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In the garden?

28/ 5/2008

RICKY Hatton could well fulfil his lifelong dream of headlining a bill at Madison Square Garden later this year.

Following his unanimous points decision victory over Juan Lazcano last weekend, talks are at an advanced stage for the Hitman to face Paul Malignaggi in America during late autumn.

However, Hatton has warned his promoters that any venue must be one capable of hosting his vast number of fans.

The Hatton camp were disappointed they only received 4,000 tickets for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr in Las Vegas last December.

Althought it is the sport’s most fabled venue, Madison Square Garden would not be able to accommodate the vast legion of Hatton supporters, while the weather would rule out any chance of fighting at New York’s Yankee Stadium.

That has opened the door for a return to Las Vegas, although Hatton has warned it would have to be on his terms.

He said: "If we go to fight in Las Vegas again and they want to give me 4,000 tickets I won’t put up with it. There’s nothing to say I have to fight at this place or that place.

"That (Malignaggi) is the fight we want, it’s the one we’ll look at and the chance to go back to America is a massive possibility.

"My choice would be Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas which is becoming a second home, but when you fight you dream of topping the bill at Madison Square Garden – it’s harder for a British fighter to top the bill there."

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya believes that any Hatton-Malignaggi contest would prove to be one to remember.

He claimed: "I think styles make fights. Ricky and Malignaggi would be a great fight whether it’s Las Vegas or ‘The Garden’. We’ll take a look at the options."