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Junior Witter today accused Ricky Hatton of avoiding him for TEN years and blasted: He's made a career out of running from me.
Bradford's world champion hit back after Hatton stirred up another war of words with his bitter rival.
Hatton, trying to pour more cold water on the prospect of the pair ever fighting, reckoned Witter had "made a career for himself on slagging me off".
He does not want to give Witter "the best pay-day of his life" by granting the showdown that every British fight fan is demanding.
But Witter believes the public are tired of Hatton's excuses - which have been going on since both men started out as professionals.
Witter said: "I remember going to fight in Manchester when I first started up. Hatton, Michael Gomez and Arnie Farnell were all coming through and it was mentioned then with Frank Warren that we should do the fight.
"Hatton looked at me with this half smile and said not quite yet' - and ever since then it's been not quite yet'.
"I was then told I could make £5,000 to fight Hatton or wait and do it for the British title for £50,000. I was happy to do it there and then, so they said I had to wait again.
"Even when it was apparently written in his contract to fight me, it still didn't happen. There was always a reason.
"I do everything I can and will beat up whoever's put in front of me. That's what fighters do, not argue about more money or TV exposure or not bringing enough people in.
"I would get a big pay-day, of course, but I'm going to get a big pay-day in my next fight. That doesn't come into it.
"I'm not bothered about making £10million or £20million. As long as I've got enough money for me and my family, then I'm happy - and I've got that."
Witter has also questioned Hatton's self-styled image as the man of the people, when he is holding back on the duel they want to see.
He said: "His fans have been screaming for my blood for the last ten years. It's the biggest fight in England since Eubank and Benn, if not bigger, so let's do it.
"Hatton loves this image of being a normal guy and yet he's started talking about himself in the third person in interviews. What normal people do that? I don't."
Witter is preparing to defend his WBC light-welterweight title in America against Demetrius Hopkins on March 22.
Hatton, recovering from his first loss at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, plans to return to the ring in May.
Witter said: "Hatton called out Mayweather by calling him a coward and boring. Now he wants to fight Paulie Malignaggi, who's been going round slagging him off in America.
"Trash talk is part of the game; not a nice part but it happens and helps to build up the intensity between the fighters.
"Malignaggi's only doing the same as me but Hatton doesn't seem to have a problem with him."
cmon hatton, step up *****!
Bradford's world champion hit back after Hatton stirred up another war of words with his bitter rival.
Hatton, trying to pour more cold water on the prospect of the pair ever fighting, reckoned Witter had "made a career for himself on slagging me off".
He does not want to give Witter "the best pay-day of his life" by granting the showdown that every British fight fan is demanding.
But Witter believes the public are tired of Hatton's excuses - which have been going on since both men started out as professionals.
Witter said: "I remember going to fight in Manchester when I first started up. Hatton, Michael Gomez and Arnie Farnell were all coming through and it was mentioned then with Frank Warren that we should do the fight.
"Hatton looked at me with this half smile and said not quite yet' - and ever since then it's been not quite yet'.
"I was then told I could make £5,000 to fight Hatton or wait and do it for the British title for £50,000. I was happy to do it there and then, so they said I had to wait again.
"Even when it was apparently written in his contract to fight me, it still didn't happen. There was always a reason.
"I do everything I can and will beat up whoever's put in front of me. That's what fighters do, not argue about more money or TV exposure or not bringing enough people in.
"I would get a big pay-day, of course, but I'm going to get a big pay-day in my next fight. That doesn't come into it.
"I'm not bothered about making £10million or £20million. As long as I've got enough money for me and my family, then I'm happy - and I've got that."
Witter has also questioned Hatton's self-styled image as the man of the people, when he is holding back on the duel they want to see.
He said: "His fans have been screaming for my blood for the last ten years. It's the biggest fight in England since Eubank and Benn, if not bigger, so let's do it.
"Hatton loves this image of being a normal guy and yet he's started talking about himself in the third person in interviews. What normal people do that? I don't."
Witter is preparing to defend his WBC light-welterweight title in America against Demetrius Hopkins on March 22.
Hatton, recovering from his first loss at the hands of Floyd Mayweather, plans to return to the ring in May.
Witter said: "Hatton called out Mayweather by calling him a coward and boring. Now he wants to fight Paulie Malignaggi, who's been going round slagging him off in America.
"Trash talk is part of the game; not a nice part but it happens and helps to build up the intensity between the fighters.
"Malignaggi's only doing the same as me but Hatton doesn't seem to have a problem with him."
cmon hatton, step up *****!
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