Craig Watson dashed Matthew Hatton's to retain his Commonwealth welterweight title.
Champ too cute as hopes of a Hatton double are dashed
Craig Watson ensured there would be no family double at The Homecoming by proving too good for Matthew Hatton.
The Commonwealth welterweight champion won a deserved unanimous decision in the first major fight of the night at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Watson, best known for flooring Amir Khan in the amateurs, held sway for all 12 rounds coming out a comfortable 116-112 117-112 118-111 winner.
There was little chance for the champion to show that knockout power though as a fight that had the trade buzzing beforehand did not turn out to be the sky blue touchpaper at the start of an explosive night.
It was engrossing enough, even with Hatton happy to stay behind his defence for the opening two rounds - the sight of blood trickling from his nose failing to lure him out.
Watson was happy jabbing away though and even a right on the break that wobbled him in the second did not deter him. By round four the champion realised the fight was there for the taking and began to back Hatton up, more accurate at range.
Fightback
With styles not exactly meshing, there was little chance for Hatton to use his size and strength close in and a crisp left over the top in the fourth kept him at a distance that suited the champion.
It left Watson free to hammer away at the body and arms of the challenger who, whenever he did offer a response, saw it met in kind. The champion eased off in the final third, his corner telling him just to stay out of trouble and that inevitably led to a Hatton fightback.
Sensing his dream of a domestic title was slipping away, Ricky's little brother stepped up the pace in the ninth and 10th sessions, but still Watson was too cute. He was rarely troubled and although he didn't dazzle the ever-growing crowd, the decision was never in doubt.
Try as he might, Hatton couldn't find a way through, couldn't get a foothold in the fight and his frustration was shared by his parents at ringside.
The biggest concern for Watson's camp was their man getting over-confident, but he remained professional to the final bell, closing just as he had started - in complete control.
