Ricky Hatton’s Dream Fight: Manny Pacquiao’s Fifth Division Title Fight

The most awaited fight for this year of the Ox is already sure to happen as both fighters has already signed the contract and the formal announcement is already scheduled within the week.

This is a sigh of relief to those who are closely monitoring and following the round by round happenings in the negotiation. As one of those, I was glad and at the same time learned something about Negotiating 101.

I must admit that the decisions made during that period made me realize that the fight is considered 50 percent won by the fighters as it is signed but 100 percent won by fans like me.

By just knowing that the fight will happen brings excitement, expectation, and hope or as Larry Merchant borrowed from President Barack Obama, the Audacity of Hope.

What then is the hope I am looking forward to? Well as we all know, most boxing purist consider this match as the true Dream Match because disparity in size is almost nonexistent.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Pacquiao to use different game plan vs Hatton

Now that the agreement for the May 2 superfight has been sealed, Manny Pacquiao’s next assignment with coach Freddie Roach is to devise a strategy against British superstar Ricky Hatton.

"My trainer Freddie Roach will put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one we used against Oscar [de la Hoya]," the General Santos native said in a report posted on Mirror.co.uk.

Pacquiao, who is hailed in the Philippine’s as the "National Fist", said there are several factors to be considered when facing a deadly puncher like Hatton.

"There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher so I must deal with that in the ring," he said.

The Filipino added that he will be fighting Hatton at 140 pounds, a division he has yet to test.

These factors, Pacquiao said, will make an interesting fight.

"I always like new challenges, which is the reason I am anxious to fight Ricky Hatton… Sabik na sabik na akong bumalik sa training (I’m excited to get back in training)," said the hard-hitting southpaw.

Training starts after tour

Pacquiao said he will immediately jump back to gym once they finish the tour being scheduled by promotional outfits Top Rank and Golden Boy, which are handling the staging of the fight.

He said the formal announcement will be made in United Kingdom on the third week of February.



"Pupunta ako, kasama ng aking koponan, sa UK sa ikatlong linggo ng Pebrero mula sa Pilipinas via US... Siguradong malaking exposure ito para sa sport ng boxing (Me and me team will fly to UK on the third week of February via US… it will surely be a big exposure for the sport of boxing)," he said in his PhilBoxing.com column "Kumbinasyon.

From UK, the tour will continue in New York, Los Angeles and other US cities after the press conference in UK.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao-Hatton tickets a hot commodity

Promoters for Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton tell me that more than 14,000 tickets were sold Friday, generating about $8 million in sales. And, yes, Friday was the first day that tickets went on sale for the May 2 junior-welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said about 1,200 seats are still available in the $1,000-seat section -- the most expensive category -- and another 700 are available at $750 a pop. There are some single seats available in other price categories.

But Las Vegas typically draws a good number of Super Bowl high rollers, so Arum expects the remaining high-priced seats to be sold by the time Super Bowl XLIII ends.

"This fight will definitely be sold out," Arum said. "We're now figuring out the closed-circuit plan for Las Vegas. We knew it was a hot fight."

The sour economy, however, led promoters to drop the most expensive price from $1,500 -- as it was for Pacquiao's Dec. 6 victory over Oscar De La Hoya at the same arena -- to $1,000.

Hatton promoter Richard Schaefer described the live gate numbers as a "huge, huge success [that] shows what kind of super-fight this is shaping up to be."

Source: latimes.com

It's been emotional, says Ricky Hatton on Manny Pacquiao talks

Ricky Hatton has revealed that he experienced the full gamut of emotions from "delighted to devastated" during last week's negotiations with Manny Pacquiao over their May 2 superfight in Las Vegas.

The contest was finally secured last weekend when Pacquiao signed, ending speculation that boxing's greatest match of 2009 had imploded with the teams unable to agree terms, in spite of date, venue and television rights being in place.

Hatton, in Manchester explained his feelings for the first time since the fight was announced: "They were a very difficult few weeks. Previously we had spoken to Bob Arum [Pacquiao's promoter] and we'd agreed on the deal. I was delighted. I was jumping through hoops.

"But then with the on-off, on-off nature of last week, I was devastated. Finally it came to a head last week and I said to my dad [Ray Hatton, his manager] and my lawyer Gareth Williams that if it was not on by [last] weekend, we would have to call it off."

"I really needed to know in my mind who I was fighting because the whole family are just about to go on our annual cruise – we're off to the Caribbean – until mid February before I start a 12-week training camp with Floyd [Mayweather Sr] and Lee Beard.

"I will be speaking to Floyd shortly, but it looks like I'll go to Vegas for eight weeks this time before I fight."

Hatton, 30, who has lost only once in his 46 fight career – to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, then the world's No 1 pound-for-pound fighter – insisted that Filipino Pacquiao's rating as the best boxer in the world at present was a driving issue for him.

Hatton said: "I've challenged once for it, I'm focused, I've got my eye on the prize. I've always said it, but I don't think, at 10st, anyone in the world can bat me.

"Nor can I see this fight going 12 rounds. I'm convinced I will beat Manny."

Hatton also believes Oscar De La Hoya's condition last December added to the Filipino's gloss on the night. "I do think he boxed a shell of Oscar De La Hoya. But I don't want to take anything away from Manny.

"He is a great champion, and the only way to become a great fighter is to box great champions. It is an honour and a privilege to be sharing a ring with him."

Source: telegraph.co.uk/

Mayweather Sr. - Hatton To Knockout Pacquiao In Round One

This may be the boldest prediction so far on the much-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown May 2.

Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was quoted by a Manila-based daily which interviewed him via an overseas phone call as saying the Hitman will practically breeze through boxing's acknowledged pound-for-pound king.

"Manny Pacquiao's chances are slim. If he dosen't run, we'll get him in one," said Mayweather. "Ricky will either knock him out or give him a terrible ass whoopin'," he added.

This, of course is in stark contrast to the prediction of Freddie Roach, trainer of Manny Pacquiao, who sees a Pacquiao win via stoppage in the ninth round. "Nine is my favorite number," said Roach, who accurately predicted Pacquiao's stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya.

Mayweather's fearless forecast sends a lot of eyebrows into orbit. A Hitman KO of the Pacman in the early rounds is somewhat too drastic to imagine when you consider that the Pacman's last defeat within the distance was in the early part of his career when he was still fighting as a flyweight in the late 1990s. Since then, Pacquiao has never kissed the canvas.

Of course, expect trainers to come up with forecasts proclaiming their wards as the winner of an upcoming big fight. That, perhaps, is part of their job description. Besides, it helps in the publicity build-up for the fight.

But Mayweather's pronouncement shows his confidence in Hatton is off the charts. Could he possibly have found the magic bullet to shoot down Manny Pacquiao?

Source: bleacherreport.com

Pacquiao vs Hatton dubbed "The Battle of East and West"

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has revealed that after a two-hour conference call on marketing the May 2 showdown between Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and Britain’s IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, a title for the fight was decided on.

Arum, in a conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports said the name is a takeoff on Rudyard Kipling’s poem titled “The Ballad of East and West” and they had decided on the title “The Battle of East and West.”

Arum recited what he called “that beautiful couplet” – “When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth” which he said they would put on all the posters and other promotional material for the massive showdown.

Arum was also pleased at the unsolicited buildup given the fight by Eddie Hearn, a top executive of Matchroom Sport which is owned by his father Barry Hearn, who Arum described as “a very good friend.”

Hearn who is visiting Manila to compete in a poker tournament formally announced the staging of the PartyPoker.com World Cup of Pool from September 1-6 in Manila with 31 countries competing said “I know Ricky Hatton very well. I am a great admirer of Manny Pacquiao and I think that Manny will win the fight. He will be too strong.”

Hearn said “no matter how much money they have, which is a lot, they will never give up and they both have huge hearts. When you get two guys like that you’ll have to drag one of them out of the ring and I think Hatton will be the one to be dragged out of the ring with Pacquiao stopping him in the late rounds – 9, 10, 11.”

The Matchroom director said Hatton is not like Oscar De La Hoya who Pacquiao hammered into submission in eight rounds last December 6 . While conceding that Hatton was “not at the level of De La Hoya who is at the end of his career. Ricky has a lot left in his tank and he’s a warrior. And he’ll give it everything. I hope that Manny Pacquiao can take a punch because he will get hit in this fight.”

Source: boxingscene.com

Long training ahead for Pacquiao, Hatton

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will be training under similar weather conditions and same time zone as the two punchers will only be 300 miles apart when they enter the critical phase of their respective preparations for their scheduled May 2 brawl in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao will set up camp in the lowlands of Los Angeles in the first week of March, while Hatton will kick off the US chapter of his rigid training six or seven weeks before the fight, according to ace fight scribe Michael Rosenthal of The Ring.

