Pacquiao not keen on new hatton offer

Pacquiao not keen on new Hatton offer By Abac Cordero And Joey Villar Updated January 18, 2009 12:00 AM Manny Pacquiao Manny Pacquiao is just waiting for a substantial movement in the purse split, and he will waste no time putting his name on the dotted line for a May 2 showdown with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas. “Mag-adjust lang sila dahil hindi puwede ang fifty-fifty (They should make the adjustments because fifty-fifty won’t do),” Pacquiao told The STAR as the stalemate in the negotiations continued. As of yesterday, there was no substantial movement. “Wala pa din. Ayaw pa din ni Manny. Walang magandang offer (There’s none yet and Manny won’t budge. No good offer),” said Pacquiao’s legal adviser Franklin Gacal from General Santos City. While he admitted there was a new offer, it wasn’t anything that could or should make Pacquiao, the biggest star in boxing today, change his mind. “May movement pero parang nanglo-loko lang (There was movement but it’s like they’re just trying to fool us). It was not substantial enough,” said the lawyer. “Parang nilipat lang yung pera (It’s like moving the money) from the right pocket to the left pocket,” he added without elaborating. Hatton’s father, Ray, has joined the fray, insisting that his son is ready to pull the plug on Pacquiao, and fight someone else. “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,” he said. “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 of Top Rank, has already struck a deal with Hatton’s camp, including his Golden Boy promoters, for a 50-50 share, and has told the Filipino there’s no way he will get the 60-40. It seems that the line between Pacquiao and Arum isn’t open. It was reported yesterday over the Internet that Arum was on his way to the Philippines to personally talk to Pacquiao, but this was denied by Gacal. Not for now, at least. A 55-45 split, insiders believe, may be enough to make Pacquiao change his mind, and get the ball rolling for what could be one of the biggest fights of the year. In a press conference in Bacolod, Pacquiao said British brawler Ricky Hatton offered a 52-48 sharing Friday night. “They told us last night (Friday) they now want 52-48, we’re still looking at it if there’s going to be readjustment,” said Pacquiao in yesterday’s press conference for the 2009 Smart National Amateur Boxing Championship here. “But they also say they could go up to 55-45, I might agree to that,” he added. Pacquiao, who was accompanied by business manager Eric Pineda and Gacal, however, stressed everything will be up to his camp. “All of the possibilities will be discussed in the next few days, maybe next week we’ll have a decision,” said Pacquiao. Hatton’s group has been insisting on a 50-50 split on all revenues generated by the proposed fight in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2 while Pacquiao’s camp wants 60-40 in his favor. Pacquiao’s camp was so adamant that it threatened to abandon the Hatton bout in favor of a fight either against Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero or the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. “It was supposed to be 60-40 but all of a sudden they’re changing their mind. We’ll see what happens next week,” said Pineda. With the recent development, the much-awaited fight might just happen after all. Pacquiao wants a 60-40 sharing with Hatton with the Filipino superstar, who agreed to 32 percent against Oscar dela Hoya last December, getting the bigger share this time. But Hatton wants 50 percent of everything. Pacquiao has given Hatton until the first week of February to decide whether he wants a crack at the pound-for-pound champion. Otherwise, the fight is off and the Pinoy icon will shop for a different opponent. Already in the radar are Floyd Mayweather Jr, the undefeated but retired American boxer, Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero or even Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao believes that he can make as much money fighting anyone among these boxers.