Hatton: Needs to answer a few questions when he fights Juan Lazcano

Hatton needs a dominant performance. The Hitman insists the best is still to come

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With three-and-a-half weeks to go until the biggest boxing event of the year, its time to delve back into the Hitman's world.

Ricky Hatton finds himself in a position he's never been in before - coming back from a defeat.

He had enjoyed 43 straight wins in a pretty perfect career over a delightful decade in the sport, as he rose from young protégée to British Champion to huge world star.

But, in December - after an intense build-up to that mega-match with Floyd Mayweather - Ricky Hatton finally lost for the first time in his life. And what was really upsetting for him was that he honestly believed he would conquer the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

Training had gone perfectly, and he went into the MGM ring full of belief and confidence.

Having made a positive enough start, Hatton unfortunately found that Mayweather could fight just as strongly on the inside as the outside. He was also frustrated by referee Joe Cortez, and lost a point in the sixth round.

Throwing caution to the wind in the second half ultimately backfired for Hatton, as he was bewildered by the speed of Mayweather's beautifully-timed counters and was knocked out in 10 rounds. Thousands were left heartbroken in Vegas.

Ricky told me that he cried when he watched it back. His trainer and mentor Billy Graham said he locked himself away and switched his phone off for weeks. They have had difficulty coming to terms with it.

But Team Hatton have had to pick up the pieces, and dust themselves down. No disgrace losing to one of the greatest boxers we've ever seen.

Popular

It is now time for the next chapter in the enthralling story of Britain's most popular fighter. To sell out 55,000 tickets for his return to the ring against the hardened Mexican-Californian Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium, is quite incredible for the life-long Blue. This shows how much his popularity has actually increased since the Mayweather loss.

May 24th will be an amazing occasion - one of our sporting events of 2008 - as Hatton fans come together in Manchester for the first time since that awesome night three years ago against Kostya Tszyu, and possibly for the last time ever in his home city.

American boxing's marquee names like Mike Tyson and Oscar De la Hoya will be ringside. Ricky tells me that half the Premier League are coming, led of course by Wayne Rooney. Most of Coronation Street will be spotted; while Neil Morrissey, star of one of Ricky's favourite shows, 'Men Behaving Badly', called me this week literally begging for tickets! Not that I can help! The sporting and showbiz world will be out in force. It will be a real who's who in those lucky first few rows.

The card's crammed. Ricky's brother Matthew appears in a cross-city derby clash with the decent Commonwealth Welterweight Champion Craig Watson; Salford's popular Jamie Moore's on display and there's an important World title clash between the flash New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi and tough Lovemore N'Dou. If Hatton and Malignaggi both win - they are on course for a major showdown Stateside in the Autumn.

Dazzle

We have also been promised some musical entertainment, and a unique ringwalk from the Hitman. All in all it should be an absolutely wonderful night.

It is, however, a very serious one for Ricky Hatton. He must surely dazzle against the hard, experienced, come-forward Juan Lazcano.

There are many questions to answer in the comeback.

+ Has Hatton got plenty of fuel left in the tank?

+ He turns 30 this year, so are his best days firmly behind him?

+ Will the Mayweather defeat have taken more toll than he realises?

+ Will Hatton's all-out fighting style and his well-documented weight fluctuations finally catch up with him?

+ How much drive and ambition is still there?

+ Will he feel much more comfortable back down at his natural 10 stone limit?

+ Will the Hitman enjoy it more being back at home?

+ Could Hatton actually be refreshed after his five-month break?

Ricky told me that it was the kick up the proverbial backside that he needed. It is the mark of a champion to come back from a defeat. He's earned enough money for life, but he's desperate for more success.

Whether that will ultimately lead to another meeting with Mayweather, a crack at the outstanding Miguel Cotto or the much talked about British clash with Junior Witter, we will have to wait and see. What is obvious though, is that he cannot afford to slip up in any way here.

My colleague Jim Watt is right (as usual!) - Hatton needs a dominant performance. The Hitman insists the 'best is still to come'.

My advice - enjoy Ricky Hatton while he's here. The same goes for Oscar De La Hoya, who is in action this week-end on Sky Sports 1, at another huge open air show - at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California, (David Beckham's home away from home), against Steve Forbes.

May is a magical one on Sky. The biggest names from Britain and America in Hatton and De La Hoya. Plus we have two exciting European title defences from two of our domestic fighters who are enjoying a marvellous time.

Don't miss Rendall Munroe against Salem Bouaita - this week on Friday Fight Night - and we'll be out with Colin Lynes in Italy as he takes on the World class Gianluca Branco on May 16th.

But I'm spending most of my time around Ricky at the moment. So more insight from deep inside the Hatton camp next week.