"Jason had a game plan to come in and spoil and maybe open up a cut," said Hatton.

I reckon I'm ready to take on anyone in the world right now

Ricky Hatton

Three vicious left hooks sent Rowland crashing to the canvas half way through the fourth and when a follow-up left to the body doubled him up in agony, the contest was over.

Hatton (ight): ready for bigger challenges

Earlier, Margate's Takaloo pulled off a first-round stoppage of local hero Anthony Farnell to claim the vacant WBU light middleweight title.

The 26-year-old of Iranian descent sent Farnell sprawling to the canvas with a superb right uppercut after less than two minutes of the contest.

Farnell rose bravely to his feet at the count of eight but referee Dave Parris was quick to step in after Takaloo followed up in clinical fashion.

Afterwards Takaloo said "I've trained all my life for this title."

"When the crowd jeered and booed as I entered the ring, it just inspired me even more."

Farnell's 1,500 army of fans greeted the result with predictable dismay and several scuffles broke out in the arena.

Order was quickly restored, however, and no serious injuries were reported.

Gomez gains revenge

And another local fighter Michael Gomez stopped Laszlo Bognar inside three rounds, gaining revenge for an earlier loss to the Hungarian in February.

Gomez was suffering from flu when Bognar ended a 19 fight winning sequence .

But a fully fit Gomez was too hungry and too strong for his 32-year-old opponent this time, with the WBO Intercontinental super-featherweight belt being reclaimed in the process.

The 24 year-old got off to the worst possible start when suffering a flash knockdown and a slight nick above his left eye in the opening round.

And he was again on the floor courtesy of a classic counter attacking straight left early in the second.

He came back, however, pinning Bognar on the ropes and forcing a knockdown of his own with a barrage of body shots right on the belt.

After another relentless onslaught at the start of the third, referee John Coyle had no hesitation in ending the contest as Bognar stumbled to his feet at the count of eight.

Before the Gomez fight, Hamilton's Scott Dixon pulled off a minor upset when claiming the vacant WBU International light middleweight title with a fifth round knockout win over Salford prospect Jamie Moore.