Top Rank Promotions head Bob Arum told Manila Bulletin yesterday, ‘As far as I’m concerned, it’s done’. He said this in a meeting he had with Paquiao’s lawyer Franklin Gacal and Trainer Freddie Roach over dinner in Los Angeles, California.
Although the agreement has not been signed by the parties, both Arum and Golden Boy Promotions Chief Richard Schaefer confirmed that the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is good as done with just a few minor provisions being worked out by the lawyers of both sides.
Tickets for the Pacquiao-Hatton match are now being promoted and advertised in boxing websites all over the Internet, confirming the holding of the event.
Venue has not been finalized but Arum said that it could either be Thomas and Mack Center or MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Manny Pacquiao is presently in Los Angeles attending to his wife Jinkee who has just given birth to a baby girl, the couple’s fourth child.
Pacquaio is going back to Manila on January 10, 2008 to accompany his family together with his new-born daughter named Queen Elizabeth.
A promotional tour is scheduled to be held in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to drum up ticket sales and pay-per-view subscriptions.
After the promotional tour with Hatton in these cities, Pacquiao will prepare for his usual training under the supervision of Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, California.
Pacquiao became the world’s most popular boxer today after he won over Oscar de la Hoya in their ‘Dream Match’ held last December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Last week he got an award from WBC as the best boxer of the year for 2008.
Hatton is likewise a very popular boxer from England. He was undefeated until he suffered his only loss to Floyd Mayweather. He later fought Paulie Malignaggi last year to win the IBO welterweight title.