RICKY HATTON proved he is the world's biggest name in boxing with America's top sporting venues frantically battling it out to stage his November clash with Paulie Malignaggi.

The Hitman made a triumphant return to the ring against Juan Lazcano in front of 58,000 fans at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday.

Now arenas and stadiums in the US are hoping to cash-in on his unique popularity by securing the rights for his IBO and IBF light welterweight unification clash with Malignaggi. And they are not alone after Canada threw their hat into the ring, with Toronto's 68,000 capacity Sky Dome another possible venue.

Hatton's US promoters, Golden Boy, are desperate to find somewhere big enough to accommodate his massive following, which has even grown since losing to Floyd Mayweather last December.

But Madison Square Garden still looks the most likely stage with both Hatton and Malignaggi desperate to get it on at New York's iconic stadium.

"Every fighter dreams of Madison Square Garden," said the Hitman. "My choice would be there or Las Vegas."

The Garden holds only about 20,000 fans, while Vegas' top casinos house fewer still.

Venue

If they want to hold off competition from the likes of the Sky Dome they will be told to stump up record figures to get Hatton to sign on the dotted line.

While the venue of his next fight remains open, the identity of his opponent does not after Hatton confirmed he would face IBF champion Malignaggi in November.

The flamboyant New Yorker looked distinctly off-key in his clash withLovemore N'Dou on Saturday, which saw him break his hand and need a haircut midway through the fight.

But Malignaggi insisted he would prove he is the world's finest lightwelterweight when he comes face-to-face with Hatton later this year.

"The way Hatton looked against Lazcano, I would have beaten him when I'm healthy," he said.

"There's only one way to find out and I think the public want to know who is top.

"I'm not going to say Ricky Hatton's best days are behind him, but when I am on my game, I am better. He gets hit often and I've always seen things I could exploit."

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