By Cliff Rold
They say you never forget your first time. I suppose that’s probably true. Flat on your back, sweating, light headed…
…and the referee’s count reaches ten.
It’s all but certain that Manchester, England’s 29-year old World Jr. Welterweight (140 lb.) champion Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31 KO) remembers his first time. It wasn’t that long ago after all, December 2007 to be exact. After a solid first five rounds, Hatton found himself broken, beaten, and knocked down by the Welterweight champion of the world, Floyd Mayweather. A brave rise from the deck meant another trip that direction and his night, his undefeated mark, and the biggest fight of his career were all entered into history.
Now begins the next chapter of Hatton’s career, the chapter in most fighters careers that truly defines them. How will he respond to losing? He’s picked the sort of opponent that might bring some answers. 33-year old Juan Lazcano (37-4-1, 27 KO) of Sacramento, California is clearly being brought in to lose, but it has been his career story to never win or lose easy. Jesse James Leija, John Molina, Stevie Johnston, Jose Luis Castillo, Vivian Harris…no matter the outcome, every one knew they’d been in a fight. Will Hatton know the same on Sunday?
Let’s go to the report card.
Speed: Hatton holds the edge in hand speed and clinch speed, both of which will be significant against a Lazcano who has not been in the ring in over a year. Hatton is likely going to look to punch, clinch, turn his man, and punch again. Lazcano has never been a speed guy, but his game works around it. He looks for openings and continues to punch, but his best work is usually done when he can get leverage on his shots. Hatton’s style threatens to rush him so he may have to be prepared to last into the late rounds in the hopes that Hatton tires. Pre-Fight Grades: Hatton B+; Lazcano B
Power: Hatton’s aggressive style is misleading in that it often makes it look like he should be a power puncher. He’s really not. How many highlight reel knockouts has he scored against elite foes besides the body shot stoppage of a faded Jose Luis Castillo? He stopped Kostya Tszyu, but that was on the stool and Tszyu never looked on the edge of hitting the floor prior to that. Lazcano is no more a power puncher, and he throws less, but given the more textbook delivery he brings his shots add up. He has scored some impressive knockouts against Johnston and Molina, but like the Tszyu-Hatton result, they came after rounds of blue collar come forward. Pre-Fight Grades: Hatton/Lazcano B
Defense: Lazcano is hittable, so is Hatton, and that’s why, even though this fights looks like a set-up, the fight should be immensely watchable. Lazcano’s defense is better on the inside, an advantage against Hatton. He smothers shots well in the trenches with arms and elbows. Even in losing to Castillo, he stayed in the fight all the way by mitigating the damage he was taking. From the outside, he can be countered coming in but Hatton won’t keep him out there. The cleaner puncher, defense is the spot where Lazcano may find his best hopes just by way of getting hit flush less often over the course of twelve. That’s of course depending on how much he’s allowed to punch. Hatton’s smothering and grappling seems more, um, tolerated when he’s home in the UK as he will be this week. When it’s not officiated, he can be hard to hit indeed. Pre-Fight Grades: Hatton/Lazcano B
Intangibles: There can be no real question of the heart of either man. Hatton didn’t quit against Mayweather in defeat and he weathered storms against Luis Collazo in 2006. Lazcano’s list of top foes, and repeat viewing worthy fights, shows similar professionalism. If there is an edge for Lazcano, it is that we know how he handles defeat on a mental level, having seen him continue to plug forward after the Castillo loss in 2004. Hatton’s edge comes in activity. This will be his fourth fight since January 2007; Lazcano’s second. That regularity could make a big difference, especially early. Pre-Fight Grades: Hatton/Lazcano B+
Overall Report Card: Hatton B+; Lazcano B
The Pick: Lazcano winning this battle would make for a great story, but in a soccer stadium in Manchester it just seems unlikely. If he can show up at a peak, bringing a serious A game, Lazcano can give Hatton the longest night of his career that didn’t involve Mayweather. I don’t expect that. Hatton may not be a great fighter but he has been an elite one and remains underrated in many quarters. His overall game is more varied and his intensity a little more focused than Lazcano’s and that should make the difference. Look for a competitive fight that favors Hatton early and late with Lazcano keeping it interesting in spots along the way. Hatton by unanimous decision.
Hatton-Lazcano will air on U.S. basic cable network Versus on Saturday afternoon (3:30 PM EST/12:30 PM PST) with an IBF 140 lb. title rematch between Paulie Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KO, IBF titlist) and Lovemore N’Dou (46-9-1, 31 KO) to kick off the telecast.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
