Oldham set for more big bouts — Hatton

VICTORY SALUTE: Craig Watson (right) acknowledges his conquerer Lee Purdy.

BOXING:

RICKY Hatton has hailed the return of professional boxing to Oldham — and revealed he intends to hold more shows in the area.

A near-capacity crowd flocked to Oldham Sports Centre for the Hatton Promotions event at the weekend, when hometown fighter Craig Watson failed to regain the British welterweight title from Lee Purdy.

Watson was stopped in the fifth round while Shaw scrapper Darren Stubbs was halted in the third after suffering a nasty cut above the eye against Bob Ajisafe.

But despite a double defeat for the local lads, a fever-pitch atmosphere in the first show of its kind to come to the town in more than four years helped bring back boxing with a bang.

Hatton said: “It was a fantastic occasion at Oldham Sports Centre and the night was an overwhelming success.

“We are delighted with the turnout — the response from the people of Oldham was amazing.

“The event was broadcast live all over the world on YouTube. I think it captured the imagination.

“We definitely want to come back to Oldham again as there is a lot of passion for the sport in the town.”