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