Hatton’s promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) said the British bomber will be based in Las Vegas and defensive whiz Floyd Mayweather Sr. will call the shots during entire training camp period.

Both fighters have promised that they’ll start doing light training even before they head into training proper as they’ll be going on a promotional tour in London and Manchester in the United Kingdom and New York in the last week of February and Los Angeles in America in the first few days of March.

Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said the Filipino pound-for-pound king will be busy as a bee in the days leading to his departure for the promo tour.

"Manny’s going to have the baptismal of his daughter (Queen Elizabeth) on Feb. 22 here in General Santos," Koncz said.

Four days before that, Pacquiao will be conferred an honorary doctorate degree by Southwestern University in Cebu and on Feb 20, he will likely grace the awards night of the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the Manila Pavilion.

There’s going to be a slight delay in Pacquiao’s arrival at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood owing to the schedule of the tour, according to Arum, but he is not bothered by it.

"It’s just a few days," said Arum, whose outfit is staging the scheduled 12-round super-lightweight match in partnership with GBP.

Pacquiao is in Manila attending to some personal matters, according to Koncz.

Source: mb.com.ph

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton is set for May 2 in Las Vegas

Golden Boy Promotions formally announced the date that many suspected all along: Manny Paquiao will fight Ricky Hatton, for Hatton's junior welterweight title, on May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We are very excited that this fight has been made, as it is the fight fans wanted and the one I look forward to seeing myself," said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. "This fight has all the makings of a "Fight of the Year" candidate and I think Hatton will de-throne Pacquiao and become boxing's pound-for-pound king."

Interesting that Oscar is picking Hatton. I wonder why?

"I always like new challenges which is the reason I am anxious to fight Ricky Hatton," said Pacquiao. "My trainer Freddie Roach will put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one we used against Oscar (De la Hoya). There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher so I must deal with that in the ring. I promise I will be completely prepared and will do my best for all of my fans in The Philippines."

Here is the release:

LAS VEGAS, (January 28, 2009) - Two of boxing's biggest stars will meet in the ring in what could be the year's biggest pay-per-view event. Five-division world champion MANNY "Pac Man" PACQUIAO and Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight champion RICKY "The Hitman" HATTON will fight for Hatton's World Junior Welterweight Championships Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton boast a combined record of 93-4-2 (68 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton's Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions.

Tickets priced at $1000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Source: newsday.com

Hatton will praise Pacquiao skill not respond to Filipino fighter's jibe

Manny Pacquiao's assertion that Ricky Hatton is "one-dimensional" has got the juices flowing on the eve of Hatton's first public comments on the great Filipino fighter. The debate is raging after Manny wasted no time in throwing the first verbal jab out into the ether. From experience, it should be a different story from 'the little lad from a Manchester council estate' as Hatton has often self-deprecatingly referred to himself, before mocking his father's height and revealing the fear of God his own mother puts into him at home. As a sit-com, The Osbournes and the Hattons are equally entertaining.

When Hatton sits in front of the media in Manchester tomorrow, the drill will be no different. He'll crack a few jokes, probably look as if he needs to shed 10 to 12 pounds, and will be nothing other than magnanimous in giving his time to all those who make the journey to see him.

Pacman is already getting his punches in before the first bell. Along with Freddie Roach, who over four months out from the fight, is already predicting that his charge will knock Ricky out in the ninth round.

Hatton is far from "one-dimensional", and Pacquiao knows this. The fight will take place at a furious pace, but the shapes and shadows from distance make it look as if Pacquiao will have the movement advantage, as long as he stays away from being trapped on the ropes by Hatton. Worth remembering it was a very wary Pacquiao in the first five minutes of the fight against Oscar De La Hoya. It was not until Pacquiao realised into the second and third rounds, that De La Hoya was slow and his timing was gone, that he utilised great movement to punish the Mexican/American like a punchpag.


There have been arguments that Hatton may be shot as a fighter. That looks unlikely after his last outing, though Malignaggi is a light puncher.

Hatton has power, and hurtful power at 140lbs, a weight he has been at for over a decade and possesses skilful punches in the close exchanges, and is also skilled at hit and hold. I don't agree that Hatton, as one or two commentators, have remarked, is similar to David Diaz, or Juan Manuel Marquez.

Hatton, though, I understand, will be pushed even harder in his fitness regime and movement skill by Floyd Mayweather Sr for this fight. It appears that Hatton will train in two locations in America, under Mayweather, who had Hatton's conditioning spot on for his last fight. Hatton said afterwards that he couldn't believe how fresh he felt after ten rounds against Malignaggi.

Should be good to see Hatton tomorrow. All I'm expecting to be hearing from him is that he is delighted to be facing Pacman, and I'm sure Hatton will give a detailed breakdown of Pacman's skills in the ring. He is also sure to say that he will be leaving it all in the ring when they meet, given that it will be the second time in 18 months that he has had the opportunity to fight the man widely-regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in the world at present. Will he throw any verbal punches, or asides, at Manny Pacquiao. ? I doubt it, somehow. Not Hatton's style. He'll leave his venom for the ring.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Boxing experts favor Pacquiao over Hatton

Two boxing analysts believe Manny Pacquiao has enough in his arsenal to bring down Ricky Hatton in their May 2 superfight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s Top Rank coordinator, and Matchroom Sports Ltd. Managing director Eddie Hearn said in a 24 Oras report that they chose Pacquiao based on the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion’s skills.

Koncz said Pacquiao’s speed would again be a factor in the match.

"Manny’s hand speed is faster than Hatton, but more importantly, Manny’s ring presence is better. Hatton is a one-dimensional fighter, and he is going to come straight forward. And Manny is maturing as a boxer," Koncz said.

Hearn, meanwhile, believes Pacquiao will try to tire International Boxing Organization (IBO) welterweight title holder Hatton.

"Hatton will come forward, come forward, and Manny will pick him off and soak him up. (By) eight, nine, 10 rounds when Ricky is tired that is when Manny’s strength really comes through," Hearn said. "That is when he’ll push him on the back ropes and I’m not sure Ricky will going to take more."

Hearn expects an exciting match between the two fighters.

"Both fighters have huge hearts, huge courage, and huge talent," he said. "They will both come forward and be aggressive. Both fighters will never give in."

With the fight still three months away, Pacquiao is savoring his time with his family and friends before plunging into another eight weeks of hard training to prepare for his megabout against Hatton.

Pacquiao is expected to begin training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Las Vegas in March.

Source: gmanews.tv

Now That The Fight Is On For Good, Pacquiao Throws Out The First Insult - Calls Hatton "One-Dimensional"

Fight fans the world over went through a nail-biting time just recently, what with the much looked forward to Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight looking like it might not happen after all due to the much publicised purse arguments. But now, thankfully, it seems we can all rest easy and look ahead to the potential super-fight, back on as it is for its original May 2nd date..

Perceived favourite in the bout and reigning pound-for-pound king Pacquiao has wasted no time whatsoever in launching his first pre-fight verbal attack - referring in a Manila Bulletin article to Hatton as being a "one-dimensional" fighter, and one "who comes right straight at you.". Of course, this is not the first time this type of accusation has been levelled at "The Hitman," and "Pac-Man" will not be the last boxer to say it. But for anyone who was paying attention in Hatton's last fight, when he took care of the speedy (albeit not too hard hitting) Paulie Malignaggi, it was clear Hatton is no such thing. Once again, the 30-year-old Manchester man proved it is hazardous for anyone to underestimate his boxing skills.

Hatton is a fighter who enjoys coming forward and making a real fight of it, yes, but he is far from a limited slugger. Ricky is adept at cutting the ring off on his foe, making him fight his kind of inside fight, and he knows how to pace himself better than ever now. If the Filipino - who is without question the best fighter Hatton will have faced this side of the retired Floyd Mayweather Junior - really believes what he's been saying, he could be in for a nasty shock.

The southpaw's famous trainer, Freddie Roach, also stated how he feels Hatton's style of fighting is a straight ahead one, and that this will suit his fighter well - but he also added how tough a rival Hatton will be on May 2nd.

"His [Hatton] style of coming forward each time is just perfect for Manny," Roach said, before adding that, "Hatton's a very good body puncher and is very dangerous. Hatton likes to go to the body and the key for Manny is his [own] footwork. Manny should stay away from the ropes when he fights Hatton."

Without a doubt, Pacquiao will be looking to dictate the pace of the fight and keep the action in the middle of the ring while avoid being trapped on the ropes. But will the naturally smaller man be able to do so? Sure, Pacquiao looked great a weight class higher than the one he will be fighting in in May, when he shocked Oscar De La Hoya at 147. But when we consider how weight-weakened Oscar was back in December, the question of whether or not Manny has faced a real test in the form of a bigger man has to be asked.

