By Scott Shaffer

It's been a war of words between world junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton, who wants to fight for Dennis Hobson's promotional company, and Frank Warren, who insists he still has Hatton under a contract. Both sides have been equally adamant in taking completely opposite positions about the existence of a contract. Now, Warren has revealed his evidence to the BBC. The powerful British promoter is relying on a bout agreement Hatton signed for a December 2004 bout against Ray Olivera. That bout agreement says it is "pursuant to and in accordance with" a letter from Warren to Hatton. In turn, that letter reportedly states that Warren would promote Hatton's next four fights. Hatton fought only once more since beating Olivera, so under Warren's theory, there is apparently three more bouts left on the deal. Hobson and Hatton have announced a November 26, 2005 fight against Carlos Maussa, holder of the WBA title. Warren wants to stage a Hatton fight the following week and is going to court to stop the November 26 bout. It will be up to a British judge to decide if the four-option letter that Warren wrote to Hatton became part of a binding contract when Hatton signed a bout agreement referring to the letter.