Matthew Hatton won the European welterweight title with a points victory over Gianluca Branco on Friday night.

Hatton, the younger brother of former two-weight world champion Ricky, dominated his fight with the Italian - twice beaten in world-title fights - in Dagenham to claim the vacant belt.

After an impressive display, it was no surprise to see the judges give the Mancunian a unanimous decision, scoring the contest 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 in his favour.

The 28-year-old Hatton, who took the fight at just two weeks' notice, was 11 years younger than his opponent and it showed.

Branco tried to make his experience count, often coming on strong in the latter stages of rounds in a bid to impress the judges.

However, the men with the cards were not to be fooled.

Afterwards Hatton said: "It feels fantastic.

"I've had a bit of bad luck in my career but I always knew I was capable of this.

"I can box better than that but I beat a world-class fighter there adn I'm over the moon."

Brother Ricky, who was promoting the fight and watched it from ringside, was again asked about his future - he has yet to decide whether to return to the ring after losing to Manny Pacquiao last year - but instead deflected the attention onto his brother.

"I'll make my announcement soon, but it's all about his night - I'm so proud of him."

Hatton opened strongly in the first, landing a series of lefts on the veteran Italian but Branco soon hit back, landing a right hook with Hatton backed into a corner.

He then caught Hatton with a right hook later in the round before emerging from his corner to outmanoeuvre the Italian and land a right hook to shake the Italian in the second.

Branco connected with two sweeping lefts later in the second but Hatton came out strong in the third, landing a clear left hook at the start of the round.

Hatton continued to edge back but found himself on the end of a precise left hook after a good combination from Branco.

Despite Branco's early promise, Hatton continued to come at the Italian and caught the 39-year-old off-guard with a series of left-hand jabs in the fourth.

The 1,000 crowd urged Hatton on as the Mancunian started to go to work on Branco, who by the fifth had developed bruising above his right eye.

Hatton reacted well to a Branco jab to catch the Italian with an uppercut to take sixth as the Italian started to flag.

Branco hit back to catch Hatton square in the face in the seventh but Hatton was by now well in control and landed a juddering left on the back on Branco's head in the eighth.

Hatton was on top by the end of the ninth as Branco struggled to cope with Hatton's speed.

Referee Manuel Oliver Palomo had to pull Branco away twice in the 10th before the Briton landed two quick lefts to leave the crowd sensing a knockout.

Hatton was caught off-guard by a Branco left in the 11th but he fought back strongly to open up a cut above his right eye.

Sensing he needed a knockout to win, the Italian tried to land a series of hooks in the last but Hatton carefully side-stepped Branco's punches.

Branco's right eye was almost closed by the end of the fight as Hatton confidently held on for a well-earned points victory.