Ricky Hatton has vowed to give his talent stacked stable a new television home after Hatton Promotions split from Sky Sports. The British television network decided not to give the European Promoter of the Year any further dates after their Manchester Velodrome super show on Saturday June 16. The Hitman said: “The news came as a blow and I feel we have been unfairly treated, but there are meetings already set up with other TV channels. Next season I am very confident that my fighters will have a big television platform to perform on. I have a great stable of fighters, many champions and a hard working team. TV companies have contacted me – not me them which is encouraging. It shows the great promotions I have staged for Sky hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“When I started promoting three years ago my plan was to build a successful stable and produce champions. I have done that, producing many British, Commonwealth, European and International champions, and world title challengers. Just as Hatton Promotions were making their mark, Sky Sports have told me we haven’t got any more dates after the June 16 card.”
Hatton Promotions were told that their contract was not being renewed in a short e-mail from Sky’s Head of Sport, Barney Francis almost two weeks ago.
He added: “The most disappointing aspect of it all is the relationship I had with Sky until almost two weeks ago. It isn’t rocket science to work out how well I did for Sky Sports as a boxer and a promoter. I was their first world champion to come through without terrestrial TV, gave them their biggest Box Office successes ever and helped make them millions of pounds. They repaid me by telling me I had no more dates by e-mail. There was no phone call to me or anything like that and even the e-mail was sent to my Director of Boxing, Richard Poxon – not me. If you finish with a girlfriend by e-mail all your mates would be calling you some right names. I obviously have better morals than they do. Since the news broke it is amazing the amount of support shown towards Hatton Promotions from fans, journalists and even rival promoters. Hatton Promotions isn’t going anywhere and we will be back on TV in the new season delivering high class shows for a new broadcast partner.”
Hatton Promotions final Sky bill on June 16.