Hatton, as fiercely strong as he is at 140-pounds, might just prove to be the boss when it comes to physical strength when the two superstars meet.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Hatton is Very Pleased at The Pacquiao Fight Being On

Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is “very pleased” the fight against Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is on and will sign the contract on Tuesday or Wednesday.

That’s the word from Hatton’s father Ray Hatton in a telephone conversation with insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports early Tuesday morning.

Hatton said “Ricky wants to fight Manny and Manny wants to fight Ricky” but when the two sides kept going back and forth over the issue of a guaranteed purse and a revenue sharing deal which Pacquiao wanted, the IBO junior welterweight champion took his mind off the fight during his entertainment tour.

Ray Hatton said the contract arrived on Monday but that lawyer Gareth Williams was on his way back to Manchester from London and “will look at it (the contract) and then Ricky will sign it probably on Tuesday or Wednesday when he’s back in town.” Hatton is currently in Plymouth.

He said a formal announcement that the fight is on will probably be made on Thursday or Friday this week.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told us that “everything is in place now” even as he disclosed that the planned promotional tour in London and Manchester, the hometown of Hatton will take place “at the end of February before he (Pacquiao” goes into training camp” set for March 1 at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

Arum said he was coming to Manila for a press conference regarding the blockbuster championship double-header he is staging at the Araneta Coliseum on March 15 in cooperation with Solar Sports but wasn’t sure of the exact date.

Hatton earlier said there’s hardly any time to fit the planned promotional tour kickoff as originally planned for January 27th in London and the 28th because of the delay in having the contract finalized.

Ray Hatton said they “go on holiday on January 30 and return in the middle of February.” We learned that there was a possibility that Pacquiao may travel to England once Hatton returns from his holiday in the middle of February which was confirmed by Arum who also told us that they planned to squeeze in US tour stops in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles before the hard training grind gets underway.

Ray Hatton recalled that Pacquiao and his family had wanted to look around London and the promotional stop would have given them a chance to do that.

Hatton himself disclosed that Ricky will “go into the gym on February 16 or 17 and will fly to Las Vegas after two weeks of training in Britain. He said Hatton would train under Floyd Mayweather Sr in Las Vegas and would surely benefit from it.

Source: boxingscene.com

Pacquiao did it for respect, period

MANILA, Philippines—No, it was not a simple case of the deal being sealed over beer.

Definitely not, protested Vice Gov. Manny Piñol of North Cotabato on how the purse tug-of-war between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and British boxer Ricky Hatton was trivialized in the media over the weekend.

“No sir!” Piñol explained in his column for www.philboxing.com.

Was it not true that confidante Wakee Salud only had to accept the dare to gulp down three bottles of beer for Pacquiao to agree?

* * *

“It was not the beer, not even the heart-to-heart talk with his promoter Bob Arum, that made Manny agree to the terms and conditions of his May 2 Las Vegas fight against Hatton,” Piñol said.

What was the real score?

“Manny got what he wanted—RESPECT. The bigger share of the purse is just secondary. These were the real reasons why he signed the contract to fight Hatton. The beer is definitely out of the question,” Piñol bared.

* * *

Piñol went on to emphasize the nobility behind Pacquiao’s firm stand which, he said, pitifully got drowned in the lighthearted articles written about the purse tug-of-war.

“Pacquiao’s dogged determination to earn the respect of boxing impressarios—called by boxing writer Michael Marley as ‘sharks in suits’—who for so long have acted like demigods, had been overlooked,” Piñol lamented.

He continued: “Well, the days when promoters would run circles around dumb, gullible fighters, sometimes not even showing them the contracts, are gone, maybe forever, thanks to what Manny Pacquiao did.”

* * *

But did Pacquiao do it only for himself?

“More than to get his deserved purse, Manny has redeemed the honor of the Filipino people by teaching them to fight for what is rightfully theirs. Pacquiao stood his ground and did not budge even when he was threatened with a fight cancellation by promoter Bob Arum,” Piñol said.

(Pacquiao had also refused to answer Arum’s repeated phone calls.)

* * *

Anyway, how much did Manny Pacquiao actually get?

“As has been reported in the media, 52 percent of the guaranteed purse, which translates to $12 million, plus the earnings in the pay-per-view. In addition, it was reported that Bob Arum coughed up an additional amount—in the vicinity of $1 million to $1.5 million—just to get Manny to affix his signature on the fight contract.”

* * *

Piñol said that, as could only be expected, some people had accused Pacquiao of being greedy.

“Is it greed when Kobe Bryant negotiates for a better deal with his team’s management, or when Tiger Woods asks for millions of dollars for product endorsements?” Piñol exclaimed.

He answers his own questions.

“They are just getting what is due them because of their talents, skills and popularity.”

* * *

In the case of Manny Pacquiao, he got the amount that he wanted and achieved even more.

Explained Piñol: “By showing stubbornness in the negotiations, by refusing to blink when the ‘sharks’ thought he would, Pacquiao proved to the whole world that the Filipino—often ridiculed in his roles as japayuki, nanny, migrant worker—can’t simply be pushed around.”

* * *

Piñol, who last year hit the Arroyo administration for forsaking the Filipino people by offering vast tracks of ancestral land to rebels, praised Pacquiao for showing the whole world “that in a nation where politicians are accused of selling their people’s interests for a few million pesos, there is a Filipino who could say no to a projected fight earnings of P1 billion simply because it is not fair.”

That is a priceless thought, Piñol concluded, powerful enough to lift the spirits and hopes of the Filipino people.

Source: inquirer.net

Ricky Hatton seals Manny Pacquiao fight deal

Ricky Hatton secured his second shot at becoming the world's best pound-for-pound fighter after his Las Vegas showdown with Manny Pacquiao was confirmed on Monday.

The Mancunian, the world's top light-welterweight, will face pound-for-pound king Pacquiao on May 2, a year and a half after losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr at the same MGM Grand venue.
Hatton believes he has the tools to shock Filipino Pacquiao, who confirmed his status as the world's leading fighter with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.
After weeks of protracted negotiations surrounding Pacquiao's increased financial demands, the fight will now go ahead and a press conference will be held on Thursday to officially announce the contest.
Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams said he was is in possession of the contract, which Hatton would sign as soon as it had been checked.
Williams said Hatton had yet to sign the contract – purely because of logistics with Williams being in London on Monday – but said: "It won't be a problem and we'll announce the fight at a press conference on Thursday. All the pressure is off now."
The deal follows weeks of uncertainty after it emerged Pacquiao wanted to renegotiate financial terms despite having agreed a 50-50 split before Christmas.
Williams said on Thursday that the fight was "dead in the water" for the time being, but admitted the appearance of a signed contract would force them to reconsider.
Yet Pacquiao's promoters Top Rank declared on Friday the fight was back on after Pacquiao agreed late last week to share the proceeds equally with the Mancunian.
Hatton's American promoters, Golden Boy, had begun early negotiations with possible alternative opponents Oscar De La Hoya and Mayweather, but the 'Hitman' has now secured the fight he really wanted after stopping Paulie Malignaggi in November.
Pacquiao, who, like Hatton, is 30, is officially a four-weight world champion having won titles at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight. But he beat Marco Antonio Barrera at featherweight in 2003 and De La Hoya at welterweight before Christmas in non-title contests which earned him huge respect within the sport.
Hatton's nominal IBO light-welterweight title, as well as the more meaningful but unofficial Ring Magazine belt, will be on the line against Pacquiao.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Latest Manny Pacquiao Hightlight Video

One of the best fan made Manny Pacquiao video.

Don’t look past Hatton

LATEST report is that the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight is finally, officially, unequivocally on and will be held on May 2 at the MGA Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Pacquiao fights a dangerous opponent in Hatton, who has won 45 of 46 bouts, 32 by knockout. Hatton’s only loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who knocked out the British champion on Dec. 8, 2007, coincidentally also at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Pacquiao-Hatton is actually a better match than the much-ballyhooed, but ultimately disappointing Pacquiao versus Oscar de la Hoya bout. Pacquiao and Hatton are both 5 feet 6 inches tall. Both are 30 years old. And most importantly, both are in the absolute peak of their careers.

Despite all the hype and hoopla, De la Hoya was probably just an empty shell of the legendary boxer he was by the time he fought Pacquiao.

After his demolition of De la Hoya, Pacquiao is rightfully considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He is idolized in his home country, where everything comes to a standstill when he fights.

After his destruction of Paulie Malignaggi, Hatton is just as highly regarded in boxing circles. He is also just as popular in his home country in England, where he boasts that he could bring 100,000 people to watch him fight at Wembley Stadium.

