ONE of the most influential men in world boxing has warned Ricky Hatton he risks wrecking his top-class career if he fails to resolve his promotional dispute with Frank Warren.

Jay Larkin, senior vice-president of the American cable network Showtime, said any decision by the Hatton team to split with Warren would represent "a giant step backwards".

Larkin said: "Ricky reached the top of the world with the Kostya Tszyu fight and with every second that goes by now, he slips off it."

Showtime has aired eight Hatton fights including his dramatic early-morning win over Tszyu in June which proved a pay-per-view success on both sides of the Atlantic.

Now the network - which signs top fighters strictly on a fight-by-fight basis - faces losing Hatton to its chief rival Home Box Office, which is heavily aligned with some of the American promoters whom the Hattons admit they have been courting.

Hatton is now highly unlikely to meet either of two dates in the first weeks of December and January respectively, which had been reserved by Showtime for the projected first defence of his IBF light-welterweight title.

Larkin added: "This one is truly baffling because they seemed to have a terrific chemistry and no-one can argue the superb job Sports Network did in creating the iconic Ricky Hatton.

"I personally have always been very fond of Ricky and it would be a real slap in the face for me if he were to go away and sign for another promoter and box for one of our rivals.

Old story

"It is very common in boxing for this kind of thing to happen, where a promoter invests heavily in a fighter, who then reaches a certain plateau and decides to abandon everyone who brought him to the dance.

"This is not a new scenario, it is an old story and it never ends well. I would lock Frank and Ricky's people in a room with a good bottle of wine and tell them not to come out until they have a deal."

Central to their dispute is Warren's insistence that he retains an exclusive contract to act as Hatton's promoter, while the Hattons contend that they have been acting on a fight-by-fight basis and are now free agents.

Both sides have reluctantly indicated their willingness to pursue court action to vindicate their respective cases, which could in theory put Hatton's world-class career on temporary hold.

Hatton's father Ray has angrily rejected the notion that he is seeking to wriggle out of any existing contract as a direct result of his son hitting the big time with his win over Tszyu.

Opinion

Hatton senior insists the issues which have prompted him to contemplate a split from Sports Network began with a difference of opinion over contractual issues as early as last Christmas.

Hatton senior said: "Over the last couple of years we have been offered deals by other promoters but we have always stayed with Frank because we like him.

"I don't think we need to show any more loyalty than the kind we have given to Frank over the last eight years. Ricky has never let anybody down and never had any difficulties with anyone.

"The current problems have surprised and frustrated us and while the last thing we want to do is go down a legal road, if it ends up being about self-preservation then so be it.

"So much has happened that it would take a lot for us now to sit down and have a conversation with Frank. We are not saying we could never deal with Frank again but I am afraid the goalposts have moved."

Hatton is expected to return to full-time training next week but is no nearer securing a date or a backer for his next contest with his promotional future still very much in doubt.

Hatton senior added: "What sets Ricky apart is he likes to give people value for money. He doesn't have a long career and his next fight could always be his last - with that in mind we have got to work in his best interests."

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