LOS ANGELES: The much-anticipated Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton super fight is in danger of falling through because of the disagreement on how the purse will be divided.
Pacquiao is demanding a 60-40 split of the purse, while Hatton wants it to be 50-50.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s trainer and confidante, said he was informed by promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank that the fight?scheduled for May 2?will be called off if no agreement is reached tomorrow, Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). Arum earlier told the Los Angeles Times that the sides agreed earlier on a 50-50 split.
?There?s no way he?s [Pacquiao] getting the 60-40 [split],? Arum told The LA Times. ?Unless he comes to his senses and his people start acting intelligently . . . we?ll see if we can keep it together, but the split is supposed to be 50-50. We?ve all agreed to it. Now, people are whispering in Pacquiao?s ear. If they keep pushing for 60-40, Hatton and [his promoter Richard] Schaefer are pulling the plug.?
Roach, who was instrumental in breaking a similar impasse during the negotiations for the Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya mega fight, said he has been trying to reach Pacquiao in the Phillipines in an effort to save a bout that is projected to earn 40 million pound sterling or about $59.6 million.
According to Roach, a 50-50 split is fair because Hatton has such a strong fan base in his native England.
?If I can get a hold of Manny, I?ll get him to do the right thing,? Roach told The Ring Magazine?s Michael Rosenthal. ?We all know where most of the money will come from. It?ll come from England, I think.?
?The [Hatton]-Malignaggi fight didn?t do well but Malignaggi?s not a big draw. Hatton and Pacquiao are both big draws. I have no problem with 50-50.?
If the fight can?t be made, both Pacquiao and Hatton might turn to negotiations with Floyd May?weather Jr., the former pound-for-pound king.
A Pacquiao-Mayweather matchup would be an enormous promotion. Hatton was knocked out by Mayweather in December 2007 and would love a rematch.
?There?s no one else out there,? said Roach, referring to May?weather. ?[Miguel] Cotto is tied up for two fights. [Antonio] Margarito is tied up for two fights. [Juan Manuel] Marquez, too. Everyone is tied up,? Roach said. ?It?d be a shame if it didn?t happen. We?d be missing out on a big fight. I like the Mayweather fight. But why not get both fights??
Veteran boxing writer John Chavez of BoxingConfidential.com, however, thinks Pacquiao deserves ?at least 60 percent of the purse? because of his track record and his ability to attract pay-per-view (PPV) buys.
Chavez observed Pacquiao has headlined seven HBO PPV bouts in his career in which he?s gone 6-1, with four by way of knockout.
In contrast, he said Hatton headlined only one in December 2007 where he was knocked out by Mayweather.
?Pacquiao?s live gate following has been quite strong since his first bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, which took place in 2004 on HBO. His fans consist of most Filipinos residing all across the country and the world.
?Hatton?s live gate following has been on a roller coaster ride being that the ?Hitman? contingent is asked to travel half-way around the world in order to see their hero perform,? Chavez said.
Chavez also noted that Hatton is coming off an ?aesthetically displeasing bout? with Paulie Malignaggi that drew miserable ratings at HBO.