Hatton’s nickname is “The Hitman.” But if you’ve seen him fight, the more apt moniker would be “British Bulldog.”

This guy is a pitbull, who comes forward relentlessly, throwing multiple punches while doing so. His only defeat was at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. who knocked him out in the 10th round. But even in that fight, up until that knockout, Hatton certainly gave Mayweather Jr. all he could handle and more.

Pacquiao can absolutely beat Hatton. But only if he listens to his trainer Freddie Roach; prepares as hard as he could against Hatton and fights a smart fight like he fought against David Diaz and against De la Hoya.

In both fights, Pacquiao kept his opponent at bay with a constant barrage of stinging jabs, straights and hooks; moved not only backward and forward but also side-to-side to reduce the punching power of his opponents with the angles he presented them; and most importantly kept his hands up to defend against counter-punches.

Pacquiao was patient throughout, kept to his game plan and won convincingly. Most importantly, he banished all distractions before fighting De la Hoya and just focused on preparing to beat him. If he listens to Roach again, doesn’t lose his cool and prepares just as hard, then he could beat Hatton.

* * *

The worst thing that Pacquiao could do is to look past Hatton and think of future bouts perhaps against Sugar Shane Mosley, who essayed the sweetest victory of his career when he scored a ninth-round knockout over Antonio Margarito of Mexico to win the World Boxing Association welterweight title before nearly 29,000 fans at the famed Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Welterweight is already within Pacquiao’s weight range and how difficult would it be for Pacquiao to put on just a few more pounds to challenge Mosley? In fact, boxing promoters, pundits and boxing fans in general are already salivating at the prospect of a Mosley-Pacquiao bout.

But again a word of caution for Pacquiao. He will be fighting a fighter in the prime of his career in Hatton. He won’t be fighting someone already well on the sunset of his career like De la Hoya was in their bout. It would do well for Pacquiao not to look past Hatton and just focus on preparing for what may well be the fight of his life.

* * *

If you want to find out how I sound like, please tune in to the KBP Golden Dove Best Sports Program on the radio, MBC Sports Center, 6:30 to 7 p.m., Sunday, over the no. 1 radio station in the country dzRH, 666 on your AM dial. And for comments, questions and other non-violent reactions, please send your e-mail to reuelvidal@yahoo.com or reuelvidal@gmail.com.

Source: manilastandardtoday.com

Pacquiao to spar with brod’s ‘killer’

More than a month before his prized pupil shows up for training, Freddie Roach has already called on a pair of Mexican-American fighters to spar with Manny Pacquiao, including a brawler who knocked out the Filipino’s younger brother Bobby.

"Yeah, the guy who beat up Bobby," said American tr ainer Freddie Roach, referring to the undefeated Urbano Antillon.

Antillon, who has won all his 25 fights, 18 of them by knockout, is best remembered by hard-core fight fans as the crew-cut body puncher who knocked out the younger Pacquiao in less than a round in March last year.

The other fighter being called to show up at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood sometime in the third or fourth week of March is David Rodela.

Pacquiao is set to start training on March 1 for his May 2 clash with British superstar Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"These guys throw lots of punches like Hatton," said Roach who is expected to bring two more guys in the weeks that will follow.

Rodela has sparred with Pacquiao many times in the past but the addition of the heavy-handed Antillon in training camp could make the workouts even more intense.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao will embark on a whirlwind tour of England in late-February to promote the Hatton bout with Top Rank and Hatton’s promoter Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) making stops in London and Hatton’s hometown of Manchester.

From the United Kingdom, the fighters, members of their teams and the promoters will cross the pond to New York for the kickoff point of the US tour.

Bob Arum’s Top Rank is the lead promoter but the Oscar De La Hoya-owned GBP will also lend a helping hand in the promotional chores.

Source: mb.com.ph

Ricky Hatton's superfight with Manny Pacquiao to be confirmed

The superfight of 2009 between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao is expected to be officially confirmed today.

The jockeying for fiscal position between both camps ground to a halt late last week, but platitudes began again to ring out on both sides over the weekend.

Across the Pacific and the Atlantic, there is now accord that the fight will take place on May 2, in Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and at light-welterweight (140lbs). As yet, a belt is not on the line, but expect the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) to put their gong up for grabs.

In reality, the belt does not mean anything. Hatton is widely regarded as the 140lb world king, and Pacquiao is fighting at the weight for the first time.

Gareth Williams, Hatton's legal counsel told Telegraph Sport last weekend that the super-fight with Pacquiao is "99 per cent certain to take place" and that he had had assurances from Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, Hatton's US representative, that a signed contract from Manny Pacquiao was "in his possession". A clear change of tune, moreover, from the "series of false promises" he had angrily declared only days earlier.

Hatton has yet to enter training camp, having been on a stand-up tour on which he tells jokes about his family and his life.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, according to sources in the Philippines, has been "relaxing with close friends" enjoying a round of golf at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong. Pacquiao is expected to leave with wife Jinkee and their newborn baby girl 'Queen Elizabeth' for their hometown of General Santos City on this morning's Philippine Airlines flight.

Pacquiao is due to report to trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym on March 1 after he kicks-off a promotional tour late February which will take him to London and Manchester, Hatton's manor.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao officially signs contract of May 2 fight vs Hatton

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao officially signed the contract Friday night for his most-anticipated battle against England's most famous boxer, Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao confirmed the news to ABS-CBN correspondent Dyan Castillejo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where he fetched his wife, Jinky, and fourth child, Baby Queenie, on Saturday morning.

Castillejo said that according to Pacquiao, the contract has been passed on to Bob Arum of Top Rank. The contract was expected to reach England on Saturday.

Castillejo also reported over radio dzMM that the latest agreement was to hold the action packed face-off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

She said Pacquiao will train for eight weeks for the big fight starting March. Before the rigorous training in the United States, she said Pacquiao and Hatton will hold separate press conferences in February in England and US.

According to Castillejo, Pacquiao will train harder for the equally aggressive Hatton. She said Pacquiao told her that he would have to watch out for Hatton's deadly left hook.

Pacquiao will be entering a new territory when he faces Hatton, who is considered the king of the 140-lbs division. He will have to go down to Hatton's turf from 147 lbs.

Pacquiao was the first Filipino to win in three divisions in a single year. He defeated Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 lbs and then David Diaz at 135 lbs.

The Filipino boxer's last victory, and according to him the sweetest in his career, was the historic fight against boxing legend Oscar dela Hoya. He beat the Golden Boy at 147 lbs.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Times' online edition reported that Arum has confirmed that he has in his possession the Pacquiao-signed contract.

The report said Arum had confirmed Pacquiao agreed to a 52-48 split in his favor and a $12 million guaranteed purse.

Three bottles of beer

A PhilBoxing.com report said Friday that Pacquiao was convinced by long-time buddy Rex Salud to sign the contract after a dare over three bottles of beer.

The report said that according to Salud, Pacquiao told him he will agree to sign the contract only after he downed three bottles of beer.

Salud, who is not a drinker, downed the three bottles of beer because he is one of the millions of Filipino boxing enthusiasts who want to see Pacquiao slug it out with Hatton.

On Wednesday, Pacquiao failed to meet the 6 p.m. deadline set by Hatton's camp. Pacquiao reportedly wanted a bigger guaranteed purse.

Franklin "Jeng" Gacal, Pacquiao's lawyer, said the decision was not about money, but principle. He said Pacquiao wanted a little respect from Hatton's camp in the negotiating table.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Manny Pacquiao's signed contract now in Bob Arum's hands

Bob Arum called The Times this morning to say that Manny Pacquiao has delivered a signed contract agreeing to fight Ricky Hatton May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, ending turbulent negotiations that had Hatton effectively calling off the fight as recently as Wednesday.

Arum confirmed Pacquiao will receive 52% of the purse, with $12 million guaranteed and more possible based on pay-per-view sales.

Source: latimes.com

Manny Pacquiao to fight Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas

Manny Pacquiao has cleared the way for a superfight with Ricky Hatton after signing a contract with the bout's organiser.

The popular British fighter and the pound-for-pound king from the Philippines will fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden in easily the year's biggest bout — one that appeared scuttled earlier in the week when Pacquiao refused to accept terms already agreed to by his promoter.

Pacquiao, who was coming off an easy win over Oscar De La Hoya last month, signed and faxed his bout contract to the headquarters of promoter Top Rank in Las Vegas on Friday.

The 12-round junior welterweight fight was expected to be a sellout, Top Rank spokesman Lee Samuels told The Associated Press.

"Manny Pacquiao is the most exciting, charismatic athlete in the world today. He has millions of fans worldwide," Top Rank chief Bob Arum said from Los Angeles, where he was promoting Saturday's welterweight title fight between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley.

