Ricky Hatton received a raucous welcome from 56,000 supporters last night at the City of Manchester Stadium in what was a postwar record for a fight outdoors in Britain, inspiring him to a hard-fought and vital victory over Californian-based Juan Lazcano to successfully defend his world light welterweight title, as recognised The Ring magazine and the IBO.

It was much tougher than Hatton would have wanted and he had to show real heart to come through unscathed, especially after ominous moments in the eighth round. Three judges gave Hatton the decision by 120-110, 118-110 and 120-108.

For a fighter who was coming off a devastating 10th round knockout defeat - the first of his 10-year career, against the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Floyd Mayweather, last December in Las Vegas - it represented a triumph for Hatton even before a punch had been thrown.

Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight champion, led the celebrity names who were gathered at ringside and the sell-out crowd established beyond question that his appeal has withstood the beating Mayweather meted out at the MGM Grand Garden Arena five months ago. The real question, however, was what the did to Hatton’s psyche and his ability to mount the kind of sustained aggression that had overwhelmed 43 opponents prior to Mayweather.

Back in his natural domain at 10st, having been unconvincing as a welterweight (10st 7lb), Hatton needed to demonstrate the all-consuming fire of old. Motivation, of course, was not a problem. Hatton’s desire for the lasting image of his career not to be “me lying on my arse, staring up at the ring lights” was articulated forcefully by the 29-year-old over the past couple of weeks. However, Lazcano’s trainer, Ronnie Shields, had delivered an ominous counter view, suggesting Hatton’s lifestyle and, in particular, his fondness for a pint, might have diminished him irrevocably. “He lives a bad lifestyle for a fighter,” said Shields. “I had Hatton ahead after six rounds [against Mayweather] but then he started getting hit more and more and that was down to the simple reason of his lifestyle.”

Lazcano’s lifestyle has not been that of a contender for much of the past 15 months either. Defeated by former Hatton victim Jose Luis Castillo in a world title challenge at lightweight in 2005, the 33-year-old Mexican, who lives in Sacramento, California, was beaten on points by Vivian Harris in February 2007 and his future as a fighter was left hanging in the balance. He bought a gym and opened a restaurant and it was only the opportunity of a bout against Hatton which offered one of the biggest paydays of his career which convinced him to climb back in the ring.

Hatton answered the first bell somewhat cautiously but landed a hard right hand high on Lazcano’s head in the second minute, which precipitated a flurry of blows to the Mexican’s head and body. Lazcano’s primary concern was his own survival, so he offered little in the way of real retaliation, deciding instead to cover up as best he could and hold on whenever Hatton threatened to get close enough to land powerful combinations inside. A wide left hook grazed the right side of Lazcano’s face early in round two and Hatton began to attack the body with conspicuous intent. A right hand to the ribcage unsettled the Mexican and Hatton was able to pick his shots almost at will because of the infrequency of Lazcano’s punches. The Mexican did land a couple of left hooks to the side of Hatton’s head but Hatton answered with another hard left hook to the jaw.

There was a moment’s crisis at the start of the third when Hatton slipped to the canvas after Lazcano had landed a left jab but referee Howard Foster ruled that it was not a knockdown. A powerful left hook rocked Hatton moments later, stopping him in his tracks, and there were signs of danger for Hatton. Lazcano began to unload with damaging punches and, suddenly, Hatton was on the receiving end, needing to dig in late in the round.

Significantly, Hatton had been unable to hurt Lazcano to this point and Lazcano gave the strong impression in round four that he was beginning to fancy the job. He had further success with a left hook and a right uppercut that went straight through Hatton’s guard but he left himself vulnerable in the process to a couple of left hooks and a body shot from Hatton, who had retaken the initiative with aplomb.

There was a swelling underneath his right eye when he came out for the fifth but Hatton, almost immediately, landed a hard straight left to the chin. A series of punishing lefts by Hatton drove Lazcano back into his own corner and he sustained more punishment to the body. In his eagerness to go for the finish, however, Hatton walked onto a fierce right uppercut along the ropes and, momentarily, he was rocked.

Earlier, New York’s Paulie Malignaggi was unconvincing in defending his IBF light welterweight title against Australian-based Lovemore N’dou.

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