Boxing: Mathew Hatton does the Italian job

MATTHEW HATTON scored a unanimous points victory over veteran Italian Gianluca Branco to claim the vacant European welterweight boxing title in Dagenham last night.

Hatton, brother of former double world champion Ricky Hatton, was given the surprise shot at his first title at only two weeks' notice and had to take some tough punches from former champion Branco in the early rounds but began to take control in the fourth before recording a 117-111, 115-113, 116-112 points victory.

On the same bill, Sam Webb beat Anthony Small on a majority points decision to claim the British light middleweight title.