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By Jake Donovan - The card was designed to build momentum for a possible showdown later in the year between linear junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton and alphabet titlist Paulie Malignaggi. Neither fighter did much to create instant anticipation, as both managed wins in a pair of fights that weren't easy on the eyes.
Hatton's bout with un-retired American challenger Juan Lazcano went largely as expected, winning the majority of the rounds to take a unanimous decision in a clinch-filled encounter. Malignaggi's night didn't quite go as scripted, struggling to a split decision in a return go against Lovemore N'Dou in the televised co-feature.
Both bouts were aired live from Manchester, England on VERSUS, in a rare Saturday afternoon boxing telecast.
The first round appeared to be one giant clinch, with little happening between the two. Hatton controlled the action during the rare moments the two fighters weren't joined at the hip, though managed to get tagged with a jab flush enough to bloody his nose.
There was less clinching in the second round – always a positive sign for any Hatton fight, though not necessarily replaced by sustained action. Hatton came out far more purposeful in the third, landing a jab upstairs and a left hook to the body. An attempted follow-up was thwarted by a slippery logo, which caused Hatton to slip to the canvas. The clinching resumed midway through the round, though mixed in with enough two-way action – including a strong finish by Lazcano to make it the most enjoyable frame of the fight through the first three. [details]
Hatton's bout with un-retired American challenger Juan Lazcano went largely as expected, winning the majority of the rounds to take a unanimous decision in a clinch-filled encounter. Malignaggi's night didn't quite go as scripted, struggling to a split decision in a return go against Lovemore N'Dou in the televised co-feature.
Both bouts were aired live from Manchester, England on VERSUS, in a rare Saturday afternoon boxing telecast.
The first round appeared to be one giant clinch, with little happening between the two. Hatton controlled the action during the rare moments the two fighters weren't joined at the hip, though managed to get tagged with a jab flush enough to bloody his nose.
There was less clinching in the second round – always a positive sign for any Hatton fight, though not necessarily replaced by sustained action. Hatton came out far more purposeful in the third, landing a jab upstairs and a left hook to the body. An attempted follow-up was thwarted by a slippery logo, which caused Hatton to slip to the canvas. The clinching resumed midway through the round, though mixed in with enough two-way action – including a strong finish by Lazcano to make it the most enjoyable frame of the fight through the first three. [details]
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