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Witter: Planning to carry on until he turns 40

It would be the biggest fight we've had in Britain for so long. You are talking about two world champions in their prime getting in the ring. It would be bigger than Benn v Eubank and would sell out any arena worldwide.

Junior Witter
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Bravery, toughness and determination are all traits you would associate with the sport of boxing, but patience? In a sport where taking your time can be your downfall, it is rare to see a fighter display such a characteristic.

Yet since the start of the decade Junior Witter has been more patient than any saint.

Throughout the last eight years he has shown unbelievable persistence in pursuit of what he feels he deserves - a chance to fight Ricky Hatton.

So amid the many, many local kids who come in to the Wincobank gym run by Team Ingle to learn as much about discipline as about how to duck and dive, the 34-year-old is busy preparing for his third defence of the WBC light-welterweight belt.

Timothy Bradley is next in line for The Hitter on May 10, an unbeaten American who has been given a title tilt following the withdrawal of Demetrius Hopkins.

After his defeat to Floyd Mayweather, Hatton will be back down at light-welterweight for his next fight just two weeks later, though once again it won't be Witter he's facing.

Instead Mexican Juan Lazcano will be the man to go up against the hometown favourite at Eastlands Stadium, a bout billed as the homecoming for a city's hero but one that his long-time rival has branded a 'gimme fight'.

Contrasting styles

Hatton has never been far from the Bradford-born boxer's mind now for over seven years but, despite his constant taunts and attempts to goad his compatriot, they are yet to meet in the ring.

Such a blockbuster battle between contrasting styles - Witter the slick, counter-punching boxer against the body-beating, all-action fighter in Hatton - would be a big hit on both sides of the pond, particularly with the pair now the best two in the division.

But with the Hitman already lining up money-spinning nights against American Paulie Malignaggi, who will fight on the Eastlands undercard against Lovemore N'Dou on May 24, before a mooted re-match with the Pretty Boy, it appears Witter will have to wait a little longer yet.

However, he is adamant he will eventually get his chance, insisting that the fight is closer than ever before because of the public demand to see it finally come to fruition.

"I think that fight is around the corner," he exclusively told skysports.com. "There are two things he can do - he can box me or retire, and I don't think he's going to retire.

"We've had arguments in the past and he is a good fighter, he's just not the best fighter. His next fight doesn't impress me one little bit, he should win easily.

"He's going to discredit everything he's ever done if he doesn't get in the ring with me. He's got no excuses.

"The public are absolutely screaming for it. I remember people four years ago telling me they'd pay a £1,000 for a ringside seat for that fight, and now the stakes are even higher.

"It would be the biggest fight we've had in Britain for so long. You are talking about two world champions in their prime getting in the ring. It would be bigger than Benn v Eubank and would sell out any arena worldwide."

Rather than sit back, and bide his time, Witter is instead aiming to clean up the rest of the light-welterweight division and force Hatton's hand. After all, if the mountain won't come to Mohamed, then Mohamed may have to come to the mountain.

Long-term plan

Time could become an issue with Hatton hinting at early retirement, something Witter refuses to contemplate to such a degree that he's planning to keep climbing into the ring until he's at least 40.

"I'm looking at a unification fight as soon as possible, before the end of this year. I'm looking at September time," he added.

"We're looking at (WBO champion Ricardo) Torres and (WBA belt holder Andreas) Kotelnik. We've talked to both management teams and they are both interested.

"I'm in good shape all the time and as long as everything keeps going the way it is, I can see me going for another six years.

"I do a job I love, around people in a gym I get on well with and have a lot of respect for. It works well and I'm very happy with the situation."

Witter certainly seems happy with his lot right now, but he'll never be completely satisfied with his career until he gets that long-awaited crack at Hatton. For now, he'll just have to keep waiting.