"Now he has a new challenge in facing a champion in Ricky Hatton."

Pacquiao has won his last nine fights and captured a lightweight belt from David Diaz last summer. His enormous following extends from his home country to Las Vegas, which has become like a second home. Still, it's Hatton who was expected to bring the money.

Besides the audience that will tune in overseas, Hatton brought thousands of chanting, singing British fans to the United States for two of his last three fights, an easy win over Paul Malignaggi in November and his only career loss, a 10th-round knockout by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in December 2007.

The original agreement was for Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) and Hatton to split their shares 50-50, with Pacquiao having a $12 million guarantee. Then Pacquiao demanded a bigger percentage, and a new agreement called for him to get a 52-48 split.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Shaefer, who represents Hatton, had said on Wednesday that he was canceling a worldwide media tour and even began tossing out alternative opponents for Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), but left open the possibility the fight would happen if Pacquiao returned to the table before another opponent was found.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Hatton Fight Is Officially On, Says Pacquiao

After all the negotiating, haggling and posturing, the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight is officially on!

"The fight is definitely on," Pacquiao said in a phone interview with a lady sports reporter on a popular Manila radio station aired just minutes ago.

Pacquiao said he had just gotten off the phone with promoter Bob Arum. He said further that he is contented with the new terms of the fight.



Let's just hope it ends here.

Coming straight from the Pacman's mouth, this statement is certainly more credible than anything his coterie of advisers would say.

Fans of the sweet science, start marking off the days on your calendar leading up to May 2. This is one fight that will be worth the drama and hype.

Unless the Hitman comes up with something as potent as, lets say a sledge-hammer, I see him succumbing to the Pacman's speed by the 9th round.

Source: bleacherreport.com

Pacquiao keeps mum on details of Hatton fight

Manny Pacquiao can now instruct his trainer, Freddie Roach, to begin mapping out a game plan against British boxer Ricky Hatton.

This came after both camps finally came to their senses and agreed to save the superfight that could bring in huge profits for both boxers.

However, Pacquiao, in an interview with GMANews.TV Friday afternoon, remains mum when asked about the details of the mega-bucks deal.

“Masaya ako at tuloy na ang laban. Nagkasundo na kami sa negotiations hanggang duon na lang at ayaw ko nang pag usapan ang nangyaring negosasyon. [I am glad that the fight will push through. We already reached an agreement and I don’t want to discuss the details of the negotiation]," Pacquiao said.

He added he would let his promoter, Bob Arum, do the talking when the Top Rank boss at a press conference set for Jan. 28 to formally announce the May 2 mega event.

"All I can say is the contract is favorable to me," Pacquiao said. "Now, all I have to do is to focus on training. And I hope the result of the match would be the same when I fought Oscar De La Hoya last December."

A few days ago, the Pacquiao-Hatton fight was given up for dead after both camps couldn't agree on the revenue split.

But a few months from now, Las Vegas is expected to spring back in to action on May 2 for the year’s biggest attraction. The MGM Grand, where Pacquiao did his eighth-round demolition of De La Hoya, is being eyed as the venue for the fight.

Pacquiao said he wants to start training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Las Vegas either by the middle or last week of February.

"I want another eight-week training to prepare for the fight. I want to train hard the same way when I trained against Oscar," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao would have tried to get a bout with the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., Edwin Valero, or Humberto Sotto if his fight against Hatton had not pushed through.

Pacquiao’s camp, however, began talking with Mayweather’s group when negotiations with the Hatton fight reached an impasse.

"We have been talking with Mayweather’s camp," he said. "But when we already reached an agreement with Hatton we formally informed them and thanked them for talking with us." –

Source: gmanews.tv

Pacquiao-Hatton bout may be back on

A day after the fight was supposed to be dead, Filipino champion says he has signed a contract.

The long wait for Manny Pacquiao's signature on a contract to fight England's Ricky Hatton is over, Pacquiao's promoter said late Thursday, a move likely to resurrect a May 2 junior-welterweight bout in Las Vegas that was declared all but dead by Hatton one day earlier.

"Manny has assured me he's signed the contract, that he's announcing to the Philippines press that he's signed it, and that everything's done," Arum said Thursday night.

Pacquiao advisors have told reporters in the Philippines that the boxer has received a 52-48 split of the purse percentage, and a guaranteed purse of $12 million, figures Arum has declined to confirm.

Arum, in Los Angeles to oversee Saturday's Antonio-Margarito-Shane Mosley welterweight title fight Saturday at Staples Center, said he wouldn't see the faxed and e-mailed proof of signing until Friday morning, when an attorney for Arum's Top Rank promotions in Las Vegas will review the contract before it's faxed to Hatton's promoter, Richard Schaefer, in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, Hatton (45-1, 32 knockouts) instructed Schaefer to end negotiations with Pacquiao and turn his attention to other opponents, such as Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather Jr., for a fight in London. But due to Pacquiao's quick change of heart, a deal appears imminent -- as long as Pacquiao's signature is on the contract.

Schaefer, who has been waiting for Pacquiao to sign the deal since late December, said he won't even contact the Hatton camp about the latest twist in an unpredictable negotiation until he sees Pacquiao has signed the contract.

After Hatton's Wednesday pronouncement, Pacquiao released an early-morning Thursday statement urging Hatton to cut out the "middlemen," and "get it on."

Later Thursday, Arum told The Times he was prepared to board a Sunday night flight to Manila to show Pacquiao the respect he deserved as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter and to secure the signed contract in person.

But Pacquiao, whose camp had complained about a previous oral agreement to a 50-50 split of the purse even though it would give the Filipino icon the largest payday of his career, ultimately allowed Arum to avoid the Pacific-crossing flight by telling him the signed deal was on its way.

Arum said he's confident the signed deal will convince Hatton to accept the fight.

Source: latimes.com

Ricky Hatton wants hard proof that Manny Pacquiao fight could be back on

Ricky Hatton's team "will wait for the physical evidence of a signed contract", in the words of the fighter's legal counsel, after a veiled announcement from The Philippines that the showdown with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas could be back on.

The statement from one of Pacquiao's confidants came just 24 hours after the superfight was derailed by disagreements over the division of revenue from the fight.

However, overnight there were suggestions that Pacquiao is "ready to sign". There still appear to be discrepancies in the views of the opposing legal teams, though.

The Telegraph understands that there have been talks, by telephone, between Williams and Pacquiao's lawyer, Franklin Gacal, in the last 12 hours, with Gacal still suggesting a 60-40 split, though Hatton's team are refusing to budge from their 50-50 stance on the spoils of war.

"We'll wait for the physical evidence of a signed contract before getting excited," Williams told Telegraph Sport. "Why get excited now? We've been hearing the same thing every day for over three weeks."

That physical evidence is unlikely to be on the table before Tuesday next week. There was also optimistic news from another source, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, who will depart for the Philippines on Sunday in a bid to get his fighter to sign a contract for the bout, according to Arum publicist Bill Caplan.

Caplan revealed Arum was "very optimistic" the contest, which was set to take place in Las Vegas on May 2, will still take place.

Arum is involved in the Antonio Margarito v Shane Mosley contest in the United States on Saturday, and will then head to South-East Asia.

"On Sunday Bob is getting on a plane to the Philippines and he will be there on Tuesday morning for a meeting with Manny Pacquiao," said Caplan.

"He hopes to sign him to a contract on Tuesday and if that goes well they will have a press conference on Wednesday - Tuesday in the UK.

"My boss Bob Arum is very optimistic. That's why after a fight week in LA and a lot of work he is hopping on a plane to the Philippines. He is very optimistic."

The final twists and turns in this on-off saga will culminate with pen and parchment early next week.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao vs. Hatton back on, Arum says

The proposed megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, called off a day earlier, appeared to be back on late Thursday after Pacquiao signed a deal for the May 2 junior welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden.

Pacquiao apparently changed his mind after talking to his promoter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

An agreement reached last month called for a 50-50 split of the revenue between the fighters, but Pacquiao refused to sign, demanding a bigger cut. The deal was amended to pay Pacquiao 52 percent and Hatton 48 percent.

"Manny called me Thursday evening and said he had signed the contract and was faxing it to my (Las Vegas) office. I hadn't been able to talk to Manny. But once I did, I was able to make him an offer he couldn't refuse," Arum said from Los Angeles, where he is promoting Saturday's welterweight title fight between Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley.

Arum told Richard Schaefer, the chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Hatton, that Pacquiao reconsidered and accepted the new offer. However, Schaefer is waiting to see the signed contract before he calls Hatton in Manchester, England, to let him know the fight is officially back on.

