While the Red half of Manchester are celebrating the anticipation of lifting the European Cup in Moscow, the Blue half of the city are preparing for the biggest sporting event to hit Manchester since the Commonwealth Games. Ricky Hatton is the only sportsman who can unite the whole city, as well as the country, as the IBO/Ring light welterweight champion prepares to face Mexican-American hardman Juan Lazcano at City of Manchester Stadium this Saturday, May 24, 2008..
This morning at the venue saw a lifting of the giant canopy, which will protect the square ring, and the huge number of ringside celebrities from all walks of life, from potential bad weather. There were also 15,000 extra seats being installed to accommodate the largest outdoor boxing crowd ever to attend an event in Britain.
And this is down to the pulling power of one man, Ricky Hatton.
The card plays host to two world titles, one commonwealth and two English titles and is being beamed live to a number of countries through the world, including Canada, the USA and Argentina to name but a few.
If you are not one of the lucky people to have a ticket for this memorable occasion, tune into Sky Box Office with your six-packs and snacks to become part of this history making event.
Who said boxing was dying? Certainly not Ricky Hatton.
Saturday, May 24, 2008 will feature the biggest selling fight in the history of British boxing, IBO/Ring light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano, in front of 55,000 fans at City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England on a shared production between Frank Maloney Promotions, Punch Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.
Chief support features IBF light welter champion Paulie Malignaggi, 24-1 (5), vs. former titlist Lovemore N’dou, 46-9-1 (31), and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, 12-2 (4), defending against Matthew Hatton, 33-3-1 (13).
Two other championship fights will be featured with English light middleweight title bout between the champion Andrew Facey, 19-5-1 (6), going against Manchester’s Thomas McDonagh, 31-1-2 (6), and Liverpool’s Mark Moran, 9-0-1 (2), squaring off with Danny Wallace, 12-4-1 (6), for the vacant English super bantamweight title.
Two-time British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore, 28-3 (19), also sees action on the card, facing Esau Herrera,14-3-1 (6), of Mexico City in an eight rounder.
Any remaining tickets to Hatton vs. Lazcano can be purchased on www.ticketmaster.co.uk , www.seetickets.com , www.gigsandtours.com and www.rickyhitmanhatton.co.uk .
Doors open at 5:00PM with the first fight at 5:30PM. Sky Box Office will televise live commencing at 7:30PM.