Pacquiao will take the Year Off and Focus on Studies. No Fight This Year

With no Hatton fight, Pacquiao may study at Ateneo or DLSU abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/22/2009 11:41 AM Printer-friendly version | Send to friend What's next for Manny Pacquiao after his seemingly aborted bout against British champion Ricky Hatton? Pacquiao's lawyer, Franklin "Jeng" Gacal, said Thursday that the Filipino boxing idol may shift his focus from boxing to studies. Gacal said Pacquiao might finally enter college this year and take political science or management courses at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) or De La Salle University (DLSU). "Manny might concentrate on his studies while there is no scheduled fight," Gacal told ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda." http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/01/22/09/no-hatton-fight-pacquiao-may-study-ateneo-or-dlsu The lawyer said Pacquiao's tertiary education is the Filipino boxer's next option after negotiations for his supposed match with Hatton bogged down on Wednesday. The negotiations ended after Pacquiao declined the 52-48 compromise split with a $12 million guaranteed purse. Gacal explained that Pacquiao's original request was for a 52-48 sharing in his favor, plus a higher minimum guaranteed purse. He said Pacquiao changed his request to a 55-45 sharing in his favor, minus the higher guaranteed purse. "Pareho itong tinanggihan ng kampo ni Hatton (Hatton's camp refused the two requests). They want a 50-50 sharing," Gacal said. He said Hatton's camp sent a contract indicating the 52-48 compromise split and gave Pacquiao a 6 p.m. deadline on Wednesday. Pacquiao did not sign the contract. He said Hatton's camp may call for a press conference on Thursday to make an official announcement that they are calling off the fight. Pacquiao is 'primus inter pares' Gacal said Pacquiao's decision was "not all about the money." He said Pacquiao was fighting for principle. "Well, it's not all about the money. It's a question of, sino ba ang nararapat na bigyan ng due respect... Even if they are saying are equal, but there is a saying primus inter pares, first among equals," Gacal said. With the fight virtually called off, the lawyer said his client is not expecting other fights this year. The lawyer also made an early announcement that a third match between Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez is impossible this year. He said Marquez is scheduled to fight former lightweight champion Juan Diaz in February.