Could boxing legend Floyd Mayweather be on his way to the North East?

Floyd Mayweather Jr (left) with dad and trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr, after his victory over Manny Pacquiao in May

Hartlepool events promoter Nathan Greathead hopes to land the coup of staging a dinner bash with the unbeaten multi-weight world champion at Rainton Meadows in Houghton-le-Spring.

Mayweather is making a UK tour in the new year and the event would probably take place at the end of January.

The 38-year-old “Pretty Boy” claims to have retired from the ring after clinching his 49th - and he says - final victory against Andre Berto when he defended his WBC and WBA world welterweight titles in Las Vegas in September.

Greathead described the planned promotion as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for boxing fans to see a legend.

He said: “I am overwhelmed to announce I have been offered the chance to bring Floyd Mayweather to the North-East of England for a dinner evening in January.

“I’m hoping to seal the deal by the end of the week.

“Floyd is 110 per cent coming , the event will be over at Rainton Meadows in Houghton-le-Spring 15 minutes away from Hartlepool!

“Floyd has never been to the UK to do these events and it’s probably the first and last time he will be here.”

Greathead has established a good track record of promoting dinner events with boxing legends.

Three of Britain’s greatest boxers have been to Hartlepool, Frank Bruno. Ricky Hatton, Nigel Benn and Joe Calzaghe.