One day Junior Witter will get the recognition that has long eluded him and escape the impression that he has a chip on his shoulder. This evening Witter defends his WBC light-welterweight title against Timothy Bradley at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, although the name on everyone's lips is not the unbeaten American, but Ricky Hatton.

There are those in life who are touched by stardust and others, such as Witter, who are not. Hatton is everyone's friend, a man of the people; Witter is quieter, more shy and lacks the charisma of Naseem Hamed, his one-time friend and gym-mate.

It is Witter's misfortune that his name is seldom mentioned without Hatton's in close proximity. But Hatton has said that he will never face his domestic rival. The Mancunian puts this down to a lack of respect from Witter, but a more likely explanation is that Hatton sees too much risk for too little cash. Despite holding the sport's premier belt, though, Witter needs Hatton.

“Some people get the breaks, some people don't,” Witter said. “Some people work very hard to get the same that some people are given without even thinking about it. Life's very unfair in that respect.”

At 34, Witter is five years older than Hatton, but their lifestyles mean that Hatton will probably retire first. Witter's taunting, which stretches back to when he gatecrashed an interview on Sky after Hatton beat Jon Thaxton for the British title in 2000, has pushed his rival farther away.

“There was a time when it [a bout against Hatton] looked like it was the only way forward,” Witter said. “Now there are other doors open. If he wants it, it's here, ready and waiting. If he's going to retire, there's nowt I can do about it.”

But if Witter needs another incentive to perform, he knows that beating Bradley could open doors. The bout will be screened live on ITV1, Witter's first on terrestrial television, and it will also be shown in the United States on the Showtime channel. A dominant display similar to the one in which he flattened Vivian Harris, the former WBA champion, in his previous defence last September could help Witter to emerge from Hatton's shadow.

Bradley, the WBC's No1 contender, is largely untested, having won all his 21 bouts, and earned his mandatory shot at the title when José Luis Castillo, the Mexican whom Hatton beat last summer, failed to make the weight for their eliminator in March.

“This is the best fight, right here, right now. What could be, what might be doesn't really matter, it's what is,” Witter said. “I look at it as the chance for people to see who I am, rather than just hear what people say about me. A lot of people don't have a clue who I am. This is a chance for them to see the boxer, see what I can do, rather than what people think of me.”

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