By Ronnie Nathanielsz

There seems to be some confusion over whether there’s a deal or no deal for the planned May 2 showdown between Filipino national treasure Manny Pacquiao and Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton.

Dong Secuya of Philboxing reported that Rex “Wakee” Salud had told him the fight was on and Pacquiao had accepted the final offer of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for a $12 million guarantee and a 52-48 split after Pacquiao earlier rejected the offer.

Both Arum and trainer Freddie Roach told BoxingScene.com, Insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, a short while ago, that they hadn’t heard anything directly from either Pacquiao or his lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal indicating the fight was back on.

Arum told us “I don’t know, I read it on the internet. Nobody told me [directly] it's on again. They [internet reports] told me that the deal is on, according to “Wakee” Salud and they want me to come over for a press conference.”

Arum said the Hatton people remarked “we want to see a signed contract. We want to know if there’s a signed contract and so I am going to work out a deal where they (Pacquiao’s team) fax me the contract with my promise that I’ll go over there for the press conference.”

Roach for his part said “ I don’t know. They need to call Bob Arum because nobody has told Bob yet. Nobody told me either. Unless they sign the contract  there’s no fight.”

Efforts at this hour to contact Pacquiao, Gacal or Salud to verify the reports have been unsuccessful .