BOXING: BOXING promoter Pat Brogan has insisted his £7m bid to sign up world champion Ricky Hatton is not dead.
Brogan, who lives at Alsager and works from an office in Haslington, has teamed up with two partners to put together a three-fight deal for the IBF light-welterweight champion.
Hatton has signed a deal with promoter Dennis Hobson to make his first defence against WBA king Carlos Maussa at the Sheffield Arena on November 26.
He is currently embroiled in a row with former promoter Frank Warren, who is seeking an injunction to prevent the unbeaten Mancunian fighting for anyone else.
Despite the complicated nature of the situation, Brogan remains optimistic he will get his man. He said: 'We have not been blown out of the water.
'He has to get through his fight in November. But all being well, he will win that and then be a free agent. Our offer still stands. I met Ricky's father Ray in Manchester and put forward the offer. Ricky liked the idea of my offer. His father said he had been very impressed. We will have to wait and see.'
Brogan has not promoted for four years since a row with the British Boxing Board of Control. He does not currently hold a promoter's licence, having refused to pay a fine dished out by the BBC in 2001. But he only has to pay £1,000 to get his licence back.
He admitted nothing has tempted him to get back in the game during his time out - until now. He added: 'I can't get the enthusiasm for small shows anymore.
'But Ricky Hatton is the only British fighter who has excited me enough to want to promote again. I think he should get three defences of his title against credible opponents, then look to take on American Floyd May-weather. That's a fight the whole world would want to see.'
