Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton justified his advance billing as Britain's best young boxer by stopping the experienced Tony Pep after four punishing rounds at the Wembley Conference Centre.

The 22-year-old Mancunian did not have it all his own way, however, as the much taller Pep opened a cut above Hatton's right eye in the second round of their WBU light-welterweight title fight.

Hatton, who has had plastic surgery to solve a long-standing problem with cuts to his left eye, responded to the early blow with a barrage of blows to the 36-year-old Canadian's body.

Unification dreams

Pep, who has a reputation for being a durable and awkward customer, was forced on to one knee twice in round three.

With his opponent clearly reeling, Hatton poured forward in the fourth round and put Pep down for the third and final time.

After the fight his manager, a delighted Frank Warren, said Hatton's next goal would be to unify the division.

Earlier on the same Wembley card, Ross Minter, the son of former world champion Alan, won his first professional fight.

'Very nervous'

Minter won all four rounds of his fight against the experienced Brian Coleman to earn a 40-36 decision.

Ross was watched by his proud father, who said: "He boxed well, there was a lot of pressure on him, he had to look good. He got involved a couple of times but pulled himself together.

"Being his first contest he was very, very nervous. I was very nervous, too."

Alan Minter won the undisputed world middleweight title in 1980. Prior to that he had won the British and European crowns.