Defeat is the end for some boxers, but it does not seem to have put a dent in Ricky Hatton's popularity. Hatton continues to be a phenomenon, with 55,000 people expected at the City of Manchester Stadium tomorrow to watch him defend his IBO light-welterweight title against Juan Lazcano.

Demand has been remarkable. Nearly 45,000 tickets were sold in the first four hours of going on sale and the sell-out crowd will be a British postwar record. Hatton lost his unbeaten record to Floyd Mayweather Jr in December, but he has not lost his fans.

“I am not overlooking Juan Lazcano, but if 55,000 turn out to see me fight him, imagine what it would be if I was fighting a bigger name,” Hatton said. “I keep breaking all records. It was 20,000 at the MEN Arena, 35,000 fans came to Las Vegas. Sky Box Office had the most hits of all time when I fought Mayweather. And now we have 55,000 at Manchester City.”

It shows that boxing remains a boom business in Britain. More than 50,000 were at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, in the early hours to see Joe Calzaghe beat Mikkel Kessler last November and 20,000 gave up a night's sleep to be at the O2 Arena, London, in March when David Haye stopped Enzo Maccarinelli. Hatton's popularity, for what is, on paper, a routine bout, remains incredible.

“I have to keep reminding myself who I am because the fights are getting bigger and bigger and so are the crowds,” Hatton, 29, said. “My fights have become more than a boxing match. They are events. Not just boxing fans come to watch me. I am always surprised how many people in the street know me. You think it can't get any bigger but it does.”

Hatton's pulling power is such that bigger venues are being sought. A bout at Wembley Stadium could attract 95,000, but there is a venue at which he believes he could draw a crowd of six figures. “Croke Park in Dublin,” Hatton said. “The Gaelic football pitch there is much bigger than a football pitch, so a lot of fans would be seated on it. But this could be my last fight in Britain. I've signed a deal with HBO and Golden Boy and obviously they want me to box in America. But I won't have it if I just get 4,000 tickets for my fans like with Mayweather. I do have the final say where I fight.”

Of course, such plans fade away should Lazcano derail Hatton. Lazcano, 32, had been due to face Hatton two years ago, but broke a finger in training. He has not boxed for 15 months and realises that this is his last chance to hit the big time. “Greatness was never on my radar,” he said.

Should Hatton win, the plan is for him next to face Paulie Malignaggi, a flashy New Yorker with fast hands and a fast mouth, who defends his IBF light-welterweight title against Lovemore N'Dou, the former champion from Australia, on tomorrow's bill.

Malignaggi, 27, who has had waist-length hair extensions put in, is popular, but Lou DiBella, his promoter, knows who will decide where and when his man and Hatton meet. “We would like it to be at Madison Square Garden,” DiBella said. “But the fight will be whenever and wherever they want.” Hatton gets to call the shots.

Pulling the crowds

132,347 Julio Cesar Chavez v Greg Haugan, Azteca Stadium, Mexico City, February 20, 1993 (world attendance record)

120,557 Gene Tunney v Jack Dempsey, Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, September 22, 1927 (US record)

82,000 Len Harvey v Jock McAvoy, White City Stadium, London, July 10, 1939 (British record)

63,350 Muhammad Ali v Leon Spinks, Superdome, New Orleans, September 15, 1978 (postwar US record, world indoor record)

50,150 Joe Calzaghe v Mikkel Kessler, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, November 3, 2007 (postwar European record, European indoor record)

46,000 Muhammad Ali v Henry Cooper, Highbury, London, May 21, 1966 (postwar UK outdoor record)

42,000 Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn, Old Trafford, October 9, 1993

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