The proposed May 2 megafight between junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao may be running into a money problem. Hey, who said "Money"?
While the Pacquiao side says they will not accept a 50-50 purse split, the Hatton side is adamant that they will not budge from a 50-50 purse split, and that, my friends, could cause real problems.
One thing to learn from this situation is to always remember -- and I mean ALWAYS remember -- that all fighters, even the admirable action stars like Manny Pacquiao, are out for the most money, and they will be greedy if they feel they're right. I can't class Pacquiao wanting a 60-40 split with Hatton as anything less than greed, either. At 50-50 he's still making a huge amount of money, no doubt the second-biggest payday of his career behind the Oscar fight, and a role in what has a great shot at being the biggest fight of 2009.
I can't help but side with the Hatton folks on this one. Ricky's a big gate star and I think will draw a solid percentage of the PPV revenue not just overseas in Europe, but here in the States, as well. Hatton is a global phenomenon, just like Pacquiao. They have their home bases, of course, and will never lose that, but they're both accepted and beloved pretty much around the world.
With the purse debate ongoing, guess whose name is popping up as an alternative on both sides? "Money" himself, the "Pretty Boy," the "retired" pound-for-pound top dog, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Pacquiao's side has mentioned him. So has Hatton's. There's rumor going around that Floyd could use the money.
What's funny about this, to me, is NEITHER OF THEM will get a 50-50 split from Mayweather, and I don't think a Mayweather-Hatton rematch does Hatton-Pacquiao business, and I also don't know that Mayweather-Pacquiao does a whole lot more than Hatton-Pacquiao would. If they're looking to Mayweather as their out, they'd both lose money.
Must be nice to be Floyd.