South Shore-based cruiserweight Askin will now face Londoner Bobby Scott on the televised Hatton Promotions show at Robin Park.

Scott, whose real name is Rob Scott-Hayes, should prove a tougher proposition than Askin's original adversary Mark Lewis, a loser of all his professional bouts.

The 33-year-old Scott has had eight contests, winning three, losing four and drawing the other.

Two of his victories have been by knockout, though two of his defeats have also been by the big KO.

Askin, eager to protect his 100 per cent professional record, will not lack support at Robin Park.

The former ABA champion has sold over 100 tickets to his supporters for the end-of-the-year Wigan show.

There is an even bigger boxing occasion on Saturday week, when Amir Khan bids to cap a tremendous year by putting his WBA lightwelterweight title on the line against New York-based Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle.

And Khan believes Ricky Hatton can take a leaf out of his book and bounce back from defeat in style.

He admits a revitalised 'hitman' could be a future opponent. when he puts his WBA light-welterweight title on the line against New York-based Ukrainian Dmitriy Salita in Newcastle and admits a revitalised 'hitman' could be a future opponent.

It will be Khan's first defence of the belt he won from Andreas Kotelnik in July, a victory which completed a remarkable turnaround for the Bolton fighter after his first-round knockout against Breidis Prescott in September 2008.

Hatton, who was widely expected to retire after he suffered a second-round knockout against Manny Pacquiao in May, created a stir last week when his promotional team hinted that he was ready to fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez next year.

And Khan thinks his own exploits over the last 12 months can inspire the 31-year-old to bring back the glory days.

"I don't blame him (Hatton) because after a defeat like that you want to come back and prove to his fans how good you are," Khan said.

"We all rate Ricky Hatton, he is a great fighter. Perhaps he took that extra step fighting Manny Pacquiao.

"That's boxing - one punch can win a fight. But what happened to me against Prescott didn't make Prescott a better fighter than me.

"It was a little mistake I made and perhaps he feels like he made that mistake and he wants to correct it by coming back and showing he's not finished.

"I think he should come back and not walk out on his career with a defeat.

"It is going to be hard mentally as you're only as good as your last fight and that will be running through his mind.

"But I'm sure he can learn from what I went through, getting the defeat and then within a few fights coming back and being the world champion. I'm sure he can do the same.

"I have a lot of respect for him in that way he is not ducking anything and hopefully if he takes this guy out he'll be in with a chance for another big fight."