By Mark Vester

Former champion Ricky Hatton admits that he will have to face his demons when stepping in the ring with Juan Lazcano on Saturday before 55,000 fans in Manchester. Hatton is coming off his first career loss, a tenth-round knockout at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. (last December in Las Vegas).

After the loss, Hatton fell into a minor depression and was unable to watch the fight video for several weeks. He says the fight with Lazcano will answer a lot of questions to his critics, and to himself.

"I feel the same. There is no shame in losing. I mean if you happen to get beat, I guess it's not a bad consolation to lose to the best fighter walking the face of the earth," Hatton told BBC Sport. "I'm back now at my normal weight and I did lose my last fight by knockout. As far as my training and my sparring, I'm as confident as ever. Maybe a few demons may come in the middle of the action. You are in your comfort zone in the gym. You say 'I'll be Ok, I'll be ok,' but then you get in there and it might be a different matter. I'll only know that come fight night. Everyone knows that I'm strong willed."

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