Hatton struggling to snare meaningful fights for slick Munroe

Frustration at failing to land his man a meaningful fight has caused Ricky Hatton to label Rendall Munroe as the President of the 'who needs him' club.

The southpaw super-bantamweight from Leicester [pictured] had targeted a drop to bantamweight in search of career-defining tests and a second world title opportunity.

But after failing to lure anyone of note into a bout at 8st 6lbs, former Commonwealth and European boss Munroe has decided to stay three pounds north and boxes over eight, on a Hatton-promoted, Sky Sports-televised bill at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on February 4, against veteran Argentinian Jose Saez.

The nimble-footed, smooth-boxing 31-year-old, who's been out of action since a ten-round taming of Japanese Ryuta Miyagi in September, should have too much for the South American, 21-12-6 (11), who was blown away inside three by Cork-based Cuban Alexei Collado on a visit to England last Spring. But though he's been knocked out on ten occasions, he has taken ex-IBF champion Steve Molitor the distance and boxed as high as super-featherweight.

Still, although not as an explosive one-punch banger as some of the men who've put Saez away quickly - and an early night hasn't been had since he punched the resistance out of Victor Terrazas in a WBC title eliminator in 2010 - Jason Shinfield-trained Munroe's work-rate, accuracy and combination punching should be the key to chalking the tenth stoppage onto his his professional ledger [23 wins and two defeats].

And Hatton, the former two-weight world champion who only suffered paid defeats to Hall of Fame-bound pair Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, believes the East Midlander is one of the most avoided men in the lower weight divisions. "Because of his exceptional performance against Nishioka for the WBC title in Japan 15 months ago, Rendall has landed himself as the chief of the 'who needs him' club.

"Such is his class in the ring, we can't persuade any of the top 20-ranked fighters in the world to take the risk against him. It's frustrating for all involved.

"But if he is patient and keeps doing what he has been doing - winning and looking good - then i'm sure another world title chance will come his way. He certainly has the skills to win one if he gets the opportunity," added Hatton.

Image courtesy of Gavin Burrows.