Craig Watt
Feature Writer

Photo: Craig Watt

Manchester Mayhem Weekend!

May 23, 2008

By Craig Watt

If today's weigh at the Trafford Centre in Manchester is anything to go by it going to be "Mayhem" in Manchester this weekend. Over 3,000 people crammed the shopping centre on the outskirts of the city to see their boxing hero Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton weigh in for his "Homecoming" bout against Juan Lazcano. Some had been queuing for three hours just to get a close up view of their hero. This is the first fight in his hometown for three years for the 29-year-old IBO jr welterweight champion, his last appearance coming in his superb victory against Kostya Tszyu in 2005. The fans chanted Hatton's theme tune, "There is only one Ricky Hatton" and the trumpets and bands were in full cry. Its was pure Ricky Hatton mayhem!

Turn the volume up from 3,000 at the weigh in to 55,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium and the atmosphere will be pure electricity. What adds to the excitement is that four of the top jr-welterweights in the world are in town. In addition to the linear champion Hatton, we have the brash and confident IBF champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi. He went on a charm offensive with the Hatton fans at the Trafford Centre signing all autographs with the fans and he was well received. Both champions have tough defenses of their titles against Juan Lazcano and Lovemore N'dou respectively.

At weigh-in all the main fighters came inside the championship limit with Hatton and Lazcano scaling 139.75 pounds. IBF challenger Lovemore N'dou scaled 139 pounds and Malignaggi came in at 139.75 pounds. All were in great physical shape and ready for an exciting weekend that will create the biggest grossing fight in british boxing history.

The fighter's were introduced to the crowd by Michael Buffer and his renowned build up of, "Lets get ready to Rumble." All the ingredients are in place for a special boxing weekend for the UK's own "Fight Capital" of Manchester which will also see at ringside Oscar de la Hoya, Mike Tyson and Marco Antonio Barrera. It feels that some of the Las Vegas glitz has crossed the pond to Manchester.

Confidence exuded all fighters and trainers at the weigh in and were all keen to put their final words across to fans and media.

"This is a big night for all my fans and it is great to be back at my natural fighting weight of 140 pounds. I have never been beaten as a jr-welterweight and I am ready to reign supreme in this mix of champions. If you see this noise at the weigh in, get ready for a special evening on Saturday. It will be mayhem and a great night for Manchester."-Ricky Hatton.

"Ricky has more than Juan Lazcano in every department. Now he is back at his natural weight he will show how good he is. It will be a tough battle but Ricky will prevail and prove his is number one at jr-welterweight." – Billy Graham (Hatton's trainer).

"I am not just hear to make up the numbers- ignore me at your peril everyone. I will defeat your champion and spoil the party-I am the Hispanic Causing Panic and ready for my time to be champion."-Juan Lazcano.

"We are gonna take Ricky into the championship rounds and test whether his lifestyle and all that drinking are gonna catch up on him. He is human after all and his lifestyle is not good for any fighter. We are ready to go twelve hard rounds but the question is whether Ricky is." – Ronnie Shields (Lazcano's trainer)

"Lovemore N'dou is going to get a beating. He hasn't given me any respect for my win in the first fight. I am gonna box him out the stadium and make a statement to all Hatton's fans. It is the fight I want after N'dou and the pressure is on to show everyone what the Magic Man is all about." – Paulie Malignaggi.

"I didn't get a crack of the whip in the first fight. I beat Malignaggi but was robbed on the scorecards. I will win the re-match and it will be me looking to box Ricky Hatton- not Malignaggi." – Lovemore N'dou.

The fight will be screened live in the UK on Sky Box Office on PPV from 7.30pm GMT with the fight shown live on VERVUS in the US at 3.30pm ET / 12.30 pm PT.