Sheffield's light welterweight king has been watching our campaign with interest - the programme involves boxers going into local schools and speaking out against intimidation and harassment.

Witter, who takes on American Timothy Bradley on an ITV bill at Nottingham Arena tomorrow, reveals he had once been a victim of bullying.

Speaking on video on thestar.co.uk, the Bradford-born fighter said: "I support the message. I don't think you can actually grow up in a city without seeing some of it, especially from where I was from.

"You have got to do your bit to stop it, diffuse the situation, use words rather than violence. You have got to talk your way out of stuff and walk away" said the 34-year-old champ.

"You know it's coming...some people are ignorant and don't want to learn. You see them - you walk the other way step aside, let them go on their merry way and get on with your own stuff."

Witter declared: "It's like being in a pub and you know it's going to kick off and you think yeah ok, they are going to fight I am going to be stuck in the middle - just get out of the way!"

In Bradford there was a time when "people tried to bully me" he said.
"There was the edge of racism in there as well. No matter what you do..you are not going to educate (them.) Keep away from them and let someone else get through to them because you cannot deal with everyone.

"I've seen fight two lads sparring, getting a little heated, a little irate, I just step in and diffuse the situation.

"I stopped some bullying when I was a kid at school. A young Asian kid that was getting bullied by these other Asian kids, it just kicked off I stopped them, I calmed them down...learn from the experience!"

Witter said gym-mate Lee Noble, once a Barnsley football hooligan, was "the type of boy who has come out of an aggressive lifestyle and bought into new way of looking at things.

"He had a big chip on his shoulder and was very stubborn. He has a come here (Ingle gym, Wincobank) he has learned; he has got a lot better, he's not in as much trouble, he has progressed, now you can talk to him, before you couldn't reason with him."

Asked whether Bradley would 'bully' him tomorrow, as he has threatened, Witter replied: "Bullying to doesn't bother me or threaten me. I know how to deal with it."

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