Boxing: Brit retains IBO title

Briton Ricky Hatton retained his IBO light-welterweight title with a hard-fought points win over Mexican Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester stadium yesterday.

In his first bout since his defeat to American Floyd Mayweather last December, Hatton began aggressively in front of a sell-out crowd of 55,000, although Lazcano registered a steady flow of counter-punches.

Hatton took a number of big hits but landed enough of his own to secure a unanimous victory over the Mexican, who has fought for most of his career as a lightweight, and set up a possible fight against American Paulie Malignaggi.