Hatton-Pacquiao officially off

by SC on Jan 21, 2009 3:49 PM EST in News Analysis Comment 13 comments

From ESPN:

The proposed May 2 showdown between Manny Pacquiao and junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton is off, according to representatives for both fighters.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Hatton, told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he's canceled next week's planned media tour and will begin negotiating with other potential opponents immediately. Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promotes Pacquiao, confirmed that the fight is off.

"The fight is off and I instructed [tour manager] Kelly Swanson to cancel the tour," said Schaefer, clearly upset. "It's off and we are now pursuing our other options. That's it. The Hattons called me and asked again if we had a signed deal from Pacquiao and when I said we didn't, they said they won't sit around anymore. They would like me to explore three fights they are interested in."

...

"Manny decided not to sign," Arum said. "He was unhappy with the terms. So I contacted Schaefer and I told him the situation and he acted accordingly, which means the fight is off. The suits can posture but it's the fighters who have to go in the ring and fight. But I am not thrilled right now."

Schaefer said Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) still planned to fight May 2 and three names they gave him as opponents to explore deals with, in no particular order, were the winner of the Feb. 28 fight between lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, Golden Boy boss De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, who is retired but has said he would listen to proposals.

This is a loss for boxing, for the fans, and for both fighters. I truly feel that way. This is a massive missed opportunity for a major fight between two guys who aren't over the hill and have plenty more to offer the sport. It was a fight, not just an event.

In short, it's a shame.

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greed sucks

Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!

by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 21, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is Pac-Man's fault

I hate to say it, but it is. He was the unreasonable one here.

That being said, I’m actually more interested in seeing Pacquiao in the lightweight division than I am watching him go up and down looking only for megafights against pre-existing superstars. Aside from the obvious Pacquiao/Marquez re-rematch, I’d be interested in seeing Pacquiao/Campbell if the latter can get past Funeka.

by schraubd on Jan 21, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What difference does it makes

Even without the steroids Pacman would of won.

Watching Manny Pacquiao fight live--great...
Watching Manny Pacquiao shadow boxing on the roof of an abandoned building--priceless

by CRAZEDANG1280 on Jan 21, 2009 4:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is by FAR the most lucrative fight available to Pacquaio. Must have had second thoughts ;). Pac is largely untested above 130, we would have learned a lot from a Hatton bout. And if he’s antsy about this huge of a payday vs. Hatton, I think there’s NO WAY Pac ends up fighting Valero for peanuts. Actually if he’s gonna turn down that kind of a deal, there’s no reason for him to stick around, he should just retire. Hatton genuinely adds to his legacy AND pocketbook so there’s no reason to not fight him other than fear. The only other really significant fight out there for him is Marquez III, and i think Pac might have the feeling his luck (ahem, on the scorecards) with JMM has run out.

And whats up with the steroids accusation? Did i miss something?

It's not the size of the dog... It's whats in the fight of Bernard Hopkins! -BHOP

by blackpage on Jan 21, 2009 4:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

any which way this plays out i completely blame manny on this one. he’s made himself look terrible to boxing fans. this reeks of the type of shit that people hate pbf and dlh for. at this point manny looks to have too much ego, greed and may actually be scared to actually fight hatton.

i am not a hatton fan, but him being the natural jr. ww and given his style he can give any one trouble. i am really thinking that manny started getting cold feet that this fight was going to get off without a hitch.

and now with his talk that he’d be able easily beat margo!?!? when in the dlh post presser roach said they know their limitations and would rather fight a klit then margo . . . the dlh win seems to have gone to their heads.

by 3zilla on Jan 21, 2009 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope Diaz wins

Diaz-Hatton could be an awesome fight as well. The others…..not so much.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jan 21, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pac Mans fault

i hope something happens and they can fight later in the year… but we’ll see..

"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez

by thebitb on Jan 21, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I still don't think it's off

Pacquaio vs De La hoya was called off at one point in time as well

Negotiating is a bitch though

by Option27 on Jan 21, 2009 10:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Margarito-Mosley was called off too

I’m not 100% on it being off, but for now, it’s most certainly off. The Hatton camp basically seems to be saying, “Alright, fuck off then,” rather than Mosley, who went, “OK, I’ll fight Andre Berto.”

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"I decided to become a basketball fan this year and it’s not working out so well because the Wizards SUUUCK. So then I shifted to hockey. That’s pretty fun except there are a lot of flashing lights and horns and shit at the game."

by SC on Jan 22, 2009 3:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You look correct

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Jan 23, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I admit I’ve followed this train wreck too closely myself, but maybe all this kind of thing is really an expression of the constant/instant-information made possible by the web. Previously, fans probably wouldn’t hear about any of this kind of drama, or at least, not until it was all over, and then through the lens of each camp’s respective spin. Fighters’ reps and our own attitudes wouldn’t have been as scrutinized. I really wonder how aware Paq is of the kind of magnifying glass he’s under with respect to these negotiations.

by Matt Miller on Jan 21, 2009 11:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs