Poor Witter sees Hatton fight go up in smoke

Witter had hoped to use the third defence of his title to pile more pressure on Ricky Hatton for a domestic super-fight, but, after deservedly dropping a split decision verdict, he will be forced to set his sights much lower.

The hard road back will begin with a mandatory shot at the European title contested between Giuseppe Lauri and Londoner Colin Lynes in Turin next week, but Witter says that it is a route that he is willing to take.

He said: "There is no way I am retiring after that. I will go for the European title and come back that way. I have no doubts I will get back to the top and reclaim my title."

Witter was floored heavily from an overhand right in round six and he failed to find his range against Bradley, who set the pace throughout and extended his own unbeaten record to 22 fights in the process.

The Palm Springs 24-year-old - 10 years Witter's junior - looked impressive and he can now assume Witter's position of calling, with some justification, for a showdown with Hatton.

For Witter, it will be a time for reflection and his trainer Brendan Ingle admitted: "That was the worst I've seen from Junior tonight. He never got going and I would say he was only 50 per cent out there.

"But we won't give up and we'll come back the hard way. If that means fighting for the European title or even the British belt, then that's what we'll do. You haven't seen the last of Junior."

Two of the three ringside judges had rewarded the US fighter's greater work rate with 115-113, 114-113 decisions and the third saw it 115-112 to Witter. But Witter's sixth round knockdown proved the nail in the coffin.