Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao has his reason for insisting to get the ?best deal? out of his much-anticipated but still proposed fight against Britain?s Ricky Hatton.
The Filipino champion, whose rags-to-riches story served as an inspiration to poor Filipinos, said he endured a long-hard road before reaching his present status as a boxing superstar.
?Dahil sa hirap na aking dinaanan at sinagupa sa aking career upang matamo ko ang aking katayuan sa larangan ng sport ng boxing, tama lang na makuha ko ang pinakamagandang deal at kondisyones sa laban namin ng pinakamagaling na boxer ng Europe,? Pacquiao said in his column Kumbinasyon (published on PhilBoxing.com).
(Because of the ordeal and hardships I went through in my career to reach my status in the sport of boxing, it is just reasonable for me to get the best deal and conditions in my fight against Europe?s most excellent fighter).
Pacquiao, the first Asian to win four world titles in four different divisions, is adamant about getting a 60-40 split of revenue for the Hatton match.
Hatton?s camp, which earlier was reportedly steadfast on it?s 50-50 demand, reportedly gave Pacquiao a new offer according to The Philippine Star.
While the Filipino boxer admitted that there was a new offer, it wasn?t anything that could or should make him change his mind.
?May movement pero parang nanglo-loko lang (There was movement but it?s like they?re just trying to fool us). It was not substantial enough,? said the lawyer.
?Parang nilipat lang ?yong pera (It?s like moving the money) from the right pocket to the left pocket,? he added without elaborating.
Hatton?s camp have already made threats to look for another opponent should Pacquiao insist on 60-40.
The Filipino boxer, however, had responded by giving Hatton a February deadline to decide about the purse sharing. Otherwise, Pacquiao said, he?ll shop for another prizefighter.
I will give them until February. ?Pag bindi pa nagbago, hanap na lang ng ibang kalaban,? Pacquiao earlier said in a text massage sent to ABS-CBN correspondent Dyan Castillejo.
