**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Saturday night at the Sutton Leisure Centre in St. Helens, England, Promoter Oliver Harrison presented a fight card billed as ‘Blast Zone’ which featured nine contests.

As an added attraction, six boxers of note were introduced into the ring including undefeated middleweight prospect Martin Murray, ex-British welter champ and world title challenger Michael Jennings and former WBC, European and British welterweight champion John H. Stracey.

Scott Mitchell (Bolton) v Howard Daley (Preston)
6 Round Heavyweight Contest

A close contest between these two ‘pals’. Both putting in bags of effort but Mitchell secures the points win 58-56 and improves to 6 wins (0 by KO) and 1 loss. Daley drops to 2 wins (1 by KO), 19 losses (6 by KO) and 1 draw. More...

Ricky Hatton will make his ring return in Nottingham on Friday, September 5 - but the world’s top light-welterweight will not be donning the gloves.

Instead, ‘The Hitman’ will be in the corner of younger brother, Matthew who meets Scott Woolford in an eight-round welterweight battle. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Last night at the Watford Colosseum in Watford, England, World Sports Organisation promoter Jon Feld presented a night of boxing which would be memorable in more ways than one!

Although not the main event, home-boy Ojay Abrahams faced Jamie Ambler of Aberystwyth in a four round super middleweight contest which was to ʽheraldʼ Abrahamsʼ 17 year career and 100th professional fight.

Even more ʼspecialʼ was the fact that veteran trainer Billy Graham would be in Abrahams' corner. ʽThe Preacherʼ would be at his last fight - having retired from boxing this week after being sacked by the Hattons. This was going to be both men's professional farewell and an emotional night was expected, but sadly it wasnʼt to end well for ʽMe, Myself and Iʼ.

Entering the ring alongside Graham, Kerry Kayes and Mick Williamson, Abrahams was dressed like a ʽwizardʼ in pointed hat and black cape, which bore the number ʽ100ʼ in gold. The crowd were all on their feet as they clapped their respect for both Abrahams and Graham. More...

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

After reports that the ‘Preacher’ had decided to retire hit the news yesterday, Saddoboxing can reveal that actually - Graham was sacked from his position of trainer to the Hitman.

Having first taken Hatton ‘under his wing’ eleven years ago - the two had been inseperable forging a strong ‘bond’ over the years. But rumours had been flying over some discontent in the ‘camp’ during the last 12 months and sadly, news of the ‘split’ came on the internet yesterday.

The Preacher will make his last appearance in Watford this Friday when he works the corner of Ojay Abrahams.

© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing

SaddoBoxing had the good fortune to catch up with one of the top middleweights in Britain, Paul Smith, 23-0 (13), while in Ricky Hatton's dressing room following the victory of "The Hitman" over Juan Lazcano recently at City of Manchester Stadium in England.

Paul had burst onto the national scene in Britain on the strength of his 2002 Commonwealth Games Silver Medal winning performance as a light middleweight, losing only to Canada's Jean Pascal, the currently undefeated NABO/NABF/NABA Super Middleweight Champion.

Turning pro in April, 2003, the Liverpool based "Real Gone Kid" matriculated under the watchful eye of trainer Billy Graham, counting Ricky and Matthew Hatton along with Matt Macklin, Steven Bell among his stablemates and ran his record to 14-0 through 2005. More...

With the excitement in North West England reaching a fever pitch for Ricky Hatton's much anticipated return to his beloved city of Manchester, there are many questions still to be answered surrounding this massive fight card which will be played out in the open air City of Manchester Stadium before a record breaking 56,000 spectators. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Yesterday the City of Manchester Stadium, England, played host to the official press conference ahead of Saturday’s ‘Homecoming’ fight night.

Entering the stadium, I stopped by to see how the ‘pitch’ was progressing in preparation for the fight and with just two days to go, the huge structure and canopy that will protect the ring looks near completion. There are more red seats now on the floor area and not a blade of grass is visible under the protective boarding. It is indeed a fantastic sight!

Once inside the boardroom suite, media representatives gathered to await the arrival of boxers, trainers and promoters. On the top table sat Lovemore N’dou, Robert Diaz (Golden Boy), Matthew Hatton, Billy Graham, Ray Hatton, Frank Maloney, Ricky Hatton, Richard Schaeffer (Golden Boy), Juan Lazcano, Ronnie Shields, Paulie Malignaggi, Lou DiBella, Craig Watson and Joe Pennington. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Any concerns that Ricky Hattonʼs health is a problem at the moment were dispelled today as members of the media were invited to a training session of 'The Hitman' at Billy ʽThe Preacherʼ Grahamʼs Training Camp in Denton, Manchester, England.

Looking relaxed, Hatton - wearing hooded sweatshirt over sweat-top over tshirt and shorts - took to the ring. Shadowboxing around the canvas, he looked ʽsharpʼ and ʽquickʼ on his feet.

Billy Graham then stepped in to the ring and donning the huge black body-belt, the trainer braced himself for another gruelling session with 'The Hitman'.

Proving heʼd not lost his usual cheeky charm - Hatton occasionally ʽshovesʼ Graham back against the ropes and even the serious looking ʽPreacherʼ canʼt help but laugh at the antics! More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Yesterday, at Vermilion Cinnabar - the stylish, new, Thai influenced restaurant and bar in Manchester, England, Frank Maloney hosted a press conference to update media on the forthcoming fightnight which headlines Ricky Hatton and Juan Lazcano.

Despite other important press conferences held on the same day - it was a full-house at Manchester's trendy new venue.

In attendance were, Frank Maloney, Ricky Hatton, Ricky and Matthew's father/manager Ray Hatton, Hatton trainer Billy Graham, welterweights Matthew Hatton and Craig Watson as well as super bantams Danny Wallace and Mark Moran.

Frank Maloney in association with Punch Promotions and Golden Boy presents 'Homecoming' - a fightnight staged at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, May 24. More...