Hatton - Lazcano Prediction

By JE Grant

Juan Lazcano knows his part of the script calls for his early departure Saturday night in Manchester against the monster hometown hero Ricky Hatton. Of course there is no script and Lazcano would just as soon change the ending considerably.

Hatton, coming off his resounding knockout loss to the superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., is expected to get back on track as he moves down from welterweight to what is considered his junior welterweight division. 

He holds the Ring belt (the only one that really matters) and another trinket belt --- but more importantly he holds the attention of legions of British boxing fans and a growing international following.

At 140 pounds Hatton has crushed all comers including his brutal body attack that left Jose Luis Castillo in a heap from a single left-hook to the liver.

It has proved somewhat treacherous for the 5’6” Hatton when he ventured to 147 as evidenced by his narrow 12-round win over Luis Collazo and of course his stoppage at the hands of “Money” Mayweather.

Whether Lazcano can avoid Hatton’s dominance at 140 probably depends on the after-effects of the Mayweather bout. Will the high octane attack be replaced with caution? 

Lazcano meanwhile has his own baggage.  He lost his last fight too.  He was edged out   by Vivian Harris over 12 rounds in February 2007. Will the 15 months of inactivity, at age 33, reduce whatever edge he could have had if he was finely tuned? 

Lazcano has been on fringes of the division's elite, but his attempts at the top (Harris and Castillo) have not been successful. Lazcano has proven himself sturdy (only one stoppage loss in a 42-fight career) and has gone more than 10 rounds six times (compiling a 3-2-1 record).

Chances are that promoters (Golden Boy among them) and local fans are interested only in their Ricky’s successful return to his winning ways.  Lazcano's reliability and ruggedness will allow Hatton to show his considerable arsenal on a willing opponent.

PREDICTION

Hatton will attack quickly in an effort to establish (or reestablish) his image as the unstoppable force. Lazcano will not step back or attempt a survival-first strategy. Look for the “Hispanic Causing Panic” to fire back hard early and often. Hatton may show some ill effects of the early punches --- even a flash knockdown is not out of the question.

The telling effect of what makes Hatton extraordinary at 140 pounds will come after round 5 as the pressure and the power accumulate on Lazcano. He will fight back as long as he can but the energy differential will tilt in Hatton’s favor.

The bout will prove competitive in spots but one-sided down the stretch as Hatton powers his way to a clear-cut “Homecoming” victory.

Hatton by a clear 12 round decision.