Pacquiao wants 60% share in Hatton fight

The camp of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said Monday that it has yet to sign the contract for Pacquiao's May 2 showdown against Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas due to a disagreement on the sharing of fight proceeds.

According to Pacquiao's lawyer, Franklin “Geng” Gacal, the world's top pound for pound fighter will not fight Hatton until he is guaranteed 60 percent of the purse.

"We have informed Bob Arum that we are not signing the contract. Manny is not contented with what is laid on the table. If the figures won't move, we will look for another [challenger]," Gacal told ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo.

Gacal said Pacquiao remains convinced that he is boxing's biggest draw and should therefore get the bigger share in the fight purse. He said that if Hatton and Golden Boy Promotions refuses the offer, Arum will need to look for another challenger.

"We want the fight on the month of May," he said.

Earlier reports said Hatton's camp is willing to split the fight purse 50-50.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, earlier predicted a late knockout victory for Pacquiao in his May 2 showdown against Hatton. Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., however said Hatton would easily beat Pacquiao.

In a separate interview, Pacquiao said he has received the word that former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. is interested in coming out of retirement to fight him.

"Mayweather's camp is making an appeal, they're talking to us. They've talked to my attorney and told him that they're interested in the fight so we're listening to them," he said.

Pacquiao returned to the Philippines early Monday after spending Christmas and New Year's eve with his family in California. He was accompanied by sons Jemuel and Michael and daughter Princess in the flight back to the Philippines.

The boxing champ said his wife, Jinky, and newborn daughter, Queen Elizabeth, will be coming back to the Philippines later this month after doctors advised the family not to let the baby board a plane so soon after birth. "The doctors said the flight could affect her eardrums," he said.

Pacquiao took a connecting flight to his hometown of General Santos City on Monday. Before leaving, he said he is intent on finishing his remaining subjects after enrolling in a business administration course in Notre Dame University in Mindanao.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com