Hatton Jr in a hurry

Hatton: Commonwealth crack

I've felt for some time I'm the best welterweight in the country and I've always wanted to challenge for the British title, but challenging for the Commonwealth on May 24th represents a fantastic opportunity to prove myself.

Matthew Hatton
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THE HOMECOMING
Matthew Hatton v Craig Watson
Commonwealth Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office
7.30pm, Saturday, May 24
Call 08442 410888 to book
Click here for more information

Also see

• Homecoming homepage
• Ricky's Fight Diary


• How to book the fight
• Sky Bet odds

Matthew Hatton may never step completely out of big brother's shadow, but he is still determined to show the domestic welterweights that he's the daddy.

The 26-year-old gets a long-awaited crack at a title on The Homecoming undercard, when he challenges Craig Watson for the Commonwealth belt, live on Sky Box Office.

It might be a far cry from MGM Grand, Las Vegas, but with newborn baby Jack taking up all of his time outside of the ring, Hatton Jr is more than happy to be back on home soil.

And he wouldn't swap the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24th, for all the glitz and glamour of Vegas. It's the chance to show the nation he is not just Ricky's little brother, but the very best of British.

"To box on those huge bills over in the States has been a great experience," he told skysports.com. "I think they've brought me on as a fighter and I think I'm a rapidly improving fighter - especially over the last 12 to 18 months.

"The opportunities to box in some of those places only come round once in a lifetime and it's been great, but the most important thing for me has been to prove myself domestically.

"So to come back and challenge for the Commonwealth title in Manchester is a fight I really wanted.

"I've felt for some time I'm the best welterweight in the country and I've always wanted to challenge for the British title, but challenging for the Commonwealth on May 24th represents a fantastic opportunity to prove myself."

That is something the younger Hatton has had to do all along.

For several years the snipers have been taking regular pot-shots. An easy target, it is all a too easy to suggest the lesser known of the two boxing brothers is gaining fame and fortune on the back of his superstar sibling.

It has been said before - and no doubt will again - but the fact that at just 26, Matthew has had 37 paid contests, proves there is no silver spoon, no fast track to glory.

But while many sportsmen have found it hard to live up to up to their family's reputation it is not something that bothers little brother. What bothers him is giving those critics ammunition they don't need.

Amateur pedigree

"I think being Ricky's brother has its advantages and its disadvantages," he said. "The disadvantage is people compare me to Ricky, being his brother, but the difference is I didn't have the amateur pedigree.

"Ricky's proved himself to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but I don't compare myself to Ricky, I compare myself to the other fighters that are boxing in my division.

"It (the criticism) doesn't frustrate me. The only thing that frustrates me is when I don't box to the best of my ability. People have had a lot of uncomplimentary things to say about me in comparison to Ricky in the past and to be honest a lot my performances haven't deserved much praise.

"To be honest, a lot of my better work has been done in the gym and I just put that down to the fact that early on in my career I had so little ring experience.

"But I'm a totally different fighter now and I think the next 12 to 18 months - and I'm not the sort of person who, if I didn't think I could get to the top, would keep plodding away on Ricky's undercards - will be sink or swim time for me.

"If in the next 12 months I'm not winning the domestic belts, then I'll simply stop. But I know exactly how good I am and I think in a year's time people will be able to see exactly how good I am."

The Watson showdown will be his 38th fight and the first for a domestic title.

The closest he came was when he was controversially disqualified, for hitting on the break, in a British title eliminator with Alan Bosworth in October 2006 - and even then the man who calls himself Magic didn't find out it was an eliminator until after the fight!

But long before baby Jack brought a different perspective along, Matthew refused to get riled - unlike brother Ricky in his corner that night.

Improved

"I'm a firm believer in what doesn't break you will make you stronger," he said. "It's all experience and even though I was absolutely gutted about what happened, I don't really see that as a defeat.

"Now is the time I am really coming into my own. I'm a massively improved fighter and I believe I am the best welterweight in the country. Hopefully I can beat Craig and lift the Commonwealth title and hopefully I can add the British title within the next 12 months.

"That's certainly my aim. Like I said, it's sink or swim time for me, but I know what I am capable of and I can definitely do it."

He will have a large following among the 55,000 flocking to Eastlands for The Homecoming and whereas his American bouts may have been played out in front of stadiums still filling up for the main event, this will be different.

An all-Mancunian battle with Watson, the Commonwealth belt on the line and a crowd sure to be in party mood as well as two fighters with styles that click, all look like making it a night to remember for junior Hatton.

So much so, that he is likely to be the only Manchester United fan given a warm welcome at the home of the enemy.

"I am a Red, but I'm not one of these United supporters who is anti-City - if I had my way United would win the Premier League and City would finish second!" he said.

"But to fight at City's ground in front of 55,000 supporters, the bulk of them Mancunians, is the stuff dreams are made of.

"It's a fantastic opportunity, a great chance to showcase what I can do and play a major part in what is an event really, by fighting for the Commonwealth title is fantastic.

"I'm in great shape, I'm fitter than I've ever been, I'm well-prepared physically and mentally and it just can't come round quick enough now.

"To say I'm excited as an understatement."