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
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