"Bob told me he should have a signed copy of the contract when his office opens (today)," Schaefer said Thursday. "I said, 'That's great,' but I can't call the Hattons until I know there's a signed deal. I trust Bob, but after everything we've been through with this fight, I'll believe it when I see it."

Pacquiao stands to have the biggest payday of his career. His purse for his knockout win over Oscar De La Hoya last month at the MGM was $6.6 million.

"When it's all said and done, Manny could make $20 million for this fight," Arum said."He's very happy."

Thursday started acrimoniously as Pacquiao released a statement blasting Schaefer for criticizing him after the fight was called off.

But later in the day, Arum spoke to Pacquiao in the Philippines. Once he told Pacquiao of the changes in the original deal that would give him a higher percentage of the pay-per-view revenue in the Philippines, Pacquiao said he would sign.

"Arum and I came up with a creative solution that will satisfy both fighters," Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he wished Pacquiao had sent the faxed contract to his Los Angeles office, then he could have made the call to Hatton's father and manager, Ray.

"I'm not going to call Ray Hatton in the middle of the night and tell him the fight's on, and when he asks me if there's a signed contract, I'd have to tell him no and he'd hang up on me," Schaefer said.

Source: lvrj.com

New Hope For Hatton/Pacquiao

Ricky Hatton's showdown with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in May could be back on, just a day after it looked to have been scuppered by a row over money.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum will fly to the Philippines this weekend in a bid to get his fighter to sign a contract for the bout, according to his publicist Bill Caplan.

And Caplan revealed Arum was "very optimistic" the contest, which was set to take place in Las Vegas on May 2, will still take place.

He told Radio Five Live: "Speaking for Bob Arum this is his plan. We have a big fight here between (Antonio) Margarito and (Sugar Shane) Mosley (on Saturday).

"On Sunday Bob is getting on a plane to the Philippines and he will be there on Tuesday morning for a meeting with Manny Pacquiao.

"He hopes to sign him to a contract on Tuesday and if that goes well they will have a press conference on Wednesday - Tuesday in the UK.

"My boss Bob Arum is very optimistic. That's why after a fight week in LA and a lot of work he is hopping on a plane to the Philippines. He is very optimistic."

A row over money had looked to have scuppered what would have been a highly lucrative clash for both fighters, with Hatton's camp becoming disillusioned by Pacquiao's claims and walking away from the negotiating table.

The fighters had agreed before Christmas to split the purse equally but it emerged earlier this month that the Filipino superstar was demanding 60%.

Hatton's lawyer Gareth Williams said on Thursday that the fight was "dead in the water" and revealed early negotiations were under way with Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

Pacquiao agrees to 52-48 split to fight Hatton, but not in time to avoid hostility

Manny Pacquiao reportedly has signed a deal to fight Ricky Hatton after all, ending a week of rancor that included a scathing news release Pacquiao issued barely 12 hours before agreeing to a deal.

Promoter Bob Arum told writer Michael Marley (who used to work for Don King and knows this business better than I) that Pacquiao is accepting the 52-48 split he had rejected two days earlier, and that the signed contract would reach Arum in Las Vegas on Friday.

Hatton’s promoter, Golden Boy Promotions and Arum’s Top Rank seemingly had agreed to a 50/50 purse split for the proposed May 2 junior welterweight title bout with Hatton, but they either did so without Pacquiao’s approval, or else Pacquiao changed his mind. Either way, Pacquiao sent word through his attorneys demanding a 60/40 split, after which he rejected a 52/48 compromise. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer ultimately set a Wednesday deadline for Pacquiao’s approval of the proceedings, which passed with the contract unsigned.

Pacquiao, who had been inaccessible to Arum and to trainer Freddie Roach during the dispute, released the scathing statement Thursday from the Philippines through his Los Angeles-based spokesman Winchell Campos. It blamed “undue pressure” from Richard Schaefer, for engendering his hostility to the negotiations. Much of the bad blood stems from the 32/68 split Pacquiao and Arum accepted from Schaefer and Golden Boy for the Dec. 6 bout with Oscar De La Hoya, which Pacquiao won unexpectedly one-sidedly.

So Pacquiao, having settled for the short end, deserved respect this time, and he finally got it, although it seems to me he got it in time for Wednesday’s deadline.

By waiting until Friday to come around, Pacquiao needlessly spread a lot of hostility in the bargain.

Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao tells Arum signed contract on the way

In the latest, unexpected turn in an unpredictable negotiation, Manny Pacquiao's representatives told the boxer's promoter, Bob Arum, that Pacquiao's signature on a contract to fight Ricky Hatton will be faxed and e-mailed tonight to Arum's Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas.

"Manny has assured me he's signed the contract, that he's announcing to the Philippines press that he's signed it, and that everything's done," Arum told The Times Thursday night.

A day after Hatton tired of repeated Pacquiao signing delays and instructed his promoter, Richard Schaefer, to pull out of the fight and look for other opponents, Pacquiao released an early morning Thursday statement urging Hatton to cut out the "middlemen," and "get it on."

Later Thursday, Arum told The Times' Bill Dwyre he was prepared to board a Sunday night flight to Manila to show Pacquiao the respect he deserved as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter and to secure the signed contract.

But Pacquiao, whose camp had complained about a 50-50 split of the purse even though it would give the boxer the largest pay day of his career, ultimately allowed Arum to avoid the Pacific-crossing flight by telling him a signed deal was on its way.

Schaefer said tonight that he wasn't going to contact the Hatton camp about Pacquiao's signed contract until he sees it for himself Friday morning.

Arum said he's confident the signed deal will convince Hatton to accept the junior-welterweight fight, which is to be fought May 2 in Las Vegas.

Source: latimes.com

Pacquiao-Hatton super fight on again

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines said on Friday he has agreed to fight fellow boxing superstar Ricky Hatton of Britain, two days after walking out on the May 2 deal over a dispute on the megabucks purse.

“The world is looking forward to it, so the fight is on,” the World Boxing Council lightweight champion said over local radio.

“I have spoken to Bob Arum,” the “Pacman” said, referring to the US promoter who handled his side of the fight negotiations.

However he would not discuss the agreed terms.

Filipino sports website Philboxing.com quoted Pacquiao confidante Rex Salud as saying the Filipino superstar accepted a guaranteed $US12 million-dollar purse and a 52-48 split in the prize money in his favour.

The much-anticipated fight will take place in Las Vegas on May 2 as earlier scheduled, the report said.

The match had been called off on Wednesday after Pacquiao, who sent US boxing golden boy Oscar de la Hoya into retirement in a lopsided Las Vegas non-title bout last month, refused to sign a contract for a 50-50 split of revenues from the fight.

The spurned contract supposedly assured the Asian superstar, a four-time world champion in several weight divisions, of between $US10 million and $US12 million dollars.

Source: thewest.com.au

News BREAKING NEWS: PACQUIAO ACCEPTS EXISTING OFFER TO FIGHT HATTON

After a long night and as the sun glimmers in the Philippines' eastern sky Friday, Pacquiao has finally gave the nod to his team to accept the existing offer from the Hatton camp to maybe finally seal the May 2 Pacquiao-Hatton superfight at MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his team are currently in Manila.

Pacquiao friend and confidant Rex 'Wakee' Salud informed PhilBoxing about the good news. The final financial deal is a 12 million dollar guarantee for Pacquiao and 52-48 PPV share in Pacquiao's favor.

The negotiation has been derailed after Pacquiao demanded a 60-40 PPV sharing in his favor from a 50-50 sharing being stipulated in the original contract. The Hatton camp countered with a 52-48 sharing in Pacquiao's favor and gave Pacquiao a Wednesday deadline to sign the contract. The fight has been called off as of yesterday when Pacquiao refused to budge as both parties issued statements blaming each other for the failed negotiation.

Over 3 bottles of beer
Pacquiao, whose playful antics would create joy and difficulty in his inner circle and this time reverberated into the boxing world by playing hard to get in the negotiation table, told Salud, who does not drink, that he would accept the contract only if Salud will down three bottles of beer. Salud, who had been trying to convince Pacquiao for days to sign the contract, was forced to drink this time around in order for the deal to be consummated.

Salud also informed that Arum was elated to hear the news that Pacquiao finally accepts the deal and that Arum may even come to the Philippines to do the press conference.

The Pacquiao-Hatton superfight on May 2 in Las Vegas is the year's most anticipated fight and is expected to sell out gate and short circuit tickets and break PPV records.

Source: philboxing.com

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton superfight 'off' as Filipino refuses deal

The superfight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Britain’s own local hero, Mancunian Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is off – according to sources both from within the Hatton camp and across The Atlantic, unless the camps can agree on a deal by the end of Wednesday.

