MATTHEW HATTON

Billed: Manchester
Age: 25
Height: 5ft 8inches
Weight: 154lbs* (estimated)
Trainer: Billy Graham

Professional Record - W 31 (12 ko's)  |  L 3  |  D 1  |

It cannot have been easy for Matthew Hatton when he turned pro six years ago.

With only 20 amateur contests to his name - and still in his teenage years - he immediately had to contend with comparisons with the hottest prospect in British boxing - and now three time world champion - and elder brother, Ricky.

"Right away, people were expecting me to be just like Ricky," the younger Hatton said. "It helped me some ways, I've gotten the chance to box on big undercards that my brother has topped, but in other ways there's a lot of expectation on me that otherwise I wouldn't have. I had a bit of the spotlight on me right away when I probably could have done with just plugging away improving on my own for a few years."

Hatton added: "One of the questions journalists ask me the most is how I have coped with a great champion like Ricky as a brother. But Ricky is Ricky and I'm me; I'm very proud of him, I love him to bits, but I have ambitions of my own in boxing and, after learning my trade as a pro, I think I am close to winning big titles myself."

That's a reference to the British title which will is currently held by Kevin Anderson. Hatton and Fight Academy have targeted a title fight this winter and Hatton believes he can win a Lonsdale Belt just like his celebrated sibling did six years ago.

"I think I am ready," 'Magic' Matthew said. "But the welterweight division is strong right now and I've had to wait my turn. That suited me, it have given me more time in the gym training with Ricky and the guys, but I feel I can beat anyone in the division ."

Hatton Junior suffered a setback in October, when he was controversially disqualified two minutes from the end of his elimination fight with Alan Bosworth in Sheffield. Hatton was miles ahead on points in a roughhouse brawl of a fight but, he insists, Bosworth play-acted his way to a underhand win.

Hatton said: "We were both bending the rules, it was that sort of fight. But I had two points off in the ninth round, one of which was for a legitimate shot to the belly which should have been ruled a knockdown, and then he starts play-acting. In the tenth I clipped him after the ref said break but it was an accident and it wasn't even a tap, but he reacted like he'd been hit with a hammer. It was a disgrace, what he did, really. I'd be ashamed to win that way.

"I'd like the rematch, of course, but my name target is still the British Title. I know I'm better than Bosworth, I beat him up, and I won't be sidetracked.

"I believe that by the spring there will be two champions sitting down at my mum's house for Sunday dinner."

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Name: David Barnes
Billed: Manchester England
Age: 26
Weight: 146lbs (estimated)
Professional record: W 21 (11 ko's)  |  L 1  |  D 1  |
Trainer: Bob Shannon