Ricky ready to turn it on
Boxing or brawling, I'll beat Lazcano, says the Hitman
Last updated: 16th May 2008
Hatton: working on his skills
Ricky Hatton v Juan Lazcano
IBO Light-Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office
7.30pm, Saturday, May 24
Call 08442 410888 to book
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Ricky Hatton is ready to put on a boxing masterclass to mark his Homecoming.
The Hitman has told fans to expect a more skilful display when he takes on Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24, live on Sky Box Office.
The Hitman has revealed that he has been working on a more refined style than he has used in recent fights, now that he is boxing back down at light-welterweight.
"If I want to match him toe-to-toe, I think I edge him in that department," he told skysports.com.
"But I'll probably try and break him up from the outside, pick him off with some nice single shots and a few combination punches.
"I like to think that I can dismantle him. I can either make it for myself by going straight in there from the outset going toe-to-toe.
"Or I can make it easy for myself by using my footwork and the boxing ability I've got - and that's what we've been working on in the training camp so far."
Two of Hatton's last four fights, including the defeat to Floyd Mayweather, have been at welterweight.
He struggled against the Pretty Boy and Luis Collazo before that, but is still regarded by Ring Magazine as the best light-welterweight in the world - a title that will be on the line against Lazcano.
And while he says the Hispanic Causing Panic has every right to be encouraged by that 10th-round knockout at the hands of the Pretty Boy, Hatton is adamant he is over the defeat and ready to rebuild his career.
"Yeah he'll be confident, but he should be a little bit windy as well because up to six or seven rounds there was nothing in it (against Mayweather)," he said.
"I was out of my weight division, fighting the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"I didn't lose my world title, I challenged for another world title so I'm still regarded as the ring magazine champion, the IBO champion so I still believe I'm the man to beat."
