Carl Bellis fought Ricky Hatton in a junior bout for Russ Williams Promotions at the Springfield Hotel, Pentre Halkyn at the age of 10.

Carl, a fully qualified electrician for Bryan Rogers Electrical in Mold, is now 6ft tall and weighs 13 stone and has kept up the training over the years at Russ's training centres in Caerwys and Wrexham.

He jokingly says that although he'd like a rematch, Hatton would have to go up a few weight divisions to meet him.

The bout took place in June, 1988, as part of the undercard to Russ's defence of his British Thai-boxing title, and was also Carl's first time in the ring.

Russ said he remembers it well, adding: "It was decided just before to be a 'no head-contact' fight.

"Carl hadn't trained under these rules and kept jabbing Ricky lightly to the head.

"Ricky complained to the referee 'he's hitting me in the face!', so Carl lost the fight with points deducted."

Even back then Russ knew Ricky would be a special talent.

He said: "You could see it in him.

"His aggression and determination was there from a very young age."

When asked about the possibility of staging another meeting, Russ joked: "If Ricky balloons up to Carl's weight between fights, maybe we could sort something out for then?"

Hatton will be defending his Ring Magazine light welterweight title and competing for the vacant IBF light welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this weekend.

His record stands at 45 fights, with 44 wins and 31 knockouts.

Carl's record is slightly more modest.