MARK HOBSON'S reward for his valiant display against Enzo Maccarinelli could be a tie-up with leading British boxing promoter Frank Warren.
Huddersfield hero Hobson, 29, pushed Welshman Maccarinelli all the way in their recent WBU cruiserweight title showdown in Manchester, which was screened live on ITV.
While the British and Commonwealth champion lost to the WBU title holder on points, the Chris Aston-trained ace, who lives at Lindley, won a host of admirers, with Warren's website featuring a string of flattering comments from fans.
Many of them want to see a rematch, and Aston is eager to team up with Warren, whose influential Sports Network organisation is based in Hertfordshire.
Such a deal could also have beneficial spin-off effects for Hobson's Linthwaite Northern Fitness stablemates Dale Robinson, a winner on the Manchester undercard, and James Hare.
"The fight has certainly raised Mark's profile," said Aston, whose man stepped in at short notice after Maccarinelli's original opponent, WBO champion Johnny Nelson, withdrew injured.
"He put in a great performance, and the two of them produced a cracking fight which went down a storm, both at the arena itself and on television.
"Frank Warren made some very complimentary comments and he seems keen to do something again.
"We'd be ready to fight the winner of the Maccarinelli-Nelson fight, and there could be possibilities with the WBU title if and when Maccarinelli moves up.
"Before that we want to make another British and Commonwealth defence, so whatever happens, things should be busy for Mark."
Robinson, who put Wolverhampton's Delroy Spencer down twice on his way to a third-round win in Manchester, is keen to set up a clash with Bristol's Lee Haskins, the current Commonwealth champion, for the vacant British title.
And experienced Hare would relish being thrown into a mix of Warren welterweights including West Bromwich's new British champion Young Muttley and Michael Jennings, the Chorley fighter who previously held a crown which the Huddersfield man unsuccessfully fought David Barnes for in Halifax in 2004.
While Hobson, Robinson and Hare are all waiting for their next fights to be confirmed, three of Aston's other fighters have got definite dates.
Jamil Hussain, who is back in the gym after last fighting in 2003, will take on Moses Kinyua, the Kenyan bantamweight now based in Bristol, at Peterborough on Thursday, March 30.
Abdul Mougharbel will face Johnny Armour, the former WBU, European and Commonwealth bantamweight title holder, at London's famous York Hall on Sunday, April 2.
And Brendan Halford, aho stopped home man Martin Marshall in five rounds in Sunderland in December, will have a light-middleweight bout in Leeds on Thursday, April 13.
