Ryan Rhodes becomes Hatton's latest acquisition

Blimey, it's all happening over at Hatton Promotions.  In our third Hatton story on the bounce, the acquisitive promoters have signed another boxer and this time it's one of Britain's big fish - European light-middleweight champion, Ryan Rhodes.

Rhodes (left with trainer David Coldwell, courtesy Chris Royle) told his local paper the Sheffield Star, "I am now 33 years old and cannot afford to hang around. I've been itching to get a fight organised because it's been too long. The Hattons have been interested in me for some time and offered me a good, (three-fight) deal.

"What you see is what you get from Ricky. He knows what fighters want. There is no bull."

Rhodes' first step will be to stage a voluntary defence of his title, in the veteran's home city's Ponds Forge Leisure Centre on May 21. If he beats that unnamed opponent, possibly from France or Italy, Rhodes will fight another, mandatory defence against German-based Czech Lukas Konecny.

"After that, I'd hope to be in a position to have a crack at the world title" said Rhodes. The WBC belt is held by Argentina's Sergio Martinez. But he has gone up a division to box Kelly Pavlik for the WBC and WBO middleweight belts in New Jersey on April 17.

"I can see Martinez staying at middleweight where there are bigger fights to be made and more money. In which case the title would be vacant."

David Coldwell will remain as Rhodes' trainer.