Junior Witter and the great British fight that got away

Former WBC super-lightweight champion Junior Witter reflected on his career, his autobiography titled The Avoided, and his elusive domestic showdown with Ricky Hatton that never materialized. Despite securing British, Commonwealth, European, and world titles, Witter noted that his legacy remains deeply tied to the unmade Hatton clash. Witter stated that while Hatton's team considered him too high-risk, the two former rivals eventually set aside their friction and developed a friendship years after their primes.

Oliver Fennell highlights how Witter carved out a formidable career from humble beginnings, including stepping in on nine days' notice against Zab Judah and later dominating DeMarcus Corley and Vivian Harris. Following his retirement with a 43-8-2 record, Witter transitioned into training fighters, eventually running Witters Boxing Club in Rotherham to focus on grassroots coaching and community work.