Pacman vs. Hatton on May 2, 2009

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Pacquiao-Hatton May 2 bout final - Arum
By Abac Cordero Updated January 01, 2009 12:00 AM


With the birth of his fourth child, a bouncing baby girl to be named Queen Elizabeth, came some very good news about Manny Pacquiao’s plans for 2009.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, yesterday said it’s green and go for the May 2 showdown against Manchester’s Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

Arum told The STAR over the phone that everything has been ironed out, from the fight venue, at least that it’s going to be held in Sin City, to the fight purse.

“No more concerns,” said Arum, counting out any possibility that the fight would be staged in Hatton’s home turf, the Wembley Stadium in England.

“In other words, we’ve arrived at a point where everybody is satisfied,” added the ageless promoter who had dinner with Team Pacquiao the other day.

Arum said Pacquiao is in for another big payday when he faces Hatton, the pride of Manchester and recognized king of the 140-pound division.

Arum, however, did not reveal any amount or how the purse would be divided between the two fighters of practically the same style – rugged and fearless.

Arum was asked if Pacquiao, all set to clinch ESPN’s Champion of Champions award for 2008 last night, was to get the lion’s share of the purse. He got no less than $10 million for fighting Oscar dela Hoya.

“Well, not necessarily, but we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England (pay-per-view),” he said.

“Manny may get more but not much, much more because Ricky Hatton brings more to the table than anybody else Manny could fight at the moment.”

Pacquiao came to the meeting with his trainer Freddie Roach, and lawyer Franklin Gacal, who had to stay behind as the boxer was told that his wife Jinkee was ready to give birth.

Pacquiao rushed home to La Brea in his black, convertible Mercedes, and brought Jinkee to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Hospital using their Lincoln Navigator.

Jinkee, who stayed on in the US after Pacquiao defeated Dela Hoya last Dec. 6, labored for four hours and gave birth at 6:37 a.m. (10:37 p.m. Tuesday in Manila).

Pacquiao was with Jinkee inside the delivery room, and reports said the boxer cut the baby’s umbilical cord himself. The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

It was the second girl for the Pacquiaos’ who have two sons, Michael and Jimwell, who were born on the same year in 2001, and another girl, Princess, who was born in 2006.

The ESPN balloting came to a close yesterday with Pacquiao earning 90.75 percent and Malaysian squash superstar Nicol David getting just a fraction at 9.25 percent.

In ESPN’s All-Sports Nation Team, Pacquiao also stood on top with 98.1 percent followed by swimmer Michael Phelps (1.6), sprinter Usain Bolt (1.3), NBA’s Kobe Bryant (1.1) and golf’s Tiger Woods (1.0).

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Now its really on!!!!