World junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will face Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas, with both fighters having agreed to terms and location. The only thing left to be decided is whether the fight will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena or the dreadful Thomas & Mack Center.
Lance Pugmire of the L.A. Times is reporting the most interesting piece of news, though, which is that it's not exactly a definite that HBO will be the network providing the pay-per-view home for what is 2009's first huge money fight. Bob Arum says there will be serious negotiations with Showtime, whose relationship with CBS could provide network television pre-fight hype, perhaps with something similar to HBO's "24/7" series.
While an interesting idea -- and a good one -- I frankly don't see any way HBO lets this get away. Their budget is such that they can blow Showtime out of the water on a firm money offer, and HBO prides themselves on offering these massive fights. I'd love to see Showtime get in there and work something out with CBS, because it'd be nothing but good for the fight, but I can't see it happening.