If the best things come to those who wait, then Junior Witter will surely be crowned the new WBC super lightweight champion when he tackles American DeMarcus Corley for the title vacated by Floyd Mayweather inside London’s historic Alexander Palace on September 15, 2006. “I always knew it was going to happen, I just wondered how long it was going to be. Given the chance, I’d have liked it to have come a little bit earlier but I’m now at my peak,” said Witter, whose professional recod is 33-1-2.

“Chop Chop” Corley, 31-4-1 (17), has competed against the elite in the 140 pounds division. And although a loser against Zab Judah, Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto, the Washington DC native managed to have each of the acclaimed trio in trouble to some degree. It is this form which is likely to make him a narrow pre-fight favourite amongst boxing experts.

“The fight’s going to be a tactical shootout. It will be cagey at times but we’re going to be swapping some bombs. Neither of us are going to go in there all guns blazing, we’re not that type of fighter, so it will be a case of us picking our shots. But at some point I’m going to land a big one and jump right on him. I believe I’m the bigger puncher,” said Witter, who lost a decision to Judah back in 2000 in which he mostly ran from Judah.

“Winning the fight is not beyond me and it won’t be a case of me beating Corley and then having one more fight and that being it. I believe I’ve got another two years left at the top,” added the former British, Commonwealth and European champion.

Witter vs Corley had been in the works for weeks but was only officially announced on August 15. Witter’s promoter, Mick Hennessy, resisted the temptation to make a premature announcement until both fighters had signed on the dotted line, a move other British promoters would do well to follow.

The boxers could have met, bit didn’t, in 2003, when Witter was promoted by Frank Warren.  “When I beat Giuseppe Lauri (TKO2) in November 2002 it was supposed to be for the WBO’s mandatory contender’s position but the Corley fight didn’t happen,” explained Witter. Corley held the WBO title from 2001-2003 before losing the belt to Judah.

Having had more than three years to assess his potential rival, Witter is left in no doubt about the former WBO champion’s capabilities. “Corley’s quick, he’s a good thinking fighter, he can bang and he’s got good movement. Unfortunately his weaknesses are that he’s up against me. I’ve got all the qualities he has except I’m that little bit stronger, quicker and hungrier. I will be too good. I know that he’s been world champion before, and that by boxing the likes of Judah, Mayweather and Cotto that he’s had more fights at top level than me, but on the night I feel I’ll prevail.”

Come fight time Witter and Corley will have been inactive for 11 and 12 months respectively. However, in the case of the Bradford switch hitter, the break may ultimately prove beneficial given his lacklustre performance against Colin Lynes in defence of his European title last October.

“The rest has done me good, particularly after my last performance,” acknowledged the 32-year-old.

“I’ve had to really think about my last two performances because I’ve taken criticism for them. It’s been hard to get motivated. Once you compete at a higher level against someone like Lovemore N’dou it’s harder to come back down again and get up for lesser opposition. Apart from just getting the workout there was very little to gain from the Lynes fight. In hindsight I would probably have been better off not having it.”

Witter’s frustrations grew when opponents nominated to meet him in final eliminators – for the right to establish who would face then champion Floyd Mayweather – withdrew on several occasions. But thanks to long term lobbying from Mick Hennessy, Witter and Corley were finally allowed to contest the vacant WBC title.

And despite being offered a shortcut to the top when invited to meet Naoufel Ben Rabah for the vacant IBF title, Witter opted to decline.

“The WBC title is the one everyone wants. Yes, it would have been good to be IBF champion, it’s a proper world title and I’m not trying to knock it in any way, but the WBC is the original world title. If I’m going to become world champion, I want to become champion because I’m the best, not because I’ve taken the easy route. Nothing else has come easy for me in my career so why should this?” he reasoned.

Now Witter has finally been given the opportunity to realise his ambitions.

“I’ve definitely recaptured my enthusiasm and we have changed things in training. I’ve been doing an extra session a day for the last couple of weeks. I’ve not really focussed on DeMarcus Corley specifically yet but Dominic and John (Ingle) have been studying him on video and have been advising me of what I should be concentrating on in the gym,” he said.

“I’ll be sitting down the week before the fight to study Corley myself in order to get ready. The key thing though is making sure I’m sharp. As long as I’m sharp I’m confident of beating anyone in the world. I feel I’m in my best ever physical condition.”

Should Witter prevail, speculation will inevitably gather pace about an all-British showdown with longtime rival Ricky Hatton next year. Hatton is reportedly poised to relinquish his WBA welterweight crown and challenge Juan Urango for his old IBF light-welterweight title in December. And despite repeatedly calling out Hatton since 2002, only to be dismissed, Witter’s desire to share a ring with “The Hitman” remains strong.

“I definitely want the fight. Hatton’s talked a lot of crap over the years by making a load of excuses up as to why he can’t fight me by going on about everything that doesn’t interest a fighter,” argued Witter.

“What interests a fighter is getting the fight you want and getting your own money without worrying about what your opponent’s getting. If you want the fight that badly, and you want to prove that you’re the best, then as long as you are personally being well paid what more does a fighter want? Hatton talks the talk but when it comes down to it he’s scared.”

There’s a certain irony about Witter’s last comment. Though he lasted the distance when brought in on just seven days notice to challenge Zab Judah for the IBF title in June 2000, he was widely condemned for spending the majority of the contest on the back foot. It remains Witter’s sole defeat in his 33-1-2 (19) ledger. Since then he has racked up 18 wins, 15 of those coming inside the distance. However, the Americans haven’t forgotten the Judah performance. But then neither has Witter and he is desperate to set the record straight, firmly disputing the notion that his big-fight demons could return against Corley.

“Zab Judah was a shot in the dark. Realistically I went in there to not get knocked out and to try and knick the fight. This time I’m going in there to win in style and at any cost.”

Corley may have to pay a heavy price.

Questions / comments benjcarey@yahoo.co.uk