Hopes that Wayne McCullough's boxing career can be put back on track and might come to a peak in Dublin later in the year, emerged yesterday when his promoter, Mat Tinley, suggested that he was prepared to meet the Belfast boxer in a bid to sort out their difficulties.

Tinley believes that, if McCullough agrees to one or two warm-up fights and then wins a world title, a match between him and Naseem Hammad could generate a purse of more than $1 million for each boxer - probably in Dublin. Before that scenario could be brought to fruition, however, a meeting between the two and a freshly negotiated agreement would seem to be needed.

Tinley says he is deeply disappointed about the difficulties which have arisen between himself and McCullough in recent months but insists that he, Tinley, has not contributed in any way to the problems.

"I look upon Wayne as a brother and a close friend. We have come a long way together. Last May we signed a contract and both of us are still bound by that but I do not rule out the possibility of the two of us getting together to discuss the matter.

"I am a man of my word and even if my brother wanted to break out of an agreement I wouldn't stand for it. The fact of the matter is that Wayne is a boxer and I am a businessman. I can't box but Wayne is not a businessman. I have honoured every agreement I have had with Wayne and I will continue to do so," Tinley told The Irish Times yesterday.

Tinley outlined his version of the situation surrounding the failure of McCullough to box in his scheduled fight against Pupe Rangel in Studio City last weekend. "He did not show up for the usual medical checks and the weight in as is required in all cases. He did show up on the night of the fight but, by that time, it was too late. There was no way the fight could go ahead in those circumstances," he said.

McCullough has claimed that a new contractual agreement was agreed between his lawyer and Tinley's lawyer but that, when he had signed it and sent it to Tinley for signature, the Tinley side refused to sign.

Yesterday Tinley seemed determined to rescue the situation and suggested that his relationship with McCullough was still a cordial one and that all was not lost. "I believe that we can come to an arrangement and I believe that Wayne can regain a world title and then take on Naseem Hammad.

"I have no doubt that we could put that fight on in Dublin (Croke Park was mentioned) and we would be talking about $1 million for each boxer. I would also bet a considerable amount of money that Wayne would beat him. I sincerely hope that he and I can get together to sort this matter out.

"I have always been an admirer of Wayne and his ability as well as his quality as a boxer. He is brave and has great skill."

Tinley added: "All I want is for Wayne to honour the agreement he signed on May 27th but if he wants to talk about it I am prepared to listen. I believe that we can get back together and that I can do the business and Wayne can do the fighting," Tinley said.

McCullough's new business manager, his wife Cheryl, refused to discuss the matter when contacted by The Irish Times last night. She appeared to be upset about reports in Irish newspapers about the matter in recent days which had "painted Wayne as the baddie in all of this," as she put it.

At the same time it was clear that, if McCullough, refuses to discuss the matter with Tinley the later will attempt to hold him to the strict terms of the May 27th contract in which case a protracted court battle might ensue and, effectively, end McCullough's boxing career.

Eddie Futch, the trainer for former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and one of boxing's greatest teachers, retired last night at the age of 86. Futch was responsible for stopping Frazier's challenge against Muhammad Ali after 14 rounds at Manila in 1975 when his eyes were swollen nearly shut. "He's a great guy and an honest guy," Frazier said last night of the man who spent 66 years in the sport. Frazier was one of 21 world champions trained by Futch and one of six who became heavyweight champion. The other five were Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, Trevor Berbick, Michael Spinks and Riddick Bowe.