By Mark Vester
Gareth Williams, attorney for Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31KOs), told Daily Mail that UK rival Junior Witter (36-1, 21KOs) will never get a crack at Hatton as long as he continues to trash him in the media.
Witter, holder of the WBC junior welterweight title, has been slamming Hatton in the press for several years. The UK rivalry has been gotten more heated since Witter won his the WBC title last September.
Williams says Witter has been using Hatton's popularity to make a name for himself. He thinks Witter should concentrate on his own career instead of spewing Hatton's name in the media for a payday.
"Ricky will never fight Junior Witter as long as he keeps slagging him off in public," said Williams. "He would be better off concentrating on his own career instead of looking for a big payday on the back of Ricky's popularity. Witter's performing in front of 200 men and a dog while Ricky is topping the bill in America. We won't let Witter make his fortune by piggy-backing on Ricky's success."
Williams told the paper that Hatton may take a minor tuneup fight in England, with a possible defense of his IBO junior welterweight title. Then face IBF 140-pound champ Paulie Malignaggi (23-1, 5KOs), tentatively in New York's Madison Square Garden.
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