Junior Witter defends his WBC light-welterweight title against Timothy Bradley in Nottingham on Saturday night admitting he is desperate to return to the United States to prove he is the best 140lb fighter in the world.

Witter impressed when he beat South African Lovemore N'Dou on his Stateside debut in 2005 but saw a subsequent clash with Demetrius Hopkins, scheduled for Palm Springs last month, fall through.

Now the 34-year-old is keen to waste no time and launch a global offensive following his difficult clash against Californian Bradley, who comes to the ring unbeaten in 21 fights.

Witter said: "I really want to headline a big card over there but for me it is a case of getting the next fight.

"If the next one could be over there it would be brilliant. If not, just get me another fight."

Witter has suffered throughout his career from a lack of major interest, with Ricky Hatton the latest big-name domestic rival apparently determined to avoid a showdown with the Bradford man at all costs.

But as long as he keeps impressing in defences of the weight's most prestigious belts, Witter knows he will continue to pile the pressure on the biggest names to accept his challenge.

Witter added: "I think the Hatton fight will happen. There's that much of a demand for it in the UK and across the boxing world. It has come to the stage where the pressure is on Hatton to take the fight.

"But nothing is going to change the way I fight. I'm focused on what I'm doing and I know it's an opportunity to show the world what I can do and reinforce the fact that I'm the best light-welterweight out there."

Bradley is considered a good prospect across the Atlantic and while the calibre of fighters he has beaten so far is not earth-shattering, he has the skills to make it a difficult night for the champion.

Bradley said: "Witter is multi-versatile. He can fight from any position. It doesn't matter where he is in the ring. He has really good power and speed, so it's going to be really challenging for me to get in there and figure him out.

"I am at the peak of my career right now. I've been working hard over the last three years to get to this point. I've had some tough fights which have prepared me for this. I'm ready for this next stage."

And Bradley, who has never previously fought outside his homeland, says he is undaunted by the prospect of facing a fairly hostile crowd who will be supporting Witter.

Bradley added: "Coming from California where the fans are predominantly Latinos, I am always the underdog. I'm used to people telling me I'm nothing. It doesn't bother me. I earn my respect in the ring."

Nottingham super-middleweight Carl Froch will face unbeaten Pole Albert Rybacki after a series of potential challengers fell through as he builds up towards a future shot at the WBC title.

Rybacki has 15 straight wins but is 37 and has not competed in anywhere approaching the class of Froch, suggesting the home favourite can take out his frustrations in the early rounds.

Sporting Life / Eurosport