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Demolition man

Simon Smedley
19/12/2002

BOXING: Ricky Hatton sent out a clear message to his increasingly annoying domestic rival Junior Witter with a superb fourth round stoppage of American 'Lil' Joe Hutchinson.

Bradford-based Witter - who was sitting at ringside - has been bad-mouthing 'the Hit-man' for months as he tries to goad the Tameside star into a showdown sooner rather than later.

However, after Hatton's booming left-hander to the body had lifted Hutchinson off his feet and then flat down onto the canvas, the WBU World light-welterweight champ dramatically threw his gumshield at Witter along with a cry of 'you're next'.

The eagerly-awaited Hatton-Witter clash will take place next summer at Maine Road, but last Saturday the local star was back to his brilliant best after the disappointment of the Stephy Smith disqualification last time out.

Despite being a late replacement, Hutchinson was no mug as his record showed, but Hatton defended his title for the eighth time in style largely thanks to a punch that would have floored anyone - even junior welterweight king Kostya Tszyu.

Hatton said after the fight: "My preparations hadn't been ideal, but the minute I settled down that's when I ended it.

"To do Hutchinson (who had lost only three out of 25 fights) in four when I wasn't quite spot-on was some achievement.

"The expectation is so high now that there is extra pressure on, but I'll handle it."

Naturally, attentions were then turned to the impending Witter clash, with Hatton adding: "That's a fight I really can't wait for, I duck nobody.

"Now that the fight with Witter is on, I'm happy."

Hatton will take a well-earned break before returning to the ring in late March or early April.

The Telewest Arena - which holds 10,000 spectators - sold out two weeks before Saturday's fight and could have shifted 20,000 tickets.

Joint top-of-the-bill Joe Calzaghe also won his WBO super-middleweight title defence, in the second round against American challenger Tocker Pudwill.

Welterweight Matthew Hatton got his blossoming career back on track with an impressive points victory over Birmingham's Paul Denton.

Hatton junior shook off the disappointment of his first pro defeat last time out with a solid six-round performance which included a knock-down in the fifth.

Hatton's record now reads 14 wins from 15 fights, and afterwards he said: "I feel so much better now. The manner of my defeat last time has been haunting me ever since, I've not felt myself lately.

"It's good to get back to winning ways. That was a good performance against a former ABA champion who has been around quite a bit.

"I boxed smart and sensible and kept it at long range - that paid off in the end."

The Phoenix Camp treble on the night was completed by bantamweight prospect Steve Foster junior.

He produced another stoppage - after two minutes and eight seconds of the third round - against Rotherham's Sean Green.

Two-time ABA champion Foster now boasts an unbeaten eight-fight professional record.

Hatton and Foster are hoping to feature at the show headlined by Anthony Farnell at the Guild Hall, Preston, on Saturday, January 18.

Meanwhile, after almost two years of inactivity, Hattersley-based Alan Page resumes his professional career this weekend at Salford's Willows Variety Centre.

Super-middleweight Page, aged 26, will face Sheffield's Mike Duffield in a four-rounder as the local prospect bids to stretch his unbeaten pro record to four fights.

Since taking an enforced break in 2000 after winning his first three fights in the paid ranks, Page has moved to Hattersley from Denton and linked up with trainer Steve Alford.

Page said: "I feel better and stronger than ever at the moment.
"I don't feel under any pressure any more now that I'm with Steve (Alford) and my nutritionist and strength coach Dan Oakland - I'm gunning for titles already."