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Hatton & Lazcano: it's here

Some fighters can fall apart overnight, and with Hatton's style and binges in between fights, anything is possible. But he'd have to have gone back a long way to mess this up. The pressure of 55,000 home fans is huge, but Hatton surely won't let them down. If he does, the end of a fabulous career may be nigh. I can't see that happening just yet.

Adam Smith
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THE HOMECOMING
Ricky Hatton v Juan Lazcano
IBO Light-Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office
7.30pm, Saturday, May 24
Call 08442 410888 to book
Click here for more information

So it's time for Ricky Hatton to go to work and prove thay he still remains the best light-welterweight on earth.

There's no shame losing to one of the true modern greats, out of his weight class, but he must make a statement here in Manchester tomorrow night.

It is a real test of strength and character to come back from a major defeat. The excellent Barry McGuigan was not really the same after that desert loss to Steve Cruz and Naseem Hamed's exciting career never got going again after he was schooled by the superb Marco Antonio Barrera.

By the way, the Baby-Faced assasin has flown over to support his friend Ricky Hatton and it is great to see him in Britain.

Yet Lennox Lewis not only managed to come back from devastating knockout defeats to both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, but incredibly he stopped both fighters in facile fashion.

Hatton craves another crack at Floyd Mayweather before he brings the curtain down on his magnificent career, and even if that never materialises, mentally that shows he is where he needs to be.

Hatton has been relaxed all week. He was in cracking form at the pre-fight press conference, but there must be nerves inside. A serious night's work lies ahead against Juan Lazcano.

Exquisite

Trainer Billy Graham wants Hatton to show the world he still has the exquisite boxing skills to dissect Lazcano. We will soon find out if he is capable of re-capturing the type of performance that he used to out-maneouvre Ben Tackie and dismantle Ray Oliveira.

A deeply religious man, Lazcano has kept quiet, but he looks to have an inner steel and has been a world-class fighter for years. Astute tactician Ronnie Shields has been brought in to mastermind another big upset. He helped Vennon Forrest shock Shane Mosley and has worked with top names like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker.

Shields has been extremely bullish in the build-up and heavily critical of Hatton's lifestyle. He says all the drinking and fluctuation in weight will catch up with Hatton.

Other concerns are that the Hitman hasn't had the smoothest camp, with that chest infection ruining spells of training. He is coming back from a damaging defeat, he may be past his peak and the finishing line could be fast approaching.

Some fighters can fall apart overnight, and with Hatton's style and binges in between fights, anything is possible.

But he'd have to have gone back a long way to mess this up. The pressure of 55,000 home fans is huge, but Hatton surely won't let them down. If he does, the end of a fabulous career may be nigh. I can't see that happening just yet.

Statement

Hatton shouldn't lose on this massive event at his beloved City of Manchester stadium on Saturday night, and looks to be a class above Lazcano in every department. With a three-fight deal with Golden Boy to see out after this, and Oscar De La Hoya at ringside, expect Hatton to make a statement.

For me the Hitman wins by stoppage, probably in the middle rounds. He's too big at 10stone, too classy for Lazcano... too strong in every department.

He should give Manchester a famous boxing night to remember and maybe his final Homecoming here.

Then it will be back to the States for a super showdown with the flash, brash New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi, who should, once again, demonstrate his slick skills to defeat Lovemore N'dou on this bonanza night.

It has been an astonishing week for Manchester sport, and look for a Hatton double to round it off. Ricky's younger brother Matthew has a cracking clash with cross-city rival Craig Watson and this is certainly the 'fight of the night' within the trade.

It's a pick'em but Hatton is a bigger welterweight and all the experience of fighting on the huge occasions should get him through on points. 

It will be another nervy night for parents Ray and Carol... but I think 55,000 fans will go home happy. And one or two pints will be sunk by the Hatton family come 11 o'clock Saturday night!