~Photo Credit: Curtis McCormick/MMG~

One of the most powerful matchmakers in the world of boxing today, Robert Diaz, has been in Manchester this week looking after the interests of his employer, Golden Boy Promotions, as they partner with Frank Maloney Promotions and Punch Promotions to put on the biggest fight card ever seen in Britain.

"I'm coming out here for the homecoming of Ricky Hatton," said Diaz. "This could be one of the most exciting promotions and one of the most exciting fights that I have ever witnessed in person and I wouldn't miss it for the world, but being part of putting this together has brought me out here as well."

Hatton has returned to his hometown, headlining a massive show in front of 55,000 fans this Saturday night at the cavernous City of Manchester Stadium and will face opposition that Diaz is very familiar with.

"Ricky is fighting another Golden Boy fighter, Juan Lazcano, an opponent that's very hungry," said Diaz. "Juan has nothing to lose and everything to win by coming into Ricky's hometown with no pressure, hoping to spoil Ricky's plans for bigger and better things."

Hatton's recent loss to the top fighter in the sport, Floyd Mayweather, has produced perhaps the most compelling situation of the IBO/Ring light welterweight champion's career.

"This fight is crucial for Ricky because of a couple of different aspects," said Diaz. "He's coming off a defeat, a knockout defeat, but not only that, he's coming off a defeat where he lost his unbeaten record. He's going to have a lot of pressure because he's fighting at home in front of all his fans, which are probably the greatest fans in boxing that I've ever witnessed. These are fans that live and die with Ricky Hatton, they're true to him.

"The proof is how many tickets have been sold and how well the promotion has been going with this event. So, he'll have that and he'll add pressure to himself because he wants to prove the critics wrong given that while he lost, just like anyone else can lose, he can come back better than ever."

IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi rematches the man he defeated for the title, Lovemore N'dou, as the chief support on Saturday and it's no secret that the flashy New Yorker is being displayed in front of Hatton's audience in hopes of a mouth-watering showdown this autumn at Madison Square Garden, but experienced industry veteran Diaz knows the pair must get through the rigors of this weekend before anyone can look ahead.

"There is talk that Ricky and Paulie will fight each other later this year," admits Diaz. "But, like I've told Ricky in the past, before you run, you have to walk. Ricky has to get through Juan Lazcano in a good fashion before we can think of Paulie down the line."

When it comes to boxing, Robert Diaz is all business but the affable, outgoing Californian is also in Manchester for a friendship forged years ago when he was part of the camp of one of Mexico's greatest fighters, Marco Antonio Barrera.

"We have a promotional agreement with Ricky, but I've been friends with him from before he was with Golden Boy," said Diaz, "It wouldn't have made a difference, who he was promoted by, I'd still be here in support of my friend."

Saturday, May 24, 2008 will feature the biggest selling fight in the history of British boxing, IBO/Ring light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano, in front of 55,000 fans at City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England on a shared production between Frank Maloney Promotions,  Punch Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

Chief support features IBF light welter champion Paulie Malignaggi, 24-1 (5), vs. former titlist Lovemore N'dou, 46-9-1 (31), and Commonwealth welterweight champion Craig Watson, 12-2 (4), defending against Matthew Hatton, 33-3-1 (13).

Two other championship fights will be featured with English light middleweight title bout between the champion Andrew Facey, 19-5-1 (6), going against Manchester's Thomas McDonagh, 31-1-2 (6),  and Liverpool's Mark Moran, 9-0-1 (2), squaring off with Danny Wallace, 12-4-1 (6), for the vacant English super bantamweight title.

Two-time British light middleweight champion Jamie Moore, 28-3 (19), also sees action on the card, facing Esau Herrera,14-3-1 (6), of Mexico City in an eight rounder.

Any remaining tickets to Hatton vs. Lazcano can be purchased on http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/, http://www.seetickets.com/ , http://www.gigsandtours.com/ and http://www.rickyhitmanhatton.co.uk/.

5-20-2008