Ricky Hatton mocked the critics who have questioned his habit of ballooning in weight between fights by entering the ring wearing a heavily padded robe for tonight's showdown with Juan Lazcano.

Roared on by a sell-out crowd of 55,000 supporters, Hatton fulfilled a lifelong dream when he danced his way to the ring at the City of Manchester Stadium, home of his beloved Manchester City.

Lazcano had entered the ring first wearing a sombrero and smiling broadly despite the boos of the pro-Hatton fans, as fight stars like Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson watched from ringside.

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