Junior Witter learns this month whether his appeal to the World Boxing Council will clinch him a fight with WBC light welterweight champion Arturo Gatti. Gatti needs a new opponent for his televised 11 June defence after talks with former champion Floyd Mayweather broke down this week.
To face him, Witter must be promoted above current No.2 Gianluca Branco.
Branco pulled out of a prospective title eliminator against Witter scheduled for Los Angeles last month.
Witter's promoter Mick Hennessy insists the WBC have no option but to relegate Branco after his unexplained withdrawal less than a week before the fight.
"If Branco was kept at number two it would be an absolute disgrace because he pulled out for no apparent reason," Hennessy said.
"Since he fought Gatti in January last year, Branco has had two minor fights in Italy against two guys I have never heard of.
"Junior has won the European title against a world-class fighter, defended it in style and gone to the States to do a job on Lovemore N'Dou."
Witter impressed when he beat N'Dou on his US debut last month.
And Hennessy has confirmed he is trying to lure Gatti to England with an audacious �1.5m offer to stage the fight in Nottingham.
Hennessy said: "After what Junior did to N'Dou he has become a big name in America and Gatti would be a marquee super-fight.
"I would love it to be in England but there is also television to consider so so we are prepared to be reasonable and if necessary go to the States."
MMIX
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