By Henry Steward: European Boxing Union (EBU) welterweight champion Matthew Hatton (40-4-2, 15 KO’s) will be defending his title on Friday night against unbeaten Swiss challenger Roberto Belge (25-0-1, 4 KO’s) art the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, Lancashire.

This will be Hatton’s 2nd defense of his title he won in March when he defeated Gianluca Branco by a 12 round decision. Hatton, the younger brother of former two division world champion Ricky Hatton, recently defeated Yuriy Nuzhnenko by a 2 round decision in July. Hatton, 29. had to get off the deck in the opening round to beat Nuzhnenko.

Hatton boxed smart and got the decision in an impressive boxing display. However, he’s going to have to continue fight smart, because Belge is a tough fighter and hasn’t tasted defeat as of yet. Hatton wants to get a title shot against WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Hatton is currently ranked #6 in the division and is going to get a shot soon if he can keep winning. However, getting a shot against Senchenko and beating him is a whole different matter. Hatton doesn’t appear to have the skills necessary to beat a fighter like Senchenko, but at least Hatton will still get a good payday in losing to him.

Few boxing fans saw Hatton ever getting ranked as high as he is now or winning the EBU title after losing a lopsided 12 round decision to Craig Watson in 2008. However, Hatton has come back since then and beaten seven out of his last eight opponents, with one of them being a controversial 12 round draw with Lovemore N’dou last year in November.