Pacquiao to Hatton - 'You called me out.' (merged)

[dondada]

Get it on lads!!!

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_4223- ... ight-.html

[gobbles]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/boxing/2 ... .html#more

Pacquiao still wants Hatton

Manny Pacquiao says he still wants to face Ricky Hatton. The WBC lightweight champion spoke on Thursday from the Philippines the day after his bout with Hatton, scheduled for May 2 in Las Vegas, was effectively called off.

Pacquiao, who is rated as the pound-for-pound No 1 in the world after beating Oscar De La Hoya last month said he believed the Hattons were bluffing when they claimed they had several other potential bouts in the pipeline and he accused Richard Schaefer, the chief executive of Golden Boy, Hatton's promoters, of being a bad businessman.

"They were quoted as saying that if I do not sign their contract, they already have offers for them to fight in the British Isles with 80,000 people watching," Pacquiao said. "Now, it is obvious that they were just bluffing. Now, they are saying, they will fight De La Hoya. Then, they are also calling out Floyd Mayweather. I say, Schaefer is a bad businessman."

Hatton had agreed a contract with Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, for a 50-50 split of proceeds from the bout. But it then became clear that Pacquiao wanted a bigger split.

"I hope they get the same or a better deal when they face Mayweather, who beat and knocked them out in 2007," Pacquiao said. "I hope they get to fight De La Hoya and also get the same or better deal. Hatton's last fight against Malignaggi wasn't a pay-per-view success. Not to make a big deal out of it, Hatton also faced a Juan Lazcano who was no longer in his prime, previous to that fight.

"I want to fight Ricky Hatton if the terms are right and fair. Modesty aside, I did not become the best pound-for-pound fighter by fighting patsies on my way to the top. I beat Oscar De La Hoya when he said he was still on top of his game. I proved I can fight at any weight level and I won two different titles in two different divisions, also, last year. Now, I say to Ricky Hatton, king of the 140 pound division, 'Let's get it on,' without the middlemen. You called me out, now I say we fight."

There were money disputes ahead of Pacquiao's bout with De La Hoya, with Pacquiao eventually ending up with the short end of a 68-32 split.

Schafer was quoted yesterday as blaming Pacquiao for the breakdown. "When you beat the man, you think you are the man," he said. "Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and as his co-promoter (with a small percentage) we are proud of him. But he thinks by beating Oscar that he is Oscar and he is not Oscar. It's unbelievable. Manny is losing a huge, huge payday."

"What Schaefer failed to consider is the fact that I am not fighting De La Hoya in this match. There is no more rematch," Pacquiao said. "Now, they have to put their facts right."

Meanwhile, Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's manager, has claimed that Mayweather is not considering a return to the ring. "Floyd's retired, and he's staying retired," Ellerbe told the Las Vegas Review Journal. "We haven't had any conversations with Hatton or Golden Boy."

POSTED AT 12:29 PM IN RICKY HATTON | PERMALINK

[BigGar]

Yeah....just pick up the phone and thrash it out between the pair of them.
Look Manny/Ricky - I want to go to Vegas and May 2nd fitted in perfectly with me. Sort it out!

[jamesmcdonnell]

I won't be able to go for this, my missus can't get the dates off work, so will miss it by a few days! What a bummer.

Reckon it will happpen eventually.

[THEBUTCH]

I think the bottom line here is that Pacquiao is an absolute super star whose record and performances put Hatton's achievements in the shade. Ricky's team simply have to accept this or forget the fight.

[dondada]

Just beat you to a thread on this mate

[Chambers2]

The egos have landed

We're in the middle of a credit crunch and we've got these multi-multi millionaires arguing over a few percent, they need to get a grip of themselves IMO. Why can't one of the sides be the bigger man and step down or agree to meet halfway for the sake of boxing.

Arum, Schaefer, DiBella and Hennessy have managed to turn this week into a right abortion

[sockdolager]

I beat Oscar De La Hoya when he said he was still on top of his game.

I stopped right there.

[Cannibal]

Audley Harrison said he was at the top of his game right before Martin Rogan beat him. Where does that put Rogan in the P4P list then?

[Bard of Boxrec]

this doesnt sound like soemthing manny would say at all

[Rocky Balboa]

Floyd Mayweather, where are you?

Please come back & once again, settle the debate about who's 'the man'!

[Horse]

We're in the middle of a credit crunch and we've got these multi-multi millionaires arguing over a few percent, they need to get a grip of themselves IMO.

What has the "credit crunch" got to do with anything?

[banjo]

We're in the middle of a credit crunch and we've got these multi-multi millionaires arguing over a few percent, they need to get a grip of themselves IMO.

What has the "credit crunch" got to do with anything?

Maybe it's because they are whinging over millions of pounds while a lot of people are struggling to get by

[Horse]

Maybe it's because they are whinging over millions of pounds while a lot of people are struggling to get by

Boo hoo.

[King Tubby]

Virgin Atlantic were sold out for these dates last week, now available, much cheaper.

[banjo]

How true this is I don't know but it looks as if it's back on

http://philboxing.com/news/story-21927.html

[Asterix]

this doesnt sound like soemthing manny would say at all

[BigGar]

How true this is I don't know but it looks as if it's back on

http://philboxing.com/news/story-21927.html

Hope this turns out to be true. Want to go to Vegas!

[Twinkle Toes]

The BBC where all over it this morning, saying although not officialy announced, the fight is back on.

[Adamj1987]

hopefully i wanna see hatton KO'd again then he can sell hatton - bobble heads

[banjo]

hopefully i wanna see hatton KO'd again then he can sell hatton - bobble heads

Put them on the parcel shelf in the car alongside the nodding dog

[Goz]

Do you think Manny really said "patsies" in his interview?

[BigGar]

Am so tempted to get on Ex pedia and book it now. Finger is twitching on the keyboard!!!!! All a gamble though isn't it nut if I don't do it now am sure the hotel prices will rocket!!!!