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Hatton shrugs off illness

Chest infection won't affect Hitman's Homecoming, says his father

Last updated: 15th May 2008

Hatton: chest infection

It is a massive show and it is not in jeopardy.

THE HOMECOMING
Ricky Hatton v Juan Lazcano
IBO Light-Welterweight title
Live on Sky Box Office
7.30pm, Saturday, May 24
Call 08442 410888 to book
Click here for more information

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Ricky Hatton's Homecoming WILL go ahead despite a chest infection.

The Hitman has been struck down with the illness less than two weeks before his IBO Light-Welterweight title defence with Juan Lazcano, live on Sky Box Office.

It has forced Hatton, fighting back in Manchester for the first time in almost three years, to take a break from training and start a course of antibiotics.

But his father and promoter Ray says there is no way the City of Manchester Stadium showcase will be scrapped.

"He's got a virus, but he will be ready," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"He has a chest infection and has been struggling with his breathing, so has had a couple of days off.

"With him working that hard, it is making it harder for the antibiotics to work. And when he is under stress, he struggles to catch his breath."

It is not the first time Hatton's big-fight preparations have been hampered by illness. He picked up a similar illness in the build-up to his win over Juan Urango in January 2007- something he put down to hotel air conditioning.

It took its toll as he faded in the second half of the fight and this time has meant less sparring than usual.

Hatton told his skysports.com Fight Diary that Humberto Tapia and David Rodela flew back to America last week, but insisted everything had gone well.

And Ray is confident that his son will shake off the virus in time for Lazcano.

"It's not ideal," he said. "He's not cut the sparring short for nothing, but it won't affect the fight.

"There is no doubt about that. It is a massive show and it is not in jeopardy.

"There are 55,000 people coming. We couldn't just go and find somewhere else that could put that on a couple of weeks later. And Ricky would never hear of that anyway."