By Mark Vester
Ricky Hatton is prepared to walk away from a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao, scheduled for May 2 in Las Vegas. If the Filipino fighter does back away from his demand of a 60-40 split, Hatton will take an offer for another huge fight in the British Isles. Ray Hatton, father and manager of Ricky, says the offer for the British Isles event is on the table and they are seriously considering the fight.
The negotiations for Pacquiao-Hatton have been in limbo for the last few days. In December both sides agreed to an even 50-50 split, but the negotiations took a turn for the worse a few days ago when Pacquiao backed away from the agreement, claiming that he personally never agreed to anything and then made a firm demand of a 60-40 split. Hatton refuses to sign for anything less than a 50-50 split.
"We have the offer of another massive fight in the summer, in the British Isles, which would bring a crowd of 80,000 or more," said Ray Hatton to The Telegraph. "We are extremely serious in our threat that we will pull the plug on Pacquiao and go for that alternative if that contract is not signed. We will not be messed around."
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, hopes that his fighter stops listening to the people around him and comes to his senses.
"We've all agreed to it, but now people are whispering in Pacquiao's ear. There's no way he's getting 60–40. Unless he comes to his senses and people start acting intelligently ... we'll see if we can keep this together, but the split is supposed to be 50–50.
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