Bradford’s former World Champion boxer Junior Witter has spoken about the death of his father, who was the inspiration behind his career in the ring.

A boxer himself as a young man, Walter Witter attended all of his son’s fights, often in a three-piece-suit complete with hat.

Junior described his dad as a “character” and said he was a well-known figure after being at the helm of social clubs in the city for more than 20 years.

Mr Witter, who was 70 when he died, came to Bradford in search of work in 1968. He ran the Sugar Cane Club, Salt Street, during the 1970s before taking on the Britannia Social Club in Carlisle Road, which he ran until 1999.

He then took on the Plantation Restaurant in 2003, before running the Devonshire pub in Thornton Road until he retired.

The 36-year-old boxer said: “He was a very well-known figure in Bradford, everybody loved him. I forget how much of a people person he was. The amount of people I know that came to me and said how many years they had known him, all races, all types of people.

“He started doing Christmas parties at the social club. No-one else was doing these parties, he used to get hundreds of cakes, buns, drinks for the kids.

“He was just giving back to the community.”

Speaking of his father’s support during his career, which saw him crowned WBC light-welterweight world champion in 2006, he said: “He was behind me all the way, he boxed a lot in Jamaica when he was a lad.

“He knew how hard it was and he gave me a lot of advice. He would come to all my fights. He stands out, he was always in a suit when he came to watch me fight.”

Mr Witter battled lung cancer in 2008 and recovered, but the cancer returned and claimed his life on June 20.

A memorial was held in Bradford yesterday and he will be buried in a private ceremony in Jamaica.

Junior said: “He seemed to be on the up. He got stronger and he wasn’t a sick man. I’m glad of that, he didn’t have to suffer. He went out in a good way and that was of some comfort to the family.”