PRESS RELEASE: Junior Witter is to be presented with the Lonsdale belt for keeps this Sunday at the Town and Country Club in his hometown of Bradford during a promotion staged by the Ingles. Usually British champions are asked to defend their title three times before retaining outright, but the British Boxing Board of Control makes exceptions when suitable challengers cannot be found.

General Secretary of the Board Simon Block explained: “There is a regulation that stipulates that if a British champion is not called upon to make a defence within three years by the Stewards of the Board, that the Stewards can consider awarding the belt outright.

“The decision has been made to award Junior the belt as it is not his fault that the current crop of contenders, talented as they are in their own right, do not meet his standard. It was considered that the regulation existed for exactly a case like this.”

Witter, the first boxer since Charlie Magri to land the Lonsdale in this fashion, is understandably delighted.

“It has always been one of my ambitions to win the British Title outright,” he said. “It has obviously been frustrating not to be able to defend it in the normal fashion, but it is a privilege to be treated in this manner by the Board of Control.”

The 31-year-old will also be in attendance this Sunday to cheer on his stablemate Esham Pickering, who takes on Noel Wilders in a highly anticipated 10-rounder. Tickets can be purchased on 01274 304455.