Veteran promoter Bob Arum insists he has been mystified by events of the last ten days.

It appears that an impasse has been reached over the split of the spoils from the fight, expected to generate £40 million, although there has not been a single word on the deal from either fighter for weeks. Both pugilists are known to want to meet each other in the fistic square, in Las Vegas, on May 2.

It is understood that if matters are not resolved today, a news conference announcing the fight is off will be called for Thursday morning in the UK.

A Hatton camp insider told Telegraph Sport on Wednesday morning: “It really does look like it is off.”

Meanwhile, Top Rank promoter Arum, also told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports in the Philippines on Wednesday morning that “Hatton’s people have been very patient. They have told (Richard) Schaefer [Hatton’s US handler and the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions] that tomorrow morning (London Time) they are calling a press conference announcing that they are calling off the fight.”

Arum has told Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal that he “has to have a signed copy of the contract by 6:00 p.m. Manila Time. If I don’t have it faxed to my house I can’t prevent these people from pulling the plug.”

It appears that Arum has budged Hatton’s negotiators from 50-50 to 52-48 on the deal in favour of the Filipino, and has raised Pacquiao’s purse to $11 million, but it appears Arum is mystified as to why the deal is not now going to completion.

Arum said: “I don’t know what these people want anymore. If it won’t happen, it won’t happen. I have no idea what Plan B is.”

By all accounts, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is also irked that he has not been able to contact Pacquiao. Roach believes Pacquiao should fight Hatton – and that he will knock him out.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Report: Pacquiao decision expected Friday

MANILA, Philippines – The planned May 2 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton would push through after all, this was according to a spokesman for Top Rank big boss Bob Arum.

According to The Guardian’s online edition, the week-long deadlock about the revenue split has been resolved and Arum expects Pacquiao to make an official announcement by Friday to confirm that his fight against the British boxer would take place in Las Vegas.

No other details were disclosed but the Filipino boxing icon, who cemented his status as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, is likely to agree on the 52-48 revenue split also proposed by Arum.

GMANews.TV tried to get Pacquiao’s comment but he did not answer or return our calls.

Pacquiao has earlier indicated that he won’t fight Hatton unless the revenue split made in his favor. He has been demanding a 60-40 split from the total proceeds of the total revenue purse since he further gained world recognition after his eighth round win against Oscar De La Hoya last year.

Hatton’s camp, however, wanted a 50-50 sharing deal after already reaching a verbal agreement with Arum.

Arum has suggested a 52-48 split favoring Pacquiao, who is expected to rake in between $20 to 40 million depending on the draw of pay-per-view television audience.

Ray Hatton, Ricky’s father and manager, has threatened to drop out of the fight if Pacquiao would insist on the 60-40 split. He added that he could arrange another super-fight for his son, a match that could also draw a huge crowd.

Two of the venues being eyed for the Pacquiao-Hatton fight are the MGM Grand Garden or the Thomas Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is expected to watch Antonio Margarito defend his World Boxing Association welterweight title against “Sugar" Shane Mosley on January 23 in Los Angeles.

Source: gmanews.tv

Comparing Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton as they squabble over May 2 purse split

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton have been squabbling over the splits for their proposed May 2 junior welterweight match, attracting more attention in recent days than this weekend’s Antonio Margarito-Shane Mosley bout.

With Pacquiao trying to stretch what promoter Bob Arum has been confirming was a 50/50 agreement to 60/40, efforts to resolve the squabble are engendering arguments over which guy brings more to the table. I can’t pass up the excuse to weigh in on that, regardless of how the proceeds ought to be distributed.

Manny Pacquiao has beaten Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales (twice) and Oscar De La Hoya. Ricky Hatton has beaten Kostya Tszyu. Pacquiao has accomplished much more.

I’ve come to like Hatton. Smart and underrated, he’s more than a brawling lout. He’s the best 140-pounder of the past five years or so, and he brings the IBO junior welterweight belt at stake into the equation. He also brings throngs of colorful, enthusiastic Britons. Their spending power may exceed that of Pacquiao’s legendary legions of fanatics.

I wouldn’t count on it, though. Filipinos are way more into boxing than Britons. Way more. Furthermore, Pacquiao is by any measure the bigger star in the rest of the world. Pacquiao has not proven to be a mega-draw for pay-per-view bouts, but who else makes Hatton worthy of pay-per-view? Manny’s victory over De La Hoya probably boosted his clout a lot more than Hatton’s allure was enhanced by his pay-per-view loss to Floyd Mayweather.

All that having been said, I hope Manny accepts the 50/50 deal. And, after he beats Hatton and they’re dickering with Mayweather, I hope he finds some way to take it out of Bob Arum’s hide.

Source: examiner.com

Brian’s Boxing Mailbag (Discussing the Ricky Hatton/Manny Pacquiao Split)

At first I was on Manny’s side with this revenue split issue but then I learned more about the situation. In all honesty, Pacquiao should go after whichever fight nets him the most money. He shouldn't worry about who gets what percentage. That is up to the managers and promoters to hash out. I like the fighting mentality of guys like Jose Luis Castillo and Glen Johnson who don't worry about the nickels and dimes and just go out and make the best available fights. Pacquiao used to have that mentality but perhaps this win over De La Hoya has gone to his head.

With the facts coming out that Pacquiao had an agreement to receive half of the UK PPV revenue, he was set to make more money than if the purse split was 60/40. That is a really sweet deal! Bob Arum really went to bat for Pacquiao and got him a sweet deal and now Pacquiao is making him look like a fool! At the beginning of the week I thought Pacquiao was being reasonable in asking for 60 percent, but after learning that he had a cut of the UK money I felt the total opposite. The UK money is huge and had 100% gone to Hatton in the past, even against Mayweather. Pacquiao refusing this fight against Hatton would not be because of money; it would be because of pride. He does not want to share the same official purse size as Hatton because he feels that he is the more marketable guy.

There is not a more desirable opponent for Manny than Hatton for his next fight. Floyd Mayweather probably won't be ready to fight Pacquiao until at least very late 2009. Someone like Valero, Marquez, or Nate Campbell would be nice, but Hatton makes the most sense. I hope they settle the negotiations because I want to see Pacquiao vs. Hatton.

As for Juan Diaz vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, I like Diaz. He is a workhorse and with youth on his side I see him out-hustling and overwhelming the defense of Marquez. It will be a good one and very competitive but I see Baby Bull coming out on top. The size advantage will be just enough to allow him to absorb the counter punches without problem.

Source: ringsidereport.com

Hatton-Pacquiao fight 'back on' says promoter

After more than a week of uncertainty over whether the proposed super-fight between Ricky Hatton and Manny ­Pacquiao would go ahead, a spokesman for veteran promoter Bob Arum said tonight that the contest was back on and he was expecting an official announcement to be made on Friday confirming that it would be staged in Las Vegas on 2 May.

No more details were revealed, but it seems likely that Pacquiao – now regarded by many as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter after his brilliant victory over Oscar De La Hoya – has accepted a compromise settlement over his demand for a 60-40 split of total purse revenue for the event.

Arum had originally agreed a 50-50 split between Pacquiao and Hatton with Hatton's promoters Golden Boy, but Pacquiao was adamant he would not go ahead with the contest if he was not recognised as the principle draw. Similarly, Hatton's advisers initially refused to back down from what they believed was a binding verbal agreement for parity of payment.

Some sources were suggesting tonightthat a final 52-48 split might have been made, with Pacquiao receiving marginally the larger share of a combined purse that could be between $20-40m, depending on how enthusiastically the pay-per-view television audience.

The Hatton camp may have hastened the agreement by what seemed a genuine threat "to pull the plug on the fight", as Arum put it, and stage an open air contest against another opponent in front of an 80,000 crowd at an alternative venue.Wembley had been ruled out because of its cost and the difficulty of gaining permission for a show to go past midnight, which would have been essential for US television, and Dublin's Croke Park was understood to have become the preferred option.

The fight is now expected to be staged either at the MGM Grand Garden or the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, and the pre-fight hype will be stepped up at the weekend when Pacquiao is expected to be at ringside to watch Antonio Margarito defend the WBA world welterweight title against 'Sugar' Shane Mosley in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the twice former WBO world heavyweight champion Herbie Hide, 37, will fight the American Matt Godfrey in a final eliminator for the WBC cruiserweight title in Cuxhaven, Germany, on 6 March.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Pacquiao adamant on demand for bigger prize share

Unless Ricky Hatton decides to make a slight alteration in the lyrics, Manny Pacquiao will continue to sing the same old tune and would not bother to look the other way, and would probably just opt to shop for a new opponent.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal said yesterday that Top Rank boss Bob Arum has been trying to save the Filipino boxing hero’s super-lightweight match against the British slugger, already scheduled for May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, from being scrapped.

