Ricky Hatton has praised Bristol's up-and-coming professional fighters, and says he wants to bring his promoting skills back to the city in 2009.

World light welterweight champion Hatton puts his gloves to one side and turns promoter when staging a dinner show in the city on Saturday night.

And the Mancunian has revealed plans to return to Bristol in the new year and promote an even bigger event at an as yet undisclosed venue.

Hatton has close ties to the city and made his professional debut at Whitchurch Sports Centre more than a decade ago.

Speaking exclusively to the Post, he said: "I have a lot of time for the people in Bristol and I know just how much they love their boxing.

"They always turn out in numbers to support local fighters and there are some very promising youngsters coming through right now.

"I'm looking to get more into the promotional side of things and I'd like the chance to work with some of the boxers in Bristol."

Hatton is a close friend of former womens' world champion Jane Couch, who now promotes and trains boxers out of Tex Woodward's Spaniorum Farm gym at Compton Greenfield, near Bristol.

Rising Spaniorum star Danny Butler and stablemate Pete Leworthy appeared on Hatton's debut promotion at the Tower Ballroom in Birmingham in September and both are booked for Saturday's show at the city centre Marriott Hotel.

Hatton said: "I'm looking to work closely with Jane and Tex in the future. Danny and Pete have a bright future and I know we can sell shows in and around Bristol.

"Hopefully, this Saturday will go well and lead to something even bigger in the future. We're already talking about doing something big in Bristol for 2009."

Tickets for the Marriott promotion sold out in a matter of hours when they went on sale last month and show organiser Couch has been inundated with calls from boxing fans wanting to see the 'Hitman' in the flesh.

"As soon as we announced the show, it just went crazy," said Couch. "We sold out quicker than for anything else I can ever remember in Bristol and my phone never stopped ringing.

"We've been sold out for weeks, but even now I'm still getting calls from people who want to see Ricky.

"He's one of the biggest names in the sport, a real superstar, and it's fantastic for Bristol that he wants to work with us and help our boxers.

"Ricky wants to put shows on and our boys need regular fights. It all makes for a fantastic partnership."