Champion performance from Hatton

Ricky Hatton treated a 5,000-plus sell-out crowd to a master class of boxing as he retained his WBU light-welterweight title.  

Former champion Jason Rowland was the unlucky opponent as the 22-year-old backed up his billing as Britain's brightest young prospect.

Hatton floored the West Ham veteran twice in the fourth round, before Rowland corner effectively through in the towel, after simply overwhelming the challenger from the first bell.

It was a 24th straight win for Hatton, his 19th inside the distance, and thankfully there were no signs of the cut problems which have caused him problems in the past.

"Jason had a game plan to come in and spoil and maybe open up a cut," said Hatton.

"But we've worked on ways to avoid those problems coming back and everything went well tonight.

"I'm only 22, but I reckon I'm ready to take on anyone in the world right now."

Both fighters were warned for rough-house tactics early in the opening round, but when the action settled down it was Hatton who caught the eye with two left upper-cuts and a good left to the body.

Two straight rights and another left to the body stunned Rowland in the second and the Londoner suffered a nick under his right eye in the third as Hatton repeatedly jolted his head back with punches from either hand.

Three vicious left hooks sent Rowland crashing to the canvas half way through the fourth and when a follow-up left to the body doubled him up in agony, the contest was over.