Ricky Hatton, pictured, today turned up the heat on Bradford's Junior Witter by insisting: I've never rated you as a fighter.

The fierce light-welter rivals are set to clash at Maine Road in the summer in the biggest grudge match since the days of Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.

And the Hitman stoked up the war of words by telling the Telegraph & Argus: "To be honest, I'm not that impressed with Witter. I've watched him from the first day he turned professional and have never rated him - and I still don't.

"He is a rival and a pain. I'm ranked in the top three by all the world governing bodies so there's not too much for me to gain as far as beating Junior.

"But it's a fight we both want and one that the British public are demanding. And I'll prove to him who's the boss.

"He's accused me of running scared but anyone who knows me knows that Ricky Hatton doesn't run from anybody."