By Sanjeev Shetty BBC Sport Online

Catch emerging British professionals Carl Froch, Matthew Thirlwell and David Walker on Grandstand on 26 October at 1555BST.

Just a year ago, Howard Eastman seemed to have the boxing world at his feet.

The 'Battersea bomber' had taken part in a thrilling middleweight war with William Joppy on the undercard of the second Lennox Lewis-Hasim Rahman fight in Las Vegas.

Although Eastman lost, the fact that he fought aggressively and did enough to convince many of the crowd that he should have won made him a hit in America.

But that was the last that many saw of him.

Twelve months on and Eastman has left his promoter Don King and has signed with Mick Hennessy Sports.

With many of Hennessy's shows being broadcast on BBC One, it is fair to assume you may be seeing Eastman on your television screens very soon.

Hatton before Christmas?

With little over two months until Christmas, British fight fans are wondering whether they will get to see Ricky Hatton in a boxing ring before the start of 2003.

The 24-year-old light welterweight should headline a show in Manchester in December, with his promoter Frank Warren currently trying to select the appropriate opponent.

Warren has flown to America to discuss the identity of that opponent with television network Showtime, who broadcast Hatton's fights.

McCullough v Harrison

One man particularly happy with Scott Harrison's world title win last Saturday is former world champion Wayne McCullough.

Like Harrison, McCullough is promoted by Warren and may well get a chance to fight the new champion next year.

McCullough will, in all likelihood, have one more tune-up fight in November as he bids to get his career back on track after struggling for years to regain his licence following a controversial brain scan.

Rating the ratings

As ever, boxing ratings continue to amaze and confuse those who love the sport.

Clinton Woods, who was outclassed in six rounds by Roy Jones Jnr in a light heavyweight world title fight in September, has fallen four places in this month's WBC ratings.

That is not a surprise - what is amazing is that Yawe Davis, who Woods beat to gain his No 1 rating last year, is now rated ahead three places above the Englishman.

Finito for Felix

Although no-one ever believes it when a fighter says they have retired, the chances of Felix Trinidad ever returning to the ring seem to diminish every time he has a meal.

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican announced his retirement in the summer and has since blown up to 190lbs, 30lbs heavier than the middleweight limit he struggled to make during his final months as a professional.

Oscar de la Hoya wishes to avenge his 1999 points loss to Trinidad, but apparently, Felix will only entertain a dinner request from his old adversary.