The promoters of tonight's bout between Ricky Hatton and Juan Lazcano will open their curtains with trepidation this morning. One only has to recall the images of rain dripping off Ian Thorpe's nose at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games to be reminded of the dangers of staging an outdoor event in Manchester.

Until the 1960s, most big bouts were staged outdoors because of a lack of suitably sized indoor arenas. Now such events are generally saved for countries with more reliable climates. The two significant bouts held outdoors in Britain had notably different luck with the weather. Joe Calzaghe beat Miguel Jimenez on a glorious day at Cardiff Castle in 2002, but the spectators who forked out to be ringside for Mike Tyson's 38-second win over Lou Savarese at Hampden Park in Glasgow in 2000 were drenched.

Fortunately, the forecast today is for a dry if chilly evening and the city is buzzing, to judge from the thousands who packed the Trafford Centre for a glimpse of the boxers at yesterday's weigh-in. Both boxers weighed 9st 13lb 11oz, exchanged a handshake and Lazcano ruffled Hatton's hair. No ill-feeling here.

Just as keen to impress will be Paulie Malignaggi, of the United States, who defends the IBF light-welterweight title - a belt Hatton has held twice - against Lovemore N'Dou, the former champion from Australia, and hopes to be next in line for Hatton. “I am focusing on N'Dou,” Malignaggi said. “A bad performance against him and it could be a blow-out for me in terms of Hatton.”

It is a big night for the Hatton family because Matthew, Ricky's younger brother, bids for his first significant title when he challenges Craig Watson, a fellow Mancunian who floored Amir Khan as an amateur, for the Commonwealth welterweight title.

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