Brook Handed Hatton Test

Kell Brook will meet Matthew Hatton on March 17 in Sheffield as the undefeated welterweight looks to land a world title shot in 2012.

Last week it was announced that Brook would fight in his hometown and it was today confirmed that he would meet the tough and durable Hatton who is himself hoping for another title opportunity.

Hatton fought for the light-middleweight title last year when he was outpointed by Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez in a performance that proved he can mix it at the top level.

While Hatton may have ultimately fallen short against Alvarez, he will be hoping to cause a major shock when he meets Brook and has insisted that he is confident he can hand Special K his first defeat.

"It has irritated me a little bit that people regard Kell as the No. 1 in Britain - I've been European champion and was undefeated at that level, it's like being told you are not even the best at school even though you are the best in Europe," Hatton told ESPN.

Brook is ranked in the top ten of all of the major governing bodies and is hoping to further enhance his reputation after making his debut in America in December last year.

"This is a fight I've wanted for a long time and to get it at the Sheffield Arena means the world to me. When I first sat down with Eddie [Hearn, his promoter], he told me that his vision was a sell-out night at Sheffield Arena and now we're here.

"It is a competitive division and we're both trying to achieve the same goal, so I know that by putting him out of the equation, it gives me a clearer run at the title. I want people to stand up and take notice of me and these are the kind of nights that makes that happen.

"We've been looking at fights here and in the US but this is the one that gives me the buzz. I know I'm comfortably the best welterweight in Britain and I'm going to put in a devastating performance on March 17 to show the world just that."