24.05.08 – Photos © Curtis McCormick / MMG — photo gallery: Ricky Hatton training & press conf. photos — The official weigh-in for the Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano showdown this Saturday (Live on VERSUS, the telecast will begin at a special time of 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT) was held In front of several thousand rabid fight fans in an ultra-modern Manchester, England shopping mall..
With top announcer Michael Buffer handling the introductions, Juan Lazcano, 37-4-1 (27), was the first to take the stage and tipped the beam at 139.75 lb before making way for IBO/Ring light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.
Hatton, 43-1 (31), looking relaxed amid the roars of the Mancunian faithful, weighed exactly the same as his challenger, 139.75 lb, and waved to his adoring public before jumping off the scales.
Lovemore N’dou, 46-9-1 (31), was next and the seasoned South African born Australian came in at an exact rock solid 139 lb before his bitter rival, Paul Malignaggi, stepped up to the stage.
The dreadlocked IBF champion Malignaggi, 24-1 (5), confidently strode the stage before scaling under the light welterweight limit at 139.75 lb.
Matthew Hatton, 33-3-1 (13), was next and was recorded at 146.5 lb while his opponent, Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, 12-2 (4), came in at 146.25 lb.
English light middleweight kingpin Andrew Facey, 19-5-1 (6), registered 153.5 lb while challenger Thomas McDonagh, 31-1-2 (6), failed his first weigh-in before hitting 153.75 lb on a second try.
Both aspirants for the vacant English super bantam title found their levels below the divisional weight limit as Mark Moran, 9-0-1 (2), came in at 120.75 lb and Danny Wallace, 12-4-1 (6), was slightly heavier at 121 lb.
Former two-time British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore, 28-3 (19), landed at 157.5 lb while opponent Esau Herrera, 14-3-1 (6), was heavier at 159.75 lb.
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.