TIMOTHY Bradley has tuned up for his battle with South Yorkshire's World champion Junior Witter by sparring more than 100 gruelling rounds.
The American boxer faces the Ingle-gym-based WBC stylist at Nottingham Arena on Saturday.
And he says he is in the shape of his life for the clash.
"Training's gone real well. I'm finely tuned and I'm ready. I'm weighing in at around 142lb right now and I'm ready to go," he said. "I've sparred over 100 rounds, which is the most I've ever sparred for any fight.
"I've been working with a couple of guys who have been emulating Witter's style really well. I've also been running a whole lot - between eight and 10 miles a day. I'm in absolutely perfect condition."
Speaking to the website eastsideboxing.com, Bradley said he was not concerned about possible 'ring rust' - he has been out of the ring for about ten months, the longest inactive spell of his career.
Instead, he thinks Witter could be complacent.
"I've heard that Team Witter are looking at this fight as a tune-up," he said. "Witter really wants that fight with Ricky Hatton. All I can say is he shouldn't be underestimating me at all. He has to get through me before he can think about Hatton."
The American accepts the Sheffield and Doncaster based light-welter WBC champion "can hit hard from either stance and no-one can do what he does in the ring. He has his own unique style when he fights. I rate him as the best at 140 right now."
Meanwhile, Witter has all but given up hopes of a fight with Hatton. He says: "Apart from going round to his house, beating on the door and getting myself arrested, there's nothing more I can do."
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The full article contains 369 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.