Boxing News Boxing News
© Tom Hogan
Saturday night, at a packed City of Manchester Stadium, Ricky ‘Hitman’ Hatton successfully defeated tough Mexican-American, “The Chosen-Juan” Lazcano in a twelve-round IBO Light Welterweight Title fight.
Lazcano enters the ring wearing bright red ‘matador-style’ clothing and a large red sombrero hat, walking alongside trainer Ronnie Shields.
Michael Buffer then introduces Hatton as “The Pride of Manchester “ and before the usual ‘Blue Moon’ entrance song, Rick had his own ‘special’ version of ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ which referred to his ‘Fatton’ Days! “They say he’s never seen a salad… he likes his pies and pasties… Hi Ho Ricky Hatton,” the crowd laughed at the lyrics. Then as the traditional ‘Blue Moon’ rings out – Hatton appears looking rather ‘bigger’ than usual, dressed in a padded suit – as ‘Fatman’.
With both teams in the ring – Russell Watson sang a beautiful version of “Land of Hope and Glory”. Once the introductions were over, Michael Buffer boomed, “Let’s get ready to rumble!”
Round one and Lazcano throws the first shot but Hatton looks fast and sharp as he sets to work. In the first minute he’s already landed some crunching body shots but Lazcano covers up well. “There’s only one Ricky Hatton…” the crowd sings – accompanied by ‘The Band’. A good left from Hatton mid-way through the round sends Lazcano back against the ropes. Referee Howard Foster stops proceedings while he wipes Hatton’s gloves.
Round two and Hatton has been caught by Lazcano’s left hook a few times. Foster tells them both to stop holding with a minute to go. A big left shot snaps back the head of Lazcano followed by a body shot to the ribs.
In the opening seconds of Round three – the crowds gasp as Hatton goes down to the canvas, but it’s just a slip and Howard Foster waves it off. Hatton seems to be looking for the big shot but Lazcano is covering up well. It’s a good end to the round for Hatton.
Mid-way through round four Hatton piles on the pressure, subjecting Lazcano to rib-crunching body-shots (that he takes well), followed by lefts and rights to the head. A great round for Hatton!
Lazcano takes a lot of punishment in the opening minute of round five. Their heads go in and there’s some rubbing of foreheads as Howard Foster tells them to watch the heads. Hatton forces his opponent back on the ropes and both men slug it out.
Foster gives Lazcano a ‘talking to’ in the opening half minute of round six then Hatton goes after Lazcano with a wild left punch which misses its target but he continues to pursue him with further shots which Lazcano manages to block. In the closing seconds Hatton lands a good uppercut but backing Lazcano on the ropes, Hatton takes a number of short jabs from his opponent.
SkySports statistics show that so far Hatton has landed 124 of 342 punches (36%) as opposed to Lazcano – landing 61 of 205 (29%).
© Tom Hogan
With almost a minute of round seven gone, Lazcano lands a low blow which goes unnoticed by the referee. It doesn’t visibly ‘phase’ Hatton and they ‘lock’ together. It gets a bit messy as they grapple, both holding on to each other. Lazcano covers up well but Hatton still finds his target. The more notable shots come from Hatton but Lazcano still keeps going – he’s a tough and durable opponent.
“There’s only one Ricky Hatton“, the fans sing at the start of round eight, a messy round as they both lock together again. With just over a minute left of the eighth, Hatton comes forward and is caught by a body-shot which makes him stumble slightly, Lazcano senses the reaction from Hatton and piles on the body-shots. Hatton looks to be in trouble as his gloves drop down, but he pulls himself up and fights back.
“Come on Ricky, Come on Ricky” the crowds chant as they begin the ninth round. Hatton piles on the pressure, Lazcano covers up but again Hatton finds the gap between the gloves and lands on the nose of Lazcano – his head rocking back from the shot.
In the closing minute of the frame, Hatton throws a wild swinging left which almost sends him off-balance but he comes back with another straight left that finds its mark.
Lazcano has a cut to the right eye as he goes back to his corner.
Mid-way through round ten referee Howard Foster calls time to tell both boxers to clean it up a bit. Then, on inspection of Lazcano’s left eye – gestures to the ringside judges that a punch has caused the damage to the eye.
A big right punch from Hatton looks to ‘sap’ Lazcano momentarily, but he then lands a big left of his own to the face of Hatton. Referee Foster stops to warn Lazcano for pulling down Hatton who was bent over. Then Hatton gestures that his boot-lace is undone and Foster ‘shoves’ a tired Lazcano to the neutral corner and Hatton gets his laces tied.
Round eleven and Lazcano looks very tired, he’s taken some big rights from Hatton this round.
The twelfth and final round and Lazcano just needs to survive it! It’s really noticeable now the difference in the two men – Hatton is still throwing punches and Lazcano is just covering up and trying to get through it!
It came as no surprise when Michael Buffer announced a unanimous decision. The scores from the judges were 120-110, 118-110 and 120-108.
© Tom Hogan
Afterwards, Hatton spoke to Adam Booth of Sky Sports and said that “The fans pulled me through” as he gazes around the 57,000 fans. “They are the best fans in the world… awesome.” He also admitted – “I’ve never been so nervous before a fight, I‘m glad to get that one out of the way.”
