Ricky Hatton paid tribute to his army of adoring fans after they roared him to victory against Danish battler Dennis Holbaek Pedersen. Over 18,000 people packed into the MEN Arena in Manchester as Hatton defended his WBU light-welterweight crown for the 12th time. And `the Hitman' did not disappoint with a clinical display of boxing as he stopped the plucky challenger in the sixth round. As late as Thursday the fight had been in doubt when scheduled opponent Kelson Pinto withdrew having failed to make the journey from Brazil. But Pedersen stepped in to take the bout at just two days' notice and Hatton admitted the partisan home crowd had played a massive part in helping him stay focused. He said: "It was an absolutely fantastic atmosphere." Having entered the ring to a cacophony of noise, Hatton got straight down to work. He looked pumped up early on and wasted little time in unloading with his trademark body shots - firing in a couple of thunderous left hooks to the ribs that had Pedersen wincing in the first. By contrast the Dane seemed overawed by the atmosphere and glanced nervously over to his corner in the second. And Hatton clearly sensed he could be in for an early night as he continued to rain in the blows - with only a short combination coming back from the challenger. After he had landed a couple of big right hands that would have dropped lesser men towards the end of the second, finally Hatton's breakthrough came in the fourth when first a crunching left hook just above the belt sent the Dane crumpling to his knees before he was floored again midway through the round - this time staying down until the count of nine before he rose to his feet. Then with just 28 seconds left of the sixth round Hatton completed the job as an uppercut rocked Pedersen's head back and, after a swift combination had followed, the referee stepped in to stop the fight. The win saw Hatton extend his unbeaten record to 35 fights and claim the 26th knockout triumph of his pro career. | 
