Boxing: Hatton To Face Stewart

It appears that the level of competition for udnefeated Ricky Hatton does not get any better. Hatton who was originally slated to face WBA junior welter champ Vivian Harris will now face Mike "No Joke" Stewart. The winner will be the mandatory for the IBF junior welter title.

This the same Mike Stewart that Sharmba Mitchell dominated in April of this year. Mitchell, who is not known as a fighter with power, knocked down Stewart three times in the bout and easily outboxed him for a lopsided decision. Stewart's last outing was a seven round TKO win over a guy who was in the ring for his first pro fight, that's right, a guy with a 0-0 record.

Ricky Hatton will take on Mike Stewart on 1 October in what is being billed as an IBF title eliminator.

The British light welterweight, who was frustrated by failed bids to fight WBA holder Vivian Harris, hopes victory in Manchester will earn him a title tilt.

IBF champion Kostya Tszyu fights Sharmba Mitchell this year, with Hatton slated as an opponent for the winner.