By Mark Vester

WBC junior welterweight champ Junior Witter tells the Sunday Mirror that Ricky Hatton's upcoming "title defense" on May 24 against Juan Lazcano in Manchester is a "total joke."  Witter said that he was negotiating with Hatton to fight him in May, but it was his UK rival that backed off from the table. Witter defends his title against undefeated Timothy Bradley on May 10 in Nottingham.

"It's a joke - the British fight public are being denied the mega-fight they want," Witter said. "Ricky has been ignoring my calls for a fight for a long time - I wasn't surprised when the latest negotiations collapsed. A fight between me and Ricky would be the biggest British fight in history, but I believe he is scared of losing in front of all his fans."

Witter claims there was a deal in principle that both sides agreed upon for a May fight.

"There was a very real chance of me being in the ring on that night, and not Lazcano," said Witter. "There was agreement in principle, and I again had my hopes up, but then the goalposts were moved. I believe that Ricky is letting down his fans by ignoring me. Ricky has been banging on about how great his fans are and how much he loves them - but I know that the fight they all want to see is Ricky against me.

"I have heard Ricky say repeatedly that he hates my guts - or words to that effect - and if that's the way he feels I'm amazed that he is not chasing me for a fight. I'm a professional boxer and for me it's about respect and honor, and it has nothing to do with it being personal."

Witter feels his exposure with the Bradley bout being televised on ITV1 and Showtime will assist him with putting pressure on Hatton for the fight.

"Ricky has some future plans but I am confident that his American broadcaster HBO will ask him to fight me," said Witter. "Look at our next fights - I'm in with a young unbeaten American, and he's sharing the ring with a 33-year-old Mexican, who has not fought since February 2007."

"I'm defending the WBC belt, the world's most prestigious title, and he's got something called the IBO belt. It's a total joke and yet he still keeps telling people that I don't deserve a fight with him. I'm a fighter - but Ricky is just acting like a businessman.

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