May

28

Full Hatton vs Lazcano Report

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This past Saturday, Frank Maloney Promotions enjoyed a successful partnership with Golden Boy Promotions and Punch Promotions to put on the largest boxing card in British history as 58,000 fans packed the City of Manchester Stadium to witness the Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano bill.

For Frank Maloney, it was a crowning achievement to have had his firm organize, with support from Golden Boy and Punch Promotions, such a massive event and have everything, from start to finish, run so smoothly.

But it was the fans that truly benefited from seeing their favorite son, Ricky Hatton, triumphantly return to his native city after a three year absence to sell-out the home of his beloved Manchester City football club.

To his credit, IBO/Ring light welterweight champion Hatton didn’t want an easy opponent for his return bout despite coming off the only loss of his career and Juan Lazcano ensured that “The Hitman” got his wish as the two collided to produce a torrid affair from start to finish.

Hatton delivered a classic performance, clubbing Lazcano relentlessly with a vicious two-handed assault but the American refused to wilt under the pressure and picked moments to deliver his own brand of hurtful punishment to the marauding Englishman.

The pair closed with an all-action 12th and final round to the approving roar of 58,000 rabid fans before Ricky Hatton was declared the winner by unanimous decision over the valiant Juan Lazcano.

The chief support bout featured what was supposed to be a showcase for IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi before his hoped for showdown with Ricky Hatton this fall at Madison Square Garden but Lovemore N’dou refused to play the role of opponent in this grudge-filled rematch.

Sporting smart new hair-extesions, Malignaggi began the bout well but a massive right hand from N’dou that landed flush soon had the New Yorker unable to see as the hair had come loose from it’s mooring.

For several rounds, Malignaggi had as much trouble with his hair as he had with N’dou but even after an impromptu haircut, Malignaggi’s efforts to bring the fight to N’dou was disrupted by hard lead right hands and left hooks from the South African native.

This rematch was a far closer contest than the first fight and while Malignaggi won behind his superb boxing skills, it was only by split decision as N’dou had impressed the judges with his quick-handed efforts and stern resolve.

The Commonwealth welterweight contest between champion Craig Watson and challenger Matthew Hatton lived up to the high pre-fight expectations as these pair of Manchester stalwarts went at it tooth and claw for 12 bitter rounds.

In the end it was the busier efforts of Watson that prevailed over the more controlled bursts of firepower favored by Hatton but Watson’s unpredictable southpaw verve had a lot to do with the economy of his opponent.

Rangy light middles Andrew Facey and Thomas McDonagh squared off to contend for Facey’s English title and the challenger swept the early sessions but had to hold on as the champion came back strong to force a draw and retain his crown.

Plenty of leather was swapped between super bantams Mark Moran and Danny Wallace as they heatedly argued the vacant English title. Moran’s sharper southpaw skills carried the early going but Wallace’s heavy pressure nearly closed the show in the middle rounds before Moran recovered to finish off his rival in the ninth frame.

Ex-British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore returned after seven months out due to injury and had anything but a warm welcome back as Mexican visitor Esau Herrera waged all-out trench warfare along the ropes before being belted out by Moore in the fifth round.

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