By Mark Vester
Negotiations are still ongoing for a potential December 6 bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, but unless one of the fighters is willing to come down from their monetary demand - the fight is probably not going to happen.
Talks for the fight were hot and heavy until Wednesday, when De La Hoya refused to budge from his 70-30 revenue split, and Pacquiao refused to budge from his 60-40 demand. Pacquiao walked away and told his promoter Bob Arum to start working on a fight with Humberto Soto for November, while De La Hoya told his CEO Richard Schaefer to secure Sergio Mora for the same December date in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao's lawyer Franklin Gacal told the Manila Bulletin that a fight with De La Hoya can still happen, but they won't move from their 60-40 demand. De La Hoya only gave Floyd Mayweather Jr. 30% last May and refuses to give a bigger percentage to Pacquiao because Oscar feels that he is not bigger than Floyd. Gacal said that Pacquiao has the final say on whether or not a 70-30 deal is kosher.
"There is still a chance for this fight to take place but we are not budging from our 60-40 stand," said Gacal. It’s not right to invite Pacquiao to a despedida party by just giving him a bone from the banquet. Still, it would all depend on Manny whether he will accept 70-30. It’s all up to him."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
