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By Jake Donovan - Day 116 of the Find-A-Farewell-Opponent hunt continues for Oscar de la Hoya, whose exit strategy still calls for a December 6 grand finale to his storied, Hall of Fame career.
The frontrunner throughout the summer, in fact even as far back as June 6, has been Manny Pacquiao. It was thought that their being so far apart in weight would be the biggest hurdle in finalizing the fight – de la Hoya having competed at 154 or higher for the better part of the decade, while Pacquiao’s last fight was his first at 135.
But as has been responsible for oh so many super fights falling by the wayside, the lone factor bringing contract negotiations to a standstill, though not quite yet killing it, has been money – or percentages in this case.
Pacquiao hasn’t budged from his demand of a 60/40 split, with the fight to take place at 147 and with eight ounce gloves. Oscar has agreed to everything except the financial demand, but has crept all the way to the midway point, which at one point Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, claimed would be an acceptable offer and where he expected negotiations to land.
So far, mum’s the word. Reports have been limited to speculation on whether or not de la Hoya will end his career facing a third straight fighter coming up in weight, yet the stories keep coming, even when there’s nothing to say beyond the status quo. [details]
The frontrunner throughout the summer, in fact even as far back as June 6, has been Manny Pacquiao. It was thought that their being so far apart in weight would be the biggest hurdle in finalizing the fight – de la Hoya having competed at 154 or higher for the better part of the decade, while Pacquiao’s last fight was his first at 135.
But as has been responsible for oh so many super fights falling by the wayside, the lone factor bringing contract negotiations to a standstill, though not quite yet killing it, has been money – or percentages in this case.
Pacquiao hasn’t budged from his demand of a 60/40 split, with the fight to take place at 147 and with eight ounce gloves. Oscar has agreed to everything except the financial demand, but has crept all the way to the midway point, which at one point Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, claimed would be an acceptable offer and where he expected negotiations to land.
So far, mum’s the word. Reports have been limited to speculation on whether or not de la Hoya will end his career facing a third straight fighter coming up in weight, yet the stories keep coming, even when there’s nothing to say beyond the status quo. [details]
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