Boxing: Hatton eyes Maine event

Manchester City’s Maine Road stadium is emerging as the likely stage for local boy Ricky Hatton’s much-awaited clash with Belfast battler Eamonn Magee.

Top promoter Frank Warren admitted last night: ‘‘I have already opened talks with Manchester City chairman David Bernstein.’’

Hatton v Magee could rival the 40,000 attracted to Old Trafford for Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn in October 1993.

Hatton, unbeaten in 25 bouts, will be making the third defence of his WBU light-welterweight crown at Manchester’s MEN Arena on October 27.

Commonwealth champion Magee, who is now number four in the WBC ratings, will also be on next month’s 14-bout show.

But Warren is already looking forward to next summer’s plans to bring Hatton and Magee face-to-face in the ring.

He said: ‘‘It’s already a huge attraction but will get even bigger by next spring.’’

Stockport-born Hatton is encouraging his manager-promoter Warren to clinch Maine Road as the venue and he said: ‘‘I was an apprentice at City but boxing had to come first.

‘‘I am a number one City fan. Kevin Keegan is going to take us back to the Premiership first time.

‘‘I’ve got a hospitality box at Maine Road to enjoy that big moment. Then I’ll take care of ’Magee The Mouth’.’’

Magee, with only two controversial losses on his 23-fight professional record, retorted: ‘‘Never mind where we meet, Manchester Belfast or London, there will be only one winner - me.

‘‘I’ve never been on the deck, and it will take a better scrapper than Hatton to put me there.’’