Bobby 'The Viper' Vanzie was full of venom today when he discovered he had been placed at number four in the latest Brtish rankings.

Bradford's British and Commonwealth lightweight champion is rated behind Billy Schwer, IBO world champion Michael Ayers and WBU title holder Colin Dunne.

Vanzie said: "I'm livid. I can accept Schwer and Dunn being above me but Ayers at number two is really annoying.

"All he has done is beaten a washed-up fighter - 'Mad Dog' Miller - to win his title and he has been jumped right up the charts.

"It has really cheesed me off. I intend lodging a protest with Boxing News who compile the charts because I feel I have been given a raw deal.

"This just confirms my impression that the southern-based boxing people are against those like myself who do not come from the capital or fight there regularly."

Vanzie is not the only local boxer to receive a raw deal in the new lists.

WBF champion Junior Witter is only sixth in the junior-welterweight division while British welterweight champion Derek Roche is second to the former title holder Geoff McCreesh.

The junior-welterweight rankings are headed by Liverpool's Shea Neary - a man Witter knocked out in one round as an amateur.

British champion Mark Rowland, Commonwealth title holder Eamon Magee, Witter's stable-mate Jon Thaxton - currently banned after failing a drugs test - and Manchester's Ricky Hatton are all placed above the unbeaten Bradford boxer.

Vanzie believes that Roche and Witter should have been better rated. "It seems they have been treated the same way as me," he said.

"It seems Bradford is treated as some sort of backwater whereas if you fight out of London, Liverpool or Manchester you get better recognition.

"I certainly intend to write a letter of protest. It seems that we just do not get the recognition we deserve for our success."

The one crumb of comfort for Vanzie is the fact that he is at least one place ahead of his next opponent Stephen Smith whom he meets in a British and Commonwealth title defence at the Elephant & Castle on February 21.

He added: "The rankings have made me determined to not just win, but win in style.

"I want to stop Smith and put on the kind of show which will make the people in the South sit up and take notice."

Bradford cruiserweight Huggy Osman has been rated for the first time. He is placed at 33rd after winning his first three pro fights.

Other Bradford boxers' ratings are: Bruno Foster, 22nd in the heavyweights; Donovan Smillie, 48th at middleweight; Donovan Davey, 44th at light middleweight; and Gavin Pearson, 37th at welterweight.

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