By Mark Vester

Ricky Hatton has planned out his first two fights of 2008. According to the Manchester Evening News, the first will come against Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 24. The second will come against IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, tentative for Autumn at New York's Madison Square Garden.

As reported several weeks on BoxingScene, Malignaggi has been offered a co-feature spot on May 24 date. He would likely face Lovemore N'dou to fulfill the rematch clause that stems from last year’s bout. The paper says that if Malignaggi does not come terms for the fight, and it says he is close to signing, the Hatton camp would then go with WBO champion Ricardo Torres.

"We should have fought Lazcano two years ago when he pulled out through injury and we shook hands with his people and said, the first possible chance we had, we would give him a shot. He has agreed terms and we hope that we will have Ricky's next opponent fighting on the undercard. Malignaggi is the favorite at the moment if we can come to an agreement. We are very, very close to it but we don't rule out going the other way and going Torres," Ray Hatton said.

The City of Manchester Stadium has not been locked as the venue of choice. Ricky Hatton told the paper they are close to a deal, but a backup date of May 31, at Wembley Stadium, has been lined up.

"We've been talking to the City of Manchester Stadium and we've been talking to Wembley and next week we should be able to have a press conference to announce it all," said Ricky Hatton.

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