Bradford’s Junior Witter will make the next defence of his European light welterweight title against mandatory contender Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik in England following Hennessy Sports successful purse bid for the contest today. Also participating in the bid was Kotelnik’s representatives Universum, one of the biggest promotional outfits in Europe. The challenger, who fights out of Hamburg in Germany, will provide a stiff test having only suffered one defeat in his 25-fight career. “Kotelnik will fancy his chances,” predicts Witter’s promoter Mick Hennessy. “Only WBA #1 Souleymane Mbyae has ever got the better of him and that came on a split decision in a WBA light welterweight title eliminator. This is exactly the kind of top level opponent Junior needs at this stage of his career.

“Going in against the likes of Kotelnik, as opposed to second tier fighters, will help him prepare for potential super fights against the likes of Miguel Cotto, Arturo Gatti, Floyd Mayweather and Kostya Tszyu. It is a mark of Junior’s confidence that he is prepared to take on fighters like this, as opposed to just sitting back and waiting for his chance.”

Witter deserves a super fight given his sensational win over Lovemore N’Dou in February in Los Angeles. He dominated the world class South African, flooring him (twice) for the first time in his career, to send the division’s big names into hiding. Victory came at a price with the power puncher fracturing his hand in the third round. The healing process, however, is well underway.

“Junior’s hand was immediately reset by Oscar de la Hoya’s specialist in Las Vegas,” explained Hennessy.

“When he returned to England I placed him under another hand specialist, recommended by the American doctor, who is monitoring the situation. In the interim Junior continues to train with just the one arm to keep himself in shape, so that he is ready for Kotelnik once the hand is fully healed.”

Hennessy finished: “I will be announcing date and venue details for the fight in due course.”

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