Manny Pacquiao nears agreement to fight Ricky Hatton

A day after negotiations appeared to be crumbling, Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, just told me that Pacquiao's advisors are now "on board" with a 50-50 purse split with Ricky Hatton, and he expects that, "by tomorrow, I'll have a signed contract."

"There was a lot of confusion about why we did 50-50, but everyone now understands why this is a good deal," Arum said. "This thing is going to happen. Yesterday was disarray. Today, everything's back in order."

Arum said Pacquiao's retreat from a prior verbal agreement and push for a 60-40 percentage in his favor didn't account for the fact that he would receive half of the money coming from television rights in Britain, revenue that is greatly "attributable to Hatton," who hails from England, Arum said.

Hatton will also draw at least half of the live gate, Arum predicted, crediting Pacquiao for driving the U.S. pay-per-view sales.

Arum said Hatton's 2007 opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr., didn't receive any British television money, and when he explained that to Pacquiao's attorney, Franklin Gacal, and the fighter's American and Philippine advisors, "everybody is now calmed down." Arum said he has received a thumbs-up from all three Pacquiao advisors to proceed for a 140-pound May 2 fight in Las Vegas that will match the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world against the charismatic Hatton, who has never lost at 140.

Pacquiao today is running a basketball tournament in the Philippines, but he's expected to sign the contract sometime Thursday -- much to the relief of Arum, Hatton and legions of boxing fans.

-- Lance Pugmire

Comments

[pelonis]

well its about time that we get this thing going!
two of the most talk about fighters will duke it out for the right to earn more money in his next fight!
i hope they give us a freaking good fight...something worthy of the $59 ppv charge !

[leonard nisay]

thank god...

[Marlowe Marinas]

Go Manny GO! Viva Filipinas!

[Dennis Jackson]

All I can get all this in writing, Bob Arum ain't no better than Don King.

[Jun]

I still think Pac should get a bigger purse maybe 55-45. Without British fans Hatton is nothing. Pac still bring a lot to the table. He's got more fans than Hatton. Majority of the people that will watch that fight in Vegas will come for Pac. Don't tell me Hatton will bring that many British in Vegas..

[Stidham]

Pacquiao should have not sold out. REMEMBER that most of the audience are Filipinos anyway. Those Filipino nurses and doctors seem to be the only minority group that has money to spend these days.

[Arnel Pineda Fan]

I still think this is a bad deal. Nothing was credited to manny and I feel that he is still playing the role of a challenger. 55-45 could be the least and nothing else. Who cares if he doesn't fight anymore. PRINCIPLE BRO!!.

[Lee]

I'm filipino and I'm glad this will take place.

It is just me, but I don't think Manny Pacquiao advisors (his Manager and Lawyer) have ANY CLUE what really goes on during ANY negotiation process. Apparently, when this supposedly took place in a LA Lounge last month, Manny Pacquiao left the negotiation briefly, and that's how he missed the 50/50 split discussion. If that’s the case, why in the hell his advisors who were apparently there, sitting the same table as ARUM and Hatton’s team NOT say anything or object in first place? Second, when Manny came back to the table, his team did not informed him the agreed upon split. Why? What were his advisors doing in the table? Obviously, they weren’t listening? You mean to tell me, this is Manny’s biggest “pay day” and his entire team were “asleep” at the helm. What Manny needs to do is FIRE his manager and lawyer TODAY. I would hate to see Manny lose his money because his team lacked of knowledge or experience. Gessh!

[guye]

this is going to be absolutely an AMAZING fight. you can definately see me at some sort of sports bar watching this. i just wish mayweather would be the third wheel in all of this to fight the winner, who i think is going to be pac (because he whooped the 'golden' boy). what-what?

[jramos]

Pacquiao should change his lawyers and advisers. They know nothing about fight deals and they're their just to steal pacman's money.

[Gibbo]

Arnel Pineda Fan - Manny is the challenger, Ricky is the Ring belt holder and universally recognised light welterweight champion.

Jun - You better be prepared for it my friend there will be plenty of brits in vegas, 30,000 plus travelled for mayweather and this fight is just as big.

This is a 50-50 if ive ever seen one

[Tipsy McStagger]

Can't wait. This fight will be huge.

[Hattan Fan]

Who are these people writing these ridiculous comments?

Anyone who knows anything about Boxing would know that Hatton brought 33,000 fans from the UK to Vegas to see the Mayweather Fight. Yes thats right 33000 people flew half way across the world to see Ricky Hatton. And half of them didnt even get to see the fight, half of them flew to Vegas just to watch the fight on a big screen!!!!

He attracted over 8,000 fans to the Malignaggi fight in Vegas November 22nd in the middle of a credit crunch!!!!

The Brits will travel again to Vegas to see the Hitman, Hattons fans will out number Manny's by far, even though they have to travel half way across the world!

So why should Pac get 60-40? When over half the fans in Vegas will be Brittish, and Ricky Hatton is undefeated at 140 pounds

It would be insulting to Ricky to accept a deal of 60-40 in Manny's favour. Hatton wants a fair 50-50 deal, and Manny should count himself lucky he's even being offered that.

[Oscar]

This might be the fight of the year if not of the decade which millions of fans are really dying to see. But with the present difficult economic situation I hope the PPV will not be more than $55. I go for Pacman by KO in rd 8.

[Paqmaniac]

Pacman should fire that lawyer Gacal. I tell ya, he's no good. He's got no respect in General Santos City from people who knew him since his early days. He's a hanger-on. If Jinky is reading this, she should put her foot down and kick Gacal in the ass with her high heels. Guys like him are ruining her husband's career.

Leave the promoting to Arum alone, that's what he was hired for.

