PACQUIAO-HATTON SET FOR MAY 2 IN LAS VEGAS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 17 Dec 2008
Top Rank?s Bob Arum, undoubtedly the most astute promoter in the business, has a May 2 date in Las Vegas for a megabuck fight between the Philippines national treasure Manny Pacquiao and Britain ?s Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton.
Arum who arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports ?right now I want to lay everything out to Manny, where in negotiations with the Hatton people and I?ll leave it at that? indicating as he always does, that the choice would be up to Pacquiao.
However, Arum disclosed the Hatton fight will be on May 2 in Las Vegas saying ?it will not be in Wembley, not because Manny would be afraid to fight in England but Wembley makes no sense because we?ll have to do it at five in the morning, outdoors, where there is a ninety percent chance of rain.?
It was clear that the pay-per-view potential was a major consideration in staging the fight in Las Vegas especially after the incredible numbers generated by the Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya ?Dream Match? last December 6.
Arum revealed that the PPV numbers ?are even better than they reported? and would be ?a little over 1.4 million buys.?
The Top Rank promoter said the drawing power of Pacquiao was now evident and said he believes it will ?go up appreciably when he fights Hatton or Mayweather or guys like that.?
Arum also indicated he would like Pacquiao to get through the Hatton fight before going up against Mayweather saying ?I want Mayweather to stay there (in retirement) until September . The longer he?s out the more rusty he?ll be.?
Arum said that Mayweather ?is pretty fast? but that Pacquiao throws numerous punches but in an unorthodox way and ?while Mayweather is a master boxer it will be very difficult for him to handle somebody as unorthodox as Manny is.?
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