Showtime Championship Boxing Presents Ricky Hatton, Jeff Lacy on Dec. 13

*Live From MEN Arena, Manchester, England

NEW YORK, NY (September 9, 2003) – Undefeated World Boxing Union (WBU) Junior Welterweight Champion and current World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 3 contender Ricky “Hitman” Hatton will make his 10th title defense when he takes on an opponent to be announced on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT*. In the co-feature from MEN Arena in Manchester, England, rising unbeaten Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy will defend his North American Boxing Federation/United States Boxing Association (NABF/USBA) super middleweight crowns against a foe to be determined. Frank Warren’s Sports Network will promote the 12-round bouts live*.

Hatton (32-0, 24 KOs), of Manchester, England, captured the WBU 140-pound title on March 26, 2001, with a fourth-round knockout over Tony Pep in Wembley, England. Hatton successfully defended the WBU title four times in 2001 and 2002. In his last outing and lone start this year, Hatton recorded an impressive 12-round decision over former world champion and perennial contender, “Cool” Vince Phillips April 5 on SHOWTIME in Manchester. Relentless throughout, Hatton dominated the more experienced Phillips en route to winning by the scores of 120-107, 120-108 and 119-109. Hatton, a former WBO Intercontinental and British titlist, will continue his quest to secure a title fight with undisputed 140-pound champion Kostya Tszyu.

Lacy (15-0, 12 KOs), of Tampa, Fla., will appear on SHOWTIME for the eighth time. In his last start, he retained his titles for the first time with a 12-round decision over Richard Grant on July 15 in Beverly Hills, Calif. The talented Lacy, who has steadily ascended the world rankings since turning pro, is rated No. 8 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 8 in the WBC, No. 10 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 15 in the WBA. He earned the USBA belt with a third-round TKO on Feb. 22, 2003, in Memphis. Lacy won the WBC Continental Americas crown with a hard-fought decision over defending champion Ross Thompson Nov. 9, 2002, on SHOWTIME. Lacy went 209-12 in the amateurs, won numerous competitions and made it to the second round of the 2000 Olympics.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast is Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.* Tape delayed on the West Coast