Bradford's first boxing world champion today hit out at the lack of suitable venues in the city.

Junior Witter would love to perform in front of his home fans after winning the WBC light-welterweight title. But there is nowhere locally which can host a show.

"It would be brilliant to have a defence at Valley Parade or Odsal at some stage," he said. "But it's such a shame that Bradford has no obvious venue for boxing. We need somewhere that can pull in up to 5,000 people indoors but there isn't one.

"It's a big problem, especially when you look at the amount of talented boxers coming through in the city. Unfortunately, all of them have to leave Bradford because there's nowhere to do it here.

"I've gone to Sheffield, so has Sid (Nadeem Siddique) and Femi Fehintola, Donovan Smillie trains in Manchester and even young lads coming through like Jamil Hussain have been fighting in Huddersfield. There's nothing much there either but there is nothing at all in Bradford.

"We've got a sports centre named after Richard Dunn - but we can't even put on fights there!"

Witter is speaking from a position of strength after his impressive dismantling of American DeMarcus Corley made him the most successful boxer to come out of the city.

He would love his success to inspire local youngsters to take up the sport - but fears the lack of facilities will always be a stumbling block.

He added: "Bradford needs positive role models and people need sport to burn off energy and the frustrations of life. You don't get that stuck on a street corner.

"Boxing is an ideal outlet for that - and I know it saved me as a lad from hanging around in a gang and getting up to no good.

"But the sport is absolutely non-existent round here. There are just some amateur clubs left and they struggle.

"My old club Police Boys are almost dead because of a lack of financial backing and lack of interest from the management side. It's a crying shame."

Witter is pushing for a return to the ring in December, although Vivian Harris is unlikely to be the challenger.

The American is expected to be named mandatory challenger by the WBC. But with the fight expected to go to purse bids, a clash would not happen until well into the new year.

Witter said: "I just want to get back out there and beat someone else up. And hopefully they can find someone who actually wants it.

"Now I'm champion, I want to put on a show and the first defence will definitely be in England.

"It will probably be in Sheffield, which is better than going all the way to London again. But it's still not Bradford."