PACQUIAO-HATTON CONTRACT DISPUTE ADDS FUEL TO A GROWING FLAME
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 23 Jan 2009
San Francisco, CA?Disputes between respective fighters over the share of profits are nothing new in Boxing. Most recently, it seemed as if Antonio Margairto would have to wait until June before a fight, when he rejected an offer to fight Shane Mosley. Margarito did not agree to the guaranteed purse he would receive in fighting Mosley. However, this Saturday, both will square off in the ring as eventually Margairto agreed to fight Mosley.
Many remembered when Manny Pacquiao released an official statement rejecting the offer to fight Oscar De La Hoya when he did not agree to the percentage spilt in that bout. Eventually, Pacquiao agreed to fight De La Hoya. However, when Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins were in discussions for a re-match, Jones believed he deserved 60% of the profits and when Hopkins refused, the fight was never made.
It?s d?j? vu all over again as the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is off as of right now over a dispute of who will get most of the profits the fight will generate. Pacquiao believes he deserves a higher percentage that what has been offered to him. However, the brain trust of Ricky Hatton believed that Pacquiao made the wrong decision in turning down the most money he can make at this time.
Whatever outcome or resolution both parties make should be left to the respective parties. Let the parties determine which fighter brings more to the table or deserve the loin?s share of the profits.
However, what has resulted from the apparent breakdown of the Pacquiao-Hatton negotiations has been a growing rivalry not only between Pacquiao and Hatton but also of Pacquiao and Golden Boy Promotion CEO, Richard Schafer.
If ever there were two fighters who were separate by birth, it?s Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Both fighters are fan friendly fighters and national celebrities in their home countries. Both enjoy the same hobbies like billiards, darts, chess, and the occasional prank and practical joke. Also, both are very humble outside the ring during press conferences and public workouts. In the ring, both fighters are ultra aggressive, fast, and strong finishers.
Unlike past Manny Pacquiao fights, a potential Pacquiao-Hatton only brought interest inside the ring. Most boxing experts saw this potential match-up as a fight of the year type match-up. It compares very well to the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy in terms of the style matchup. But with the breakdown of the negotiations going public, much more interest and (in a good way) bitterness has been created between the two fighters.
Many Pacquiao fans felts disrespected when Hatton proclaimed that he could bring more fans from the United Kingdom than Pacquiao will from the Philippines?an indirect prediction that Hatton fans will outnumber Pacquiao fans in Las Vegas. Also, there has been noise from the Hatton camp that Pacquiao refused to sign the contract not because of the 60-40 demands not being met, but for some other reason. Could they be inferring that Pacquiao is scared that Hatton will defeat him? We?ll never know unless they meet inside in the ring.
Another interesting sub-plot developing is the feud being created between Pacquiao and Schafer. Pacquiao has been famously dubbed as the ?Mexicutioner? for his consecutive victories of Mexico?s top boxers. You might as well add ?Goldencutioner? as another nickname for Pacquiao based on his dominance over Golden Boy fighters.
Remember, back in 2003, Pacquiao ruined Golden Boy?s first major promotion when he scored the upset win over Marco Antonio Barrera. It has been well documented that Pacquiao accepted a cash bonus from Golden Boy only to return the money and sign with Top Rank later that year. Pacquiao also scored a close decision win over another Golden Boy elite fighter in Juan Manuel Marquez. Schafer did not agree with that decision and even offered Pacquiao 6 million dollars to fight Marquez again in a rubber match. And of course, Pacquiao ended Oscar De La Hoya?s reign at the elite level last December, beating De La Hoya into submission in 8 rounds.
Now, Pacquiao has targeted Golden Boy?s current top breadwinner in Hatton in a match-up that would favor Pacquiao to win. If Pacquiao were able to defeat Hatton, then Golden Boy Promotions would be down another boxing money-maker.
Of course, none of these implications matter if these two fighters do not end up facing each inside the ring.
QUICK JABS
If Plan ?B? is for Pacquiao to fight Humberto Soto, it will be interesting at what weight the two will fight? Soto should change his nickname to ?Plan B? as he?s been Pacquiao default opponent for the past couple of years?If Pacquiao-Soto does happened, it would be great if that fight were to be televised on National Television in a non-casino town like San Francisco (I can dream right?)?I like Antonio Margarito to be the first fighter to stop Shane Mosley this Saturday at what will be an electric Staples Center. There will be fireworks early in the fight, but it?s hard to image Mosley keeping up with Margarito for 12 rounds? Gerry Penalosa truly does not fear any challenge. Fighting Juan Manuel Lopez in Puerto Rico takes a lot of guts and confidence. I can guarantee that Lopez will have his toughest challenge against Penalosa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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