Rees celebrates his world title with trainer Enzo Calzaghe

"He's got one of the two best belts in the division and it's a fight I could win easily," said WBC champion Witter.

Commonwealth lightweight champion Khan said: "I'm a natural at 135lbs and want a world title at the weight, but if Rees stays champion I'll take him on."

Welshman Rees, 27, won the WBA title from Souleymane M'Baye last Saturday.

That took the Enzo Calzaghe-trained Newbridge man's record to 27-0 (13 KOs).

He faces a mandatory defence against Andreas Kotelnik, but before that Rees is expected to make a voluntary defence on 3 November, on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe v Mikkel Kessler at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

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"I could make that date, but with the politics I can't imagine the match being made," said Bradford's Witter, who defends his crown against Vivian Harris at the Dome in Doncaster on 7 September.

"The Harris fight has all my attention right now, but after that I would look at Rees.

"He's a good boxer at his level, but that level is nowhere near mine and he would have no chance against me.

"I was surprised that he beat M'Baye, but Rees approached the fight with the right attitude - it didn't matter what people said about him, he was going to give it his best shot.

"He's a come-forward, aggressive fighter. M'Baye is better technically and should have won, but it looked like he hadn't trained properly and ran out of gas.

Everyone in that gym looks up to Joe Calzaghe who's such a great champion Amir Khan

"Light welterweight is a very strong division worldwide, but the Brits - myself, Ricky Hatton and Rees - are not believing that anybody's better than us."

Olympic silver-medallist Khan felt that the Calzaghe training camp played a great part in Rees' title win.

"Enzo's a great coach, and everyone in that gym looks up to Joe [Calzaghe] who's such a great champion," said the Bolton man.

"Joe's a good friend of mine, he inspires and motivates you and I want to be where he is one day.

"But Rees deserved his win over M'Baye, he pressured him, came forward, showed the work rate and wanted it more than his opponent - I would have used the same tactics, the plan was perfect.

"I've sparred with M'Baye and know that he's a good fighter with some style.

"Rees and I have the same promoter [Frank Warren], and I fight anyone he puts in front of me.

"I wouldn't rule out meeting Rees - if it's there, I'll take it."

The Back Page

*Witter and Khan were speaking on BBC Radio Wales' The Back Page programme, which has a regular slot on Saturdays, 0830-0900 BST