By Sean Davies

Witter has won 37 of his 42 fights, with 22 knock-outs

Former WBC light-welterweight king Junior Witter has targeted a fight with European welterweight champion Matthew Hatton as a route back to the big time.

The Sheffield man, 36, launched a long, fruitless pursuit of Hatton's brother Ricky when both were world champions.

Now, after last August's WBC loss to Devon Alexander and a frustrating nine months inactivity following a football injury, Witter is chasing Hatton Jr.

"A British, Commonwealth or European belt is a stepping stone," he said.

"Denton Vassell's the Commonwealth champion, so he's a possible target, but Hatton's the European champion.

When I came out on crutches it was snowing and I was trapped in the house, that was the worst thing Junior Witter on his injury

"I don't see winning one of those being a problem at all, then I want to move up to the world scene and get a title shot.

"Andre Berto's WBC title is the one I want, but there are other champions out there."

Witter's only defeats have been in high-class contests against Zab Judah, Timothy Bradley and Alexander, but a recreational injury outside the ring after the last loss proved far more costly.

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Witter damaged ligaments in a football game and was left on crutches for six months.

"I'm going to leave football for now to concentrate on boxing, and when I retire I'll just watch football," he said.

"It's been very frustrating. When I came out on crutches it was snowing and I was trapped in the house, that was the worst thing.

"I've been out of the gym for about six months and have got very restless.

Witter (left) found Alexander too much to deal with

"The injury meant I missed out on Prizefighter - I thought I could win that easily and get a nice pay day for nine rounds work at most, and there've been a few other pay days gone as well.

"But now I've moved up to welterweight and want to win another title to get back on top.

"It's a great division with great champions so there are opportunities for me."

Witter was speaking in Cardiff during the WBC's three-day boxing festival centred around Saturday's Night of Champions.

Included in that time was the world premiere of the Howard Winstone film Risen, in which Witter plays Sugar Ramos in his losing fight to Vicente Saldivar, whose part is taken by Erik Morales.

"It did feel special to be in the ring with Morales," said Witter.

"Within the boxing world I think the film will have a decent pull, but it's not just about boxing - it's about Winstone's lifestyle, the things he gave up and the things that went wrong in his life.

"It's been fantastic to be here with all these champions. I was excited when I saw them, but they knew me, that was great and I feel part of it all."

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