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At the end of this month, Ricky Hatton will take ‘centre stage’ at his beloved Manchester City Football Ground when he faces the Mexican, but now residing in California, Juan Lazcano.
I’ve openly admitted to knowing very little about the ‘Hispanic causing Panic’ and so I have decided to ‘educate’ myself by firstly watching his fight against Vivian Harris.
The WBC Light Welterweight Title Eliminator between Juan Lazcano and Vivian Harris took place on February 10, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, and was promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.
With a record of 37 wins (27 by way of KO) and 3 losses – Lazcano has faced some ’notable’ boxers which include: Steve Johnston and Jose Luis Castillo.
The younger (by three years), taller, ‘Vicious Vivian Harris’ – formerly from Guyana and now living in New York, had changed trainers and now seemed settled with Lennox Blackmore. With a fight record of 27 wins (18 by KO) and 2 losses – Harris too has fought some tough boxers which include: Stevie Johnston, Carlos Maussa and Oktay Urkal.
Rounds one and two were surprisingly ’quiet’ on the part of Lazcano, in fact, I think he threw three punches in the opening minute of round one. Straight away, it’s clear that Harris is keeping distance between the two men and Lazcano teeters around the perimeter of the ring.
Lazcano is under pressure from Harris in the last minute of round two with Lazcano seemingly ’waiting’ for something (!) Harris looks impressive and fight statistics reveal that he landed 36 punches compared to Lazcano’s four!
But a very different Lazcano comes out for the third round. Perhaps having taken on board some of Freddie Roach’s comments that they’re fighting Harris’s fight – Lazcano concentrates on working in close and the fight has taken a completely opposite direction. Stats show that now Harris has landed 19 punches as opposed to Lazcano’s 24, so it seems that Lazcano has ’woken up’ in round three.
Round four and Lazcano ’skips’ around the perimeter of the ring on the ‘backfoot’ again for most of the opening minute of the fourth frame. Lazcano has a style of ’dipping’ low and going in with the upper part of his body, keeping his head down.
Leaning in with his upper body again – Lazcano tries to work in close to Harris during round five, but he also lands some ’questionable’ borderline body shots.
Harris steps back to put some space between himself and his opponent – that’s how he works best – at range so he can use the long jab. He’s landing almost double the punches of Lazcano.
Lazcano is in trouble in the first minute of round seven but regains his composure.
“Keep it clean,” Referee Tony Weeks tells them as Lazcano takes a shot ’on a break’ during round eight. Harris is clearly annoyed about it and can be seen addressing ringside presenters while the referee calls time out to retrieve Harris’ gumshield off the canvas. Action picks up in the closing seconds of the frame and it’s been a closer round in terms of punches landed.
Lazcano has thrown a number of ‘debateable’ low blows during the fight but, ironically, it is Harris that gets a warning from Weeks in round nine. Lazcano picks up the pace to work close on the inside again in the closing seconds of the round. It’s been a better round for Lazcano – he landed 26 punches compared to Harris’ 13.
It’s a better round ten for Lazcano but Harris is the more successful in round eleven.
Freddie Roach tells Lazcano, “I need a big round from you,” as they come out for the twelfth and final round, but Harris steps back from Lazcano to keep some distance between them. Mid-way through the round, Lazcano – head down – pummels at Harris’s lower torso with a couple of shots going below the belt. And Weeks takes a point off him.
Harris wins by unanimous decision: 114-113, 115-112, 115-112
From this fight – I’d say Lazcano’s right straight punch was notable, when he used it, as was his left hook, he likes to work in close on the inside – dipping low and ‘barging’ in with upper body and head low, he doesn’t like working at range, he starts off slow and watch out for the low blows!
Ricky Hatton loves to work in close so he’ll like this type of fighter. But Hatton is faster and sharper and if Lazcano doesn’t come out ‘guns blazing’ from the start – it could be a quick nights’ work for the Hitman!
