Oscar de la Hoya will be "shocked" if his British protg Junior Witter fails to win a "genuine" world title within the next year.

Six-weight world champion De la Hoya has recruited the Bradford fighter to his Golden Boy Promotions outfit, together with top British prospect Carl Froch, and will showcase their talents in the United States as part of the partnership with their promoter Hennessy Sports.

Witter and Froch are both in action with defences of their European light-welterweight and British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles respectively on July 9, and after that will again cross the Atlantic to continue building their profile in front of American fans.

Froch passed a recent test against Henry Porras in California with flying colours while Witter beat Lovemore N'Dou earlier this year.

And De la Hoya praised their willingness to sacrifice home advantage in order to take the important fights.

"I respect what Junior and Carl are doing because they want to truly be genuine "world" champions," he said. "That means going outside of your home country if that's what it takes to fight the best competition and improve your game.

"Junior and Carl are obviously different fighters with their own distinct styles, but they share one thing in common - the desire to be the best and to test themselves against top opposition.

"It's a trait that will carry both of them very far in this game. I would be shocked if they didn't have genuine world title belts around their waists within the next 12 months."

Witter out-pointed N'Dou in February on the undercard of Howard Eastman's middleweight title challenge against Bernard Hopkins and De la Hoya was impressed.

"Power, speed, style - Junior showed it all against Lovemore N'Dou, and to beat a world-class fighter like that just confirms our belief that he is going to be a world champion very soon," said De la Hoya

Switch-hitter Witter meets Andreas Kotelnik in defence of his European title on the same bill but is already looking further ahead.

"Me and Frochy loved bringing the heat to America, so after we have taken care of business on July 9 we will be looking to head back out there as soon as possible," said Witter.

"I am going to target - and beat - the best light welterweights in the world.

"I want Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Miguel Cotto and Kostya Tszyu, once he has finished with (Ricky) Hatton.

"At some point I will still want to squeeze Ricky in as well. It's not about business, its personal. I want to knock him out. I am happy to go to all their backyards to do it to prove to British fans that I can beat anyone anywhere."

Froch, 27, knocked out respected Costa Rican Porras live on American pay-per-view in April in only his 15th professional outing.

"For a fighter making his US debut in just his 15th fight, I was amazed with Carl's poise against Henry Porras. Nothing shook him at all, and he was impressive in stopping a very tough opponent," said De la Hoya.

Froch's next outing in July will be in front of his home supporters at the Nottingham Arena in an eagerly-anticipated domestic fight against Matthew Barney.