Witter feels the pressure ahead of screen test

6:00pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Junior Witter powers into tomorrow night's prime-time TV defence of his world title admitting: I've never felt pressure like this.

Champion Witter faces American Tim Bradley at Nottingham Arena and the fight is being shown live on ITV1.

There are reporters in Canada talking about me boxing Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather

Junior Witter

Witter knows it is his big chance to convince the armchair sports fans who have never witnessed him in action before - and an eye-catching display would drum up public support for forcing that dream duel with nemesis Ricky Hatton.

Bradford's light-welterweight king admitted: "A lot of people can now put a face to the name. They can see for themselves what the fuss is about.

"That puts a different edge to the fight for me. But every fight I've had since becoming world champion has had a completely different edge. The pressure from the first defence was immense; then there was the pressure of facing Vivian Harris because he was on a real roll after destroying Juan Lazcano (Hatton's next opponent).

"Now I've got this guy who is leading the new breed. He's got a great pedigree behind him from the amateurs and has come through 21 pro fights.

"The pressure comes from knowing that it's going out to seven to ten million viewers on ITV as well as in America and Canada. But that's what I thrive on - I want to show people what I'm about.

"There are reporters in Canada talking about me boxing Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather. They want to see me in the big fights - that's another pressure to deal with."

Witter, 34, is ten years older than his confident Californian opponent, who won the youth version of the WBC title three years ago.

He added: "I'm there to be shot at. Bradley truly believes he can beat me and he's willing to put it all on the line to achieve that. But I know when I step in the ring, it's a different beast to anybody else. Power comes from shots you don't expect and angles you don't see.

"He adores the belt and wants the belt so much and respects me as the best champion at this weight. But I'm going to have to destroy his dreams."

Witter has not appeared live on mainstream television since July 2005 when he pipped current WBA title holder Andreas Kotelnik by a narrow points verdict at the same venue.

With Hatton returning to the ring in Manchester in a fortnight, he has to show off champion credentials this time against the dangerous mandatory contender.

Witter's trainer Dominic Ingle said: "It's a big stage; he's in the spotlight and we need Junior to do a job.

"It will get people talking and wondering again why Ricky Hatton isn't fighting this guy. If Junior performs well, there is going to be a hell of a lot of pressure on Hatton."

Nadeem Siddique is also in action in a six-round light-welter clash against Ghana's Alex Brew.

Witter is live at 10.15pm.

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