RICKY Hatton may have to cast himself at the feet of the boxing gods, and cross the Atlantic to pursue his dreams of glory.

The Hitman's career has been on hold since he outclassed top-class Ben Tackie last December, a result and performance that catapulted him to the No 1 light-welterweight ranking in the world.

Low-key wins over fringe fighters Dennis Pedersen and Carlos Vilches earlier this year have done nothing to increase the stock of the 25-year-old, whose loyal fans continue to make him the biggest box-office draw in the world.

And his next fight, billed as an eliminator for the International Boxing Federation title against Mike Stewart in Manchester on October 1, will do little to enhance Hatton's wavering reputation in the USA.

Stewart was comprehensively beaten by Sharmba Mitchell, in Manchester in April.

Hatton is still rated as the world's second-best fighter at the ten stone limit by the independent Boxrec website, behind Floyd Mayweather, and courtesy of his 36 straight wins as a pro. But he has not fought any of the other fighters in the top 15 - and Stewart is rated at 21.

That is why Hatton is becoming cheesed off with boxing, and why American observers have started turning their backs on Hatton, seeing him as a fighter who will not venture outside his own backyard.

The criticism infuriates Hatton's camp, who can see the simple financial logic in staging fights in Manchester, where crowds ranging from 12,000-21,000 cannot be matched anywhere.

But World Boxing Association champ Vivian Harris, having initially agreed terms to fight Hatton at the Arena, then upped his purse demands from '425,000 to '830,000, probably under the influence of his new trainer, the legendary Emmanuel Steward.

With promoter Frank Warren turning down that outrageous demand, Harris suggested that the fight be put out to purse bids, knowing that he would get 70 percent of the pay-off.

Hatton's advisers baulked at that, their argument is that Hatton is the attraction not Harris who struggles to attract four-figure attendances at fights in the States.

But the problem remains. The top fighters are not going to risk their belts, and their reputations, by crossing the Atlantic to face Hatton in a Manchester bearpit.

All the top men are pairing off - Mitchell is due for a return match with former undisputed champ Kostya Tszyu, now back from a shoulder injury, while exciting Arturo Gatti is talking up a showdown with Mayweather. Rising star Miguel Cotto is due to face World Boxing Organisation champ Kelson Pinto, who cried off a fight with Hatton at the last moment in April, while Harris has been ordered into a re-match with former European champ Oktay Urkal, a German-based Turk.

The latter piece of news may yet bring a resurrection of Hatton v Harris, and Steward was saying this week that the fight is not dead. Harris was paid around '220,000 for beating Urkal on points in Berlin in May, a fraction of the purse he could earn for facing Hatton. But for now it leaves Hatton marking time against Stewart, although that will not be an easy fight.

The undercard of Hatton's show on October 1 makes up for the disappointment of seeing Harris duck out of the headliner.

Michael Gomez defends his World Boxing Union super-featherweight title against an opponent still to be named, but the Manchester man is hoping for a name that will propel him into the reckoning for one of the "serious" world titles.

Perhaps the pick of the night will be the proposed British welterweight title clash between Partington's David Barnes and Huddersfield hero James Hare - although that fight has yet to be confirmed. Barnes is a real prospect and Hare ranked No12 in the world by Boxec.

Another possible show-stealer is Stephen Foster junior's proposed English featherweight title clash with Gary Thornhill - a step up in class for Foster. Tweet