Junior Witter aims to become British boxing’s grand old man – or he will quit.

Bradford’s former world champion fights old adversary Colin Lynes for the domestic welterweight belt in Sheffield on May 12.

Now 38, Witter could become the oldest British title holder in history in the 147lb division.

It would also relaunch a career that has been on the wane since he lost his WBC light-welterweight crown to Tim Bradley four years ago.

But Witter knows that defeat to 34-year-old reigning champion Lynes, who he beat on points in 2005, would spell the end of the road.

Witter said: “This is it. Realistically it’s the last chance for us both.

“If he wins, he keeps the belt outright and it’s a dream belt to win. I’ve always been the most avoided man in Britain and this is my way back out there. With that intensity brings the fire.

“I’m nervous about this for different reasons.

“I’ve got to step up, win that Lonsdale belt and then move on and start making big money again. There are opportunities out there like the European that I know I can win.

“I need that exposure but all this depends on me delivering what I know I can do this time.”

Lynes won the title in November with a thrilling victory over Lee Purdy and Witter knows from past experience that he is a stubborn opponent.

“Colin’s an awkward fighter and he’s having this purple patch. He boxes off the back foot quite a lot and it’s always hard when you’ve got two counter punchers.

“I take my hat off to him for what he’s achieved but it’s his bad luck that he’s come up against me again. There’s no way I’m not winning this fight.”

Witter has been hampered by injuries in recent years and was famously beaten in the final of Prizefighter after falling through the ring.

Now he is desperate for one last shot at restoring his image – and becoming a domestic champion at two weights.

Trainer Dominic Ingle joked: “It’s got to the point where he won’t tell us how old he is. He used to say ‘I don’t look bad for 31’ but I can’t even remember when that was!

“Junior is in the last chance saloon, at the bar and nobody is buying him a drink. But he’s been training hard and he wants a title back.”

The fight, which will be chief support to the local grudge match between Kid Galahad and Josh Wale, will be shown live on Channel Five.

Promoter Mick Hennessy said: “Junior is a former great of British boxing. He won all the traditional titles and sometimes those achieve-ments go unnoticed and don’t get the respect they deserve.

“It’s a crossroads fight for him but if he can recapture some of his previous form then I’m sure he will do a job.”