeat Witter said, his frustration made worse by spending more than an hour trying to give a urine sample for his compulsory drugs test. “I didn't feel good at any time. My timing just wasn't there, although I felt I could have nicked it. I'll come back and be a world champion again.”

But the boxing world is a tough place for a 34-year-old former world champion, especially one with the “who needs him” style of Witter. Few people wanted to face Witter when he was champion; with no title, his options could be limited.

Witter's downfall was rooted in Bradley's capacity for homework. The match had been made only seven weeks ago, after both had bouts fall through, but Bradley had been studying the champion's switch-hitting style for more than a year. His plan was to counter-punch Witter, a committed counter-puncher himself. It led to stalemate in some early rounds, but Bradley stuck by the plan, conceding early ground for long-term gain. Witter, with nothing to work off, was forced to push the pace, but Bradley caught him diving in.

“The plan was always to be patient,” Bradley said. “I felt I could have lost the first five rounds, but I had really studied him. I saw he got weary in the later rounds.”

By the sixth round. Bradley had started to read Witter's awkward style. Early in the round, he caught Witter walking in twice. The third time he got through, with a fast overhand right. It caught Witter on the temple and sent him crashing down on his back.

Thereafter, Witter did not seem the same, mistiming his punches, tiring and often leaving himself as an open target. One judge, Franco Ciminale, made Witter a winner by 115-112, the other two, Omar Minton and Daniel van de Wiele, gave Bradley a deserved win with scores of 114-113 and 115-113.

Carl Froch defeated Albert Rybacki, a late substitute from Poland, in four one-sided rounds and now hopes to challenge Joe Calzaghe for his world super-middleweight titles. If Calzaghe declines to face him, Froch, the mandatory contender for the WBC title, could take on Jermain Taylor, the former world middleweight champion and two-times conqueror of Bernard Hopkins, for the vacant title.

Explore More Sport

• Athletics

• Boxing

• Cycling

• Sailing

• US Sport