By Mark Vester
During a recent interview with PA Sport, Ricky Hatton revealed that his upcoming bout with Juan Lazcano, scheduled for May 24 in Manchester, may be his last in Britian. Hatton, should he get past Lazcano, has a planned a fight with IBF champion Paulie Malignaggi for the fall, with New York and Las Vegas in the running to host the event. Malignaggi would have to win his rematch with Lovemore Ndou on the Hatton-Lazcano undercard.
If he wins both fights, he would like a rematch with WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hatton was stopped by Mayweather in ten-rounds last December in Las Vegas. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, has discussed the possibility of a rematch with Mayweather's team, and says the fighter is very interested.
"There is a strong possibility. You can never say never but I've just signed a deal with HBO and Golden Boy Promotions that I have put on hold until after this fight," Hatton said. "But I think HBO and Golden Boy would like me to fight in the States to be honest, though there's nothing set in stone that says I have to. But it could be my last fight in England, yes."
"Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden would be ideal should I beat Lazcano. Then I'd like another crack at Floyd. I'm not going to put a time limit on it but then I've got to start to look for any more goals and ask 'are there any more goals that I want to achieve?' I will have topped the bill at City, at Madison Square Garden, won five world titles at two weight divisions, had the chance to put the record straight hopefully (against Mayweather) and then, well what more do you want, Ricky? What more is there to prove?"
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