Junior Witter will fall back on plan B after his summer showdown with Ricky Hatton had to be shelved.

Hatton is out of action until at least August as he recovers from plastic surgery following his gruelling fight with Vince Phillips at the weekend.

The news is a huge blow to Witter's camp although not entirely unexpected. It means the proposed clash between the bitter light-welter rivals cannot take place in July as anticipated.

So instead Witter is likely to re-focus his efforts on WBO world champion DeMarcus Corley.

Witter is the mandatory challenger for the American's crown and manager John Ingle said: "That gives us more bargaining power.

"In the long run, this could build up the Hatton fight even more. If Junior beats DeMarcus Corley, as I'm sure he will, and Hatton could challenge for the WBC version then they could have a unification fight for both titles."

Witter is currently in Gran Canaria on holiday, although he has been doing road work in preparation for another possible outing - maybe as early as next month.

Witter said: "I want the Hatton fight more than anything but I'm prepared to wait if it means facing Corley first.

"I am the number one challenger in the WBO so I'm entitled to fight him and it would be a fantastic opportunity to show America how good I am."

Witter was not at his sharpest under Hatton's gaze on Saturday, despite stopping Belgian Jurgen Haeck after four rounds. Ingle said: "Junior has to feel some kind of danger when he fights, there has to be something on the line for him.

"The kid wasn't good enough to worry him and I didn't feel Junior had got himself up for it. He was looking beyond it to the bigger fights coming up.

"I thought Hatton boxed well against Phillips. But if he is that good, he should have got rid of him and finished it.

"People can rave about Hatton but for me, there are a lot of question marks still."