Pacquiao to get same pot if Hatton fight pushes through

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao stands to receive the same amount of purse he collected in his fight with Oscar De La Hoya when he faces Ricky Hatton next middle of 2009. One of Pacquiao’s ring advisers, Rex `Wakee’ Salud, said that should be the case since the Filipino ring icon is now considered as boxing’s top attraction, aside from being universally recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. The General Santos City native reportedly earned a cool $6 million purse when he took on the 35-year old Dela Hoya last month, the biggest in his 13-year career. The amount is expected to reach the vicinity of $10 to $20 million counting his share in the Pay-Per-View buys which reached 1.25 million households. “Dapat same purse din ang makukuha niya tulad nung De La Hoya fight (He should get the same purse when he fought De La Hoya)," said Salud, also a well-known Cebu City matchmaker, calling from the Queen City of the South. Pacquiao must now also have the bigger cut in the PPV split, unlike when he settled for a 32-68 sharing in the De La Hoya bout. “Manny should now be the one in command given his status after beating Oscar De La Hoya," Salud added. And will the Hatton group be amenable? Salud said they should be. “Manny is the attraction here, they should know. Besides, it’s a big payday for Ricky," he said. Negotiations with the Hatton camp on a possible May 2 showdown in Las Vegas, Nevada between two of boxing’s biggest punchers today are still ongoing, although Salud is confident the showdown is as good as done. “Tuloy na yan (It's already a done deal)," he said, adding Pacquiao already had dinner with trainer Freddie Roach, lawyer Franklin Gacal and promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank in Los Angeles the other day to talk about the minor details still to be refined for the bout, set at the 140-pound limit, to finally push through. – GMANews.TV