[Bigatin!]

Who the heck is Hatton?

[Dundee Duque]

I disagree with this " McStagger" who is a bias & hypocrite person . Not even trying to finish reading his write up , you will notice that this is very descriminating sense . Pacman may accept the 50-50 purse , but it that doesnt mean that your boy brings the whole attraction to this fight . To be fair with .... Pacman has a lot of fans not only in Philippines but also all around the world . That's why the fight fan want to see this fight moron... this is not only a one sided attraction . It is a great match up and you dont need to descriminate soimebody else .... Sometimes know and learn what 's really happening around boxing world ... not just in your yard .

[MHO Y'ALL]

HATTON HAS BRIT BUT MANNY HAVE THE REST OF THE WORLD
THAT SIMPLE!!!! 60/40. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT HATTON CAMP!!!

[Philarious]

To Hattan Fan:
I agree with the 50/50 split as I mentioned before in a previous article by Lance Pugmire but Pacquiao should not count himself lucky. It's the other way around. Boxers from 135 to 147 all want a piece of the Pacquiao sweepstakes. I don't see fighters lining up to fight Hatton. Hatton is lucky to have his chance. That alone is enough bargaining leverage for Pacquiao to get a bigger share. However, again a 50-50 split is okay because I understand the economics of the fight. And since the Pretty Boy who refers to himself as "Money" today didn't receive any from PPV buys in the UK, then the Hatton camp has already given something to get something. It may not be enough for some but its fair enough for me.

[flamark]

[QUOTE]
It would be insulting to Ricky to accept a deal of 60-40 in Manny's favour. Hatton wants a fair 50-50 deal, and Manny should count himself lucky he's even being offered that.

- Hattan Fan
[/QUOTE]

Manny is lucky because he is offered a 50-50? Are you sure you're on the right senses?

So now it appears Manny should thank Hatton because he was offered 50-50. Try asking the boxing experts if Manny should be offered less than 50%. If majority of them say yes, then I would claim myself as crazy and stupid.

But if majority of them tells that Manny should not get less than 50%, then you must be out of your mind or must be stupid.

[Neophyte]

Hattan Fan, you're correct in your numbers but to say tat Manny is lucky to be offered such is far from the truth. Let's just say tat both are lucky to be figting each other, considering Manny has more draw now than Ricky. cheers.....

[Latino/Filipino Manny Fan]

Yo Hattan Fan and all those throwing out "30,000 brits"....

33,000 Brits flying to Vegas is a pretty good number. A good, cute, number. You realize that's still less than half the number of Filipinos that actually LIVE in Las Vegas (85,000+). Not to mention the strong contingent of Filipinos from California or flying in from the Philippines. I think 33,000 filipinos visit their vacation homes there on the weekends. Lest you forget or do not know, you won't find a bigger population of Filipinos than California, outside of the Philippines of course.

....And the notoriety Manny "the Mexicutioner" Pacquiao has gained in the Latino community, you don't think they'll be drawn into this by Manny mania? Love him or hate him, we watch him. And ya, there's alot of us in the US.

....Lastly, in our silly numbers game, Asia? Manny owns it. We don't talk thousands there, we only talk millions.

Numbers, numbers. Pac shoulda got more $$$, but what do I care. I'm pretty sure he's fine. But 33,000 brits doesn't impress anyone around here.

[julius paltriguera]

Team Pacquiao should be weary of the ploys being proposed by the Hatton Camp.
I am a Pacquiao fan living here in Britain and I can attest to the world that boxing is not a sport for the british public but only a handful. Even Ricky Hatton knows about it but that his camp is insisting it is so because of the simple reason that they want to grab the big slice of the purse pie. I can attest to you that even if the match is done here in the UK a 20,000 crowd would be dificult to generate considering the economic situation we are all in which is worst than America.
Pacquiao has all the aces in the boxing world and should play his dice carefully. He should not be fooled of the gimmick being played up in the media as well as those who want to take advantage of his superstar status in the boxing world. Just look at the sports section of the British newspapers. Boxing is given a very low importance if ever mentioned. Ricky Hatton is not that popular even to the sports minded Brits as they are crazy about football more than any other sports. More so in the mailand Europe.
In all honesty I calculate that even if all the pay-per views generated here in Britain is counted, it wont be more than $6,000,000.00 with 200,000 viewers so why should Manny be
interested in this. The biggest paycheck is in America, Pacific rim and Asia where Manny Pacquiao has a solid following.
Manny follow my advise and you will reap all the rewards of your being the Pound for Pound king. If Hatton camp insist on what they want and they get it, you already lost the first round and we dont want you to lose. Play your aces and be the winner in and out of the ring.

[flex]

man o man pound for pound king manny pacquiao accepted 50/50??
its beyond money ricky hatton is no where near the pound for pound status that manny has
i dont think hatton should be given that much credit for me mayweather is the only legit superstar he fought and he went down

but im happy manny accepted the fight against ricky so that all yall 33,000 brits will see your so called champion go down.. AGAIN (against a legit pound for pound king )

another heartbreak for the brits..

[Jay Ari Yin]

All's well that ends well.

Arum may be a shrewd businessman but he has been fair to Manny since the beginning. Even Roach agreed on what Arum is pushing for.

Of course there are many Filipinos who will watch the show in the U.S. but they can not beat the estimated 1.2M British fans who will watch Hatton in this fight. Remember, the Dela Hoya-Pacquiao fight garnered only 1.4M PPV buys, per Arum, and Dela Hoya is a superstar and the PPV record holder.

Go! Go! Go! Pacquiao vs. Hatton. Manny vs. Ricky. The Pac-Man vs. the Hitman. Pacquiao by KO.