Witter wants Hatton in Cut Price Deal

Junior Witter today declared he would willingly take Ricky Hatton's "peanuts" offer for a May showdown in Manchester. Bradford's WBC light-welterweight world champion hit back after claims that he had rejected the chance to face the Hitman for £100,000. Hatton's manager, dad Ray Hatton, said yesterday they had offered Witter "the highest purse he'd ever had". But it had been turned down and the cash was no longer on the table. But Witter is furious and wants to pin down his deadly rival after years of ducking and diving - saying the fight is his only motivation not the wealth. "This is not about the money - it's personal," he blasted. "The pay-day is not even close to what I was getting for going out to America."I would have got well over twice as much to fight Demetrius Hopkins over there. But I'm prepared to take it just to knock Hatton out for his cheek."It might be all about greed with some people but not me. If that's what they think I'm worth then fine I'll take it just for the chance to finally put Hatton into retirement."Hatton is expected to face Texan Juan Lazcano in his comeback fight after losing to Floyd Mayweather in December. Lazcano has been out of action for a year since a defeat against Vivian Harris, who Witter viciously KO'ed in seven devastating rounds five months ago. Ray Hatton claims a "gentleman's agreement" is in place although Witter's promoter Mick Hennessy understood Lazcano had not signed his contract. Hennessy said: "I spoke to Golden Boy Promotions in the early hours today and they told me that the Lazcano deal was not done yet. "So my understanding is there is no contract signed between the two; the venue is not sorted as of today; HBO (American TV giants) have not confirmed they are covering it and it's not the fight the paying public want to see - which is Witter v Hatton." Junior is happy to jump in and take up their peanuts offer because he isn't greedy." Hennessy claimed Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams had said that if the fight did ever come off, Witter "would not get a penny over £100,000 because that is all he is worth." Witter's manager John Ingle spoke to both Williams and Ray Hatton today. Williams confirmed that the offer mentioned was for May 24 but Hatton said it was never for that date. "Maybe Floyd Mayweather hit Ricky Hatton that hard even his dad and lawyer are confused," laughed Witter, who is currently warm-weather training in Gran Canaria. Witter was due to defend his title in California next month against Hopkins but that fell through after the American pulled out for no apparent reason. Now he is desperate to take out his frustration on the man he has been stalking throughout his career. Ingle said: "I can understand their reluctance to take the fight because (trainer) Billy Graham's record against us in major contests isn't very good."Alan Bosworth beat Matthew Hatton, Johnny Nelson finished off Carl Thompson's reign as champion and Andrew Facey took Matthew Macklin's unbeaten record." The only major win Billy has got over us was Ricky Hatton against Jon Thaxton. But Thaxton has proved since then that he's not a real light-welter by going back to lightweight. "Ray Hatton says they are tied up for the next 12 months with a deal with HBO, who've got a list of opponents. But how can Junior not be on that list?" We've been told that he is and that's the fight that HBO want to see. It's a travesty if it doesn't happen."