Hatton keen to reward fans with home fight

Published on Friday 2 May 2008 00:44

RICKY Hatton has revealed he sacrificed "a fair few extra quid" to make sure his homecoming fight against Juan Lazcano is staged at a time to suit his "phenomenal" supporters.

Light-welterweight champion Hatton will fight in England for the first time in two and a half years when he takes on Mexican Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium on 24 May in his return to the ring after losing to Floyd Mayweather in December.

More than 35,000 British fans travelled to Las Vegas despite the vast majority being unable to capture tickets for the Mayweather fight and Hatton is keen to show his appreciation, with 55,000 people having the chance to see him at the home of his beloved Manchester City later this month. Fans in the United Kingdom usually have to stay up until the early hours to watch high-profile British fighters due to the demands of American television, but not on this occasion.

Hatton has opted to disappoint American TV giants HBO and promoters Golden Boy in order to ensure his fight, being shown live on Sky Box Office, is at the right time for fans on this side of the Atlantic. "It's always nice to be home," Hatton said. "My last four fights have been in America and the support I have got over there has been absolutely phenomenal, 35,000 went over from England.

"I can honestly say I can't see that being bettered again by a British fighter. It makes me feel so proud. And not only that, it's also for the fans that have supported me from day one back in England, Great Britain and Manchester, who probably thought maybe they had lost the chance to see my fight again here live.

"They probably thought I was going to have all my remaining fights in the United States, so I think it's nice to come back.

"Not everybody can afford to fly to the US for every fight, so all my fans are going to get the chance to see Ricky Hatton, not just the ones who came to America."

As for wrangling over the time of the fight, Hatton added: "It is at a fan-friendly time, an English time. I put my contract with HBO and Golden Boy on hold so that I don't have to have it at two in the morning just to coincide with TV. I could have made a fair few extra quid for having it at two in the morning. It's my way of saying thank you really.

"Finance is important in your career, needless to say, but some things are worth more than money. It's all about achieving my goals now and doing right by the fans.

"It is now about the last few goals of my career, putting the final touches to it before I hang the gloves up.

"I want to be remembered as a fans' favourite, a people's champion. Every step of the way that's what I've done in my career, I don't think anyone can turn around and say 'Ricky Hatton ducked this guy'."