The forthcoming boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton is in the verge of collapse. This possibility has surfaced when Pacquiao’s lawyer Atty.Franklin Gacal said in a TV interview by Dianne Castillejo of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network that the Hatton camp wants a split sharing on the revenues that will be generated. Gacal said that the Pacquiao camp wants a 60-40 sharing in favor of Pacquiao.
In the same interview upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport {NAIA} from Los Angeles, California, Gacal said that if the Hatton camp will not agree to a 60-40 sharing, they would ‘find another opponent’. Gacal may be referring to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who has announced earlier his readiness to get out of retirement and face Pacquiao for a blockbuster match.
The camp of Hatton insisted that a split sharing on pay-per-view receipts has earlier been agreed between them and Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions who is handling the promotional fights of Manny Pacquiao. Hatton is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions of Oscar de la Hoya.
It could not be ascertained at this time if the promoters have indeed committed on the proposal for split sharing. It has been estimated that the match-up will generate no less than 40 million pounds or close to 60 million US dollars.
The proposed match-up has been announced earlier by the promoters as ‘already a done deal’. Both camps have agreed that the fight will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2, 2009. What have not been finalized are the exact venue and the revenue sharing for both fighters.
The promoters have mentioned earlier that the fight may be held at the MGM Grand or the Thomas and Mack Center of the University of Nevada.
Manny Pacquiao became very popular when he fought and won over the equally popular boxers like Morales, Barrera, Marquez, and Diaz who were all once world champions. Pacquiao became even more popular when he fought and won over Oscar de la Hoya in their ‘Dream Match’ held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada last December 6, 2008.
Ricky Hatton is a British professional boxer who is likewise popular in the United Kingdom because of his unblemished record as a professional boxer until he lost to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.during their most recent fight. It was Hatton’s only loss as a professional boxer. He made a dramatic come-back last year when he fought Paulie Malignaggi of the USA and won convincingly.