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
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