WHO said the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is on?
Think again, fellas.
Everything in life, it’s not on until it’s on. Not over until it’s over.
Until the final buzzer in a basketball game is sounded, a match isn’t over.
Until the final putt is dropped, a golf game isn’t over.
Until the referee waives his hand signaling the start of a fight, action isn’t on.
The Pacquiao-Hatton fight has been calendared for May 2 in Las Vegas. But until it’s on, it’s not on.
The fighters have yet to sign the dotted line to signify their intention to fight.
The contract has yet to be inked but look at Pacquiao. He’s insisting he should get 60 percent of the projected purse of US$54 million.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s American promotional manager, has said it should be 50-50.
Hatton’s camp has agreed.
Freddie Roach, too.
But not Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s lawyer, surnamed Gacal (Jeng), said Pacquiao should get a bigger chunk of the US$54 million.
“A 60-40 set-up in favor of Pacquiao should be it,” he said. “Pacquiao is more popular, the world’s pound-for-pound king. It’s but right that he should earn more than Hatton.”
But Arum and Hatton’s camp argue that Hatton, being an Englishman, has a big following from Europe and “a 50-50 split is but fair.”
Roach, Pacquiao’s American trainer, agrees.
Even Wakee Salud, Pacquiao’s adviser, concurs.
But Gacal won’t budge.
“No fight if Pacquiao doesn’t get a 60-40 deal,” Gacal said.
Who was that genius who said the world was perfect until the lawyers came?
Anyway, nothing’s penciled yet.
Until the boxers have finally climbed the ring, the Pacquiao-Hatton fight isn’t on.
