Ricky Hatton has ducked out of a long-awaited mega-fight with Junior Witter.

Hatton was offered the clash with his Bradford light-welterweight

arch-rival for his American debut in May after intended opponent Juan Lazcano broke a finger in training.

But WBA and IBF world champion Hatton, who has always insisted he would love to face Witter, turned it down.

Witter, training for a defence of his European title next month, said: "I'm not surprised at all. I've always said from day one that he didn't want the fight. Hatton used to hide behind the excuse that Frank Warren wasn't keen on it. But now he's left him, there are no excuses.

"He's scared of me and this has exposed that."

Once Lazcano pulled out, American TV giants HBO contacted Oscar De La Hoya, who co-promotes Witter in the US alongside Mick Hennessy.

Witter added: "They came to us, it wasn't a case of we were looking for this fight. But Hatton's in charge of his own career now so it's up to him.

"He's backed himself into a corner now - but when I become WBC champion I'll still offer him a

unification fight if he's interested!"

Fight Academy, Hatton's current promoters, plan to announce a new opponent for the May 13 fight in Connecticut over the weekend. Witter is due to face Italian Guiseppe Lauri in Varese on April 28.