Despite Arum’s efforts to find a way to please Pacquiao, widely recognized as the current flag carrier of boxing, the Filipino star remains steadfast in his stand that he should get a bigger slice of the fight purse over Hatton in the sharing scheme.

"Bob is trying to change the equation but it is very minimal and there’s almost no difference to the end result (of 50-50 sharing)," said Gacal from Bacolod City where Pacquiao is gracing the inaugurals of the National Amateur Boxing championships.

Gacal said an increase of $ 300,000 (P14.4 million) to a maximum of $ 500,000 (P24 million) is being dangled by Arum to Pacquiao so he would change his mind and proceed with the Hatton showdown.

From their preliminary numbers crunching, Gacal believes that the revenue from the Hatton fight, based on the proposed sharing scheme, will not even surpass the paycheck that Pacquiao earned from fighting Oscar De La Hoya last year.

It is estimated that Pacquiao, who polished off the Golden Boy in eight brutal rounds in Las Vegas last December, got $ 15 million from the De La Hoya fight.

Hatton is using his huge popularity in England as leverage in the negotiations as his team expects at least a million pay-perview buys in Britain alone, and that Pacquiao should agree right away since in the past Hatton fights, his opponents were not entitled even to a single cent in the pay-per-view earnings.

Arum has penciled a late January press tour of London and Manchester in England for Pacquiao and Hatton plus a similar gig in late-February in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in the United States.

By March 1, Pacquiao should already be training at the celebrated Wild Card gym in Hollywood under his trainer and mentor Freddie Roach, if the Top Rank promoter would have his way.

But the world still awaits, and Pacquiao’s song remains the same.


Source: mb.com.ph

Arum must try this Solomonic solution

MANILA, Philippines—Now, it turns out that the 50-50 split Manny Pacquiao had allegedly agreed to during an initial money discussion with promoter cum laude Bob Arum happened in the discomfort of, sorry Madame, a comfort room.

“Pacman felt the call of nature and took a bathroom break,” Michael Marley wrote in his eternally biting column for boxingconfidentil.com.

“Now you wonder: Will the Hatton-Pacquiao deal go down the toilet?” Marley asked.

The watery conference, he revealed, took place at the plush Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel where Pacquiao, his entourage in tow, honored a dinner invitation.

* * *

On Friday, there were contrasting reports—one saying it’s a go, after Pacquiao agreed to the even split in pay-per-view profit; the other saying Pacquiao is sticking to his demand for a 60-40 sharing, take it or leave it.

It’s odd, but isn’t a boxer only at his best when he does his best and gives everything to the other fellow?

This—generosity—is the core of a worn-out boxing adage which says that, inside the ring, it’s always better to give than to receive.

* * *

Corny. That prizefight quip is as callous as the bunion on Mr. Arum’s Yankee toe.

In fact, the revered promoter ran out of patience after Pacquiao insisted vehemently that the sharing should be 60-40 in his favor.

Arum even threatened to pull the plug, cancel the fight, if Pacquiao didn’t relent.

Arum has also been going around to explain lengthily the fairness and decency of an even split between Pacquiao and Hatton.

* * *

Of course, there’s always something that could be done.

And Arum need not beg for Solomonic wisdom in order to break the impasse.

The solution: Give Hatton his deserved 50-50 split, but only for the profit to be derived from the PPV buys in England.

Outside of Hatton’s sovereignty, Pacquiao should get what he rightly feels he deserves.

If either of the two boxers turns down the solution, Arum need not waste a word.

He should pull the plug, pronto.

* * *

In case they’re wondering, that Solomonic suggestion was not crafted from this typist’s brandy-blurred brain.

It’s courtesy of sportsman Rudy Salud, the founding sec-gen of the World Boxing Council (WBC), whose constitution and by-laws the respected lawyer crafted.

“In the first place, Hatton cannot claim that the enormous PPV buys generated in his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. was realized through his doubtful pulling power,” Salud explained.

If Hatton is indeed that great a draw, Salud asked, why did his fight against Malignaggi get only 200,000 PPV subscriptions?

* * *

Another thing.

Arum can’t pin down Pacquiao and insist the RP boxing superhero had agreed to the initial 50-50 proposal.

As Marley suggested, rather belatedly, Arum should’ve made Pacquiao sign any piece of paper available during the brief, watery conference.

Sorry, but there was no formal manifesto, nothing for Arum to hang his hat on, Marley noted.

The Solomonic Salud solution, needless to say, is as plain as giving Caesar what is Caesar’s.

Neither Don King nor Jose Sulaiman can contest its wisdom.

Source: inquirer.net

Pacquiao insists: No Hatton deal

As far as Manny Pacquiao is concerned, there is still no deal to fight British slugger Ricky Hatton.

This was confirmed Friday by Pacquiao adviser Rex “Wakee” Salud, who said that the Filipino superstar isn’t fighting Hatton unless the revenue sharing tilts to his favor.

“Manny’s stand is the same; he is not fighting unless the numbers move to his favor,” Salud told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Pacquiao is demanding 60 percent of fight and pay-per-view purses, a sharing that does not sit well with the Hatton camp, which claimed that a verbal arrangement for a 50-50 split had already been made.

Salud’s statement conflicted with that of Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who claimed Wednesday that the fight is back on track after Pacquiao was promised half of the PPV revenue in Britain, where Hatton has a huge following.

In an interview with boxingconfidential.com’s Michael Marley, Arum said Pacquiao could earn more than the $10 million he got from shaming Oscar De La Hoya last month.

“Manny just got 32 percent in the De La Hoya fight,” Arum was quoted as saying.

Arum also said the MGM Grand Arena has been selected as the venue for the fight.

Asked if Pacquiao would be amenable to a 55-45 deal, an idea broached by trainer Freddie Roach, Salud replied: “He might. But he is still thinking about it.”

Pacquiao is expected in Bacolod City today to grace the opening of the Smart-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championships.

Source: inquirer.net

Is Manny Pacquiao Becoming Floyd Mayweather, Jr.?

It is the nature of all kings. Once the crown is placed atop the ruler's head, delusions of grandeur soon follow. Such is the fate of the new pound-for-pound king of boxing, Manny Pacquiao.

It has been reported Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has said the fight will not happen if an agreement is not reached by Wednesday of this week. This is after Pacquiao's camp reneged on a previously verbal binding agreement, which split the entire purse for the fight 50/50. Pacquaio's camp is now demanding a 60/40 split in favor of the Filipino icon.

This has happened before in boxing, as recently as with our last pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Floyd was notorious for demanding 60/40 purse splits, even though he was never proven as a major ticket seller or ppv draw. Mayweather, Jr. was only a draw as the B-side to major attractions, to both Hatton and De La Hoya, who were fan favorites and big time draws in their own rights.

De La Hoya/Mayweather did two million buys on the strength of HBO's 24/7 series and Mayweather's great portrayal of the bad guy.

Mayweather/Hatton did over 800,000 buys the large percentage of which were said to be English fans for Hatton.

In the case of Pacquiao, he has proven to be a solid, but not spectacular draw on his own.

Against Marquez in the rematch they sold about 400,000 ppvs, and his previous ppv outings hover around the 300 to 350,000 mark.

De La Hoya/Pacquiao sold over one million buys, only because it was De La Hoya that Manny was fighting.

There is no evidence to suggest post-De La Hoya Manny can sell at the level of the Golden Boy. This would seem to make his 60/40 purse demands even more ridiculous.

Then consider the quotes to The Ring Magazine Online given by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.“If I can get a hold of Manny, I’ll get him to do the right thing,” said Roach, who admitted he’s frustrated. “We all know where most of the money will come from. It’ll come from England, I think.

Now consider these quotes from Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, given to the LA Times.

"There's no way he's getting the 60-40," Arum told The Times Tuesday. "Unless he comes to his senses and his people start acting intelligently . . . we'll see if we can keep it together, but the split is supposed to be 50-50. We've all agreed to it. Now, people are whispering in Pacquiao's ear. If they keep pushing for 60-40, Hatton and Schaefer are pulling the plug."

Seems like Pacquiao might be getting some bad advice from his lawyer. Or maybe he is just looking to price himself out of a matchup with Hatton so he can fight Mayweather, Jr. later in the year instead.

Either way, there is no good reason Manny can't accept the 50/50 purse split for Hatton and pursue both fights. Manny would be a betting favorite to beat Hatton, which would most certainly build more steam for the proposed Mayweather, Jr. matchup later on.

Freddie Roach put it best.“It’d be a shame if it didn’t happen. We’d be missing out on a big fight. I like the Mayweather fight. But why not get both fights?

Source: bleacherreport.com