GILLINGHAM boxing referee Ian John-Lewis will be the man in the middle for Ricky Hatton's eighth defence of his WBU light-welterweight title.

Controversy surrounded Hatton’s last fight against Stephen Smith when his father and trainer, Darkie, got into the ring to protest to referee Mickey Vann about a cut that was allegedly caused by an elbow. Smith was disqualified.

Vann had refereed all of Hatton’s previous world title fights and the WBU were under pressure to make a change after the Smith clash and the honour has gone the Medway man for the Hitman's clash against Joe Hutchinson in Newcastle on Saturday.

FULL STORY IN THIS FRIDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER