South Yorkshire's former WBC world champion may have spent years trying to lure the Manchester hitman into the ring.

But now Witter says the boxer who took his title away last May – American Timothy Bradley – is the rival he would pick ahead of anyone, including his domestic nemesis.

Witter woefully underperformed in his points' defeat to Bradley at Nottingham.

Talking on video on thestar.co.uk he revealed he had been beset with personal problems at the time.

Click on the green play button to see the video

He revealed: "It hurts now more than it did then. At the time I really had other things on my mind and it wasn't the most important thing.

"Now the position I am in now...it hurts"

Witter is awaiting purse bids for a contest with European light welter champion Gianluca Branco – which he sees as a stepping stone to get the bout he really wants.

"Timothy Bradley is THE fight I want more than any other. Out of all the fights I want that one. Even more than Hatton!"

Asked whether he will beat local light heavyweight hero Clinton Woods into regaining a world title he said: "I strongly believe I will be the next world champion boxing out of Sheffield."

Bradford-born Witter, who yesterday signed a high-tec training shoe sponsorship deal with Meadowhall retailer "She Runs, He Runs" insists his confidence had not been shaken by his defeat

"I know how good I am. I know I just didn't turn up on the night. Everybody has a bad day at the office. I let myself down and the people around me. So I have got to get back up there for them and myself.

"It's about knowledge and experience now I know that if you are not right – don't get in the ring.

"You live and learn and I will learn from it. And I will come back stronger."

As far as Branco is concerned, Witter said: "I believe I will beat him quite comfortably."