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Junior Witter successfully defended his WBC title against Vivian Harris last time out and puts the belt on the line again next month against Tim Bradley

Junior Witter has blasted Ricky Hatton over "the worst excuse yet" for not wanting to face him.

Witter, warming up for next month's defence of his WBC world belt against American Tim Bradley, cannot believe Hatton's latest reason for steering clear of the fight every British fan wants - a jibe at an awards do.

The Mancunian claims Witter offended him at a BBC sports personality of the year presentation by whispering in his ear "one day" as they walked up to the stage.

A staggered Witter said: "It wasn't even at last year's awards but the one before, as far as I can tell, so it's taken Hatton 18 months to come up with this. I must have really got to him!

"I don't actually remember saying it but I probably did. It might have been the only thing I said to him that night - we don't have full-sentence conversations.

"It's got to be the worst excuse Hatton has come up with yet, and there have been plenty of them, but what I said obviously made a lasting impression."

Bradford's light-welterweight champion has the chance to turn up the heat on his bitter rival when he fights Bradley at Nottingham on May 10.

It is being shown live on ITV and gives Witter the perfect stage to score points with the armchair audience a fortnight before Hatton's next fight is shown on pay-per-view.

"There's a lot of people who will have heard of me but have never seen me box and now they can," said Witter.

"There will be millions of viewers watching and I know I've got to perform. Really I need to do the same as last time when I knocked out Vivian Harris.

"Bradley's not the biggest puncher but he hits hard and has good skills. This is the be-all fight for him, as it should be for the WBC belt.

"He really wants it and asked for the fight personally - and that makes a change."

Witter, a guest of honour for City's game at Valley Parade on Saturday, would love to unify the titles later this year and is willing to step back in the ring with newly-crowned WBA champion Andreas Kotelnik.

The Ukrainian took him all the way three years ago but Witter said: "I'm happy to fight him again.

"Officially I only won the last time by one point, although I thought it was more than that.

"He is performing like a world champion now but I'd like the chance to show him I'm still better."

But Witter knows there is only one battle at the top of everyone's agenda.

"At the moment the Hatton fight is just floating around - it's not getting any nearer or further away," he said.

"But as long as people keep the pressure on him then you hope he'll finally give them what they want."

3:00pm Thursday 3rd April 2008

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