Ricky Hatton will fight again on May 13, 2006, on HBO television in the United States but, beyond that the future of Britain's biggest boxing star is to be decided upon over the next two weeks. Manager/father Ray revealed that the Hitman will fight in New York, Atlantic City, Las Vegas or Los Angels in five months' time but says Team Hatton are currently in the final stages of negotiations for the Hitman's first major fight on American soil.

Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions have established themselves as the favourite to land the Hitman's services after impressing the Hattons during a trip to the US in early December. However, Main Events, who promote Arturo Gatti, have also tabled a huge deal to bring the Hitman to Madison Square Garden or the Atlantic City Boardwalk for a clash with 'Thunder' in May. And, with the WBA/IBF light welterweight champion becoming such a worldwide star in 2005, there are several other eager suitors under consideration.

But Golden Boy, recently voted Promoter of 2005 by SecondsOut's readership, are the hot tip to land at least a two-fight deal with the Hitman. In fact, the world's best 140lbs (10stone) fighter very nearly fought on a Golden Boy card on December 3 as a special attraction to the second Jermain Taylor v Bernard Hopkins fight in Las Vegas.

Ray Hatton explained: "We had a handshake deal in place with Fight Academy for Maussa for November 26 in Sheffield but nothing was signed at this point and Golden Boy came in with a huge offer, last minute, to fight on the Hopkins v Taylor (rematch) card in Las Vegas. Golden Boy really wanted Ricky on the card and offered us over £200,000 - that's pounds not dollars - more than we were getting for the Sheffield fight. Fight Academy didn't have a contract signed at that point and we could have walked away from the Maussa fight. But we told Golden Boy that we had already agreed to the Maussa fight and took what was a harder fight for less money.

"Maybe we are stupid. We didn't have to, but the kind of people we are we keep to our word and a handshake deal is a deal to us so we turned down Oscar's offer for December 3. There's been a lot of rubbish, very hurtful rubbish, said about Richard and myself about us getting greedy but actions speak louder than words. Like I say, maybe we are stupid, but I think Golden Boy respect that we stuck by a handstake deal. Even though they missed out for December I think they were surprised and impressed that we were men of our word."

Hatton Senior revealed that such is Golden Boy's interest in the Hitman that they initially wanted to promote the World Junior Welterweight Champion on both sides of the Atlantic in two fights in 2006.

He said: "It surprised us a bit but Golden Boy said they don't want to lose the UK fans in this. They envisioned one fight in America, then back to England, then back and forth again. Obviously Richard sells a lot of tickets in England and it is good television to see a packed arena and a tremendous atmosphere."

Interestingly, HBO were also amenable to the idea of Ricky Hatton splitting his time between the US and the UK. Ray Hatton said: "We thought HBO would want Ricky to be in the States for almost every fight but they were looking at America and England. They were almost pushing the idea of one fight in America and then one fight back in England."

No matter if he was talking to a promoter or TV network, though, Hatton made it that Fight Academy, who promoted Hatton v Maussa on November 26, will continue to act as Team Hatton's UK promotional partners.

Ray Hatton said: "We want to keep the association with Dennis (Hobson) and Robert (Waterman) by making them our UK promoters. They were very, very good to us with the Maussa fight and all the (crap) they had to put up with because of certain people wanting to stop that fight from happening. They were very professional in dealing with the legal challenges we had and how can you not form a strong bond when you are thrown into the trenches together?

"We've insisted to the American promoters Fight Academy are our UK promoters. All parties in America including television agreed that's no problem and they even said that some of Fight Academy's fighters - and obviously Fight Academy promote Matthew (Ricky's younger brother) - can come over and appear on the US cards which is great news all round."

Hatton Senior, who has earned a whopping £1 (the legal minimum in the UK for acting as a head of a company) for his services as the Punch Promotions boss this year added that there are still negotiations to be had but a final decision on the Hitman's immediate future will be reached before January 19.

He said: "Me, the wife, Richard, Matthew - all of us - are going on our family holiday on January 19 for a few weeks and when Ricky gets back he'll be straight into the gym to do his usual 12 weeks for the fight. We want to have the place and opponent - everything - sorted out before we go on holiday so Ricky can relax knowing what is what for when he gets back."