Pacquiao, Hatton search for other possible rivals

MANILA, Philippines – Now that their planned May 2 fight is officially called off, the camps of Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton are now looking for new opponents. Hatton's promotional side already announced the cancellation of the expected mega-bucks match on Las Vegas in an online report on Wednesday. Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Hatton, told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com that Hatton has instructed Schaefer to “go and lock in another fight." “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," a clearly upset Schaefer said. “They would like me to explore three fights they are interested in." Schaefer, who recalled the time Pacquiao stalled his match with Oscar de la Hoya for prize-money reasons as well, said there was a slim chance Pacquiao-Hatton would push through. Minimally slim, however. “We’re going to go and lock in another fight, but if Pacquiao calls in an hour or a day and I don’t have a fight locked in, I’ll call the Hattons and let them know," he said. Rafael reported that Pacquiao could face world super-featherweight champion Humberto Soto of Mexico in a fight eons below the magnitude of a Hatton gig. Hatton, on the other hand, might consider fighting either his promoter Oscar de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch or the winner of the Juan Diaz-Juan Manuel Marquez bout. Pacquiao refused to relent to an even-money split and has insisted on a 60-40 partition. Schaefer and counterpart Bob Arum seemed to have agreed at 52-48 favoring Pacquiao, but Pacquiao didn’t budge. Like Schaefer, Arum appeared to have conceded. “(Manny) was unhappy with the terms," Arum said in the same ESPN.com story. “So I contacted Schaefer and I told him the situation and he acted accordingly, which means the fight is off." For making a stand, Pacquiao, the 2008 Fighter of the Year, has touched some nerves, not the least of which the promoters involved. “I don’t really want to call the Hattons about anything with the name Manny Pacquiao on it because they want to chop off my head. They are pretty upset right now, and I don’t blame them," Schaefer said. “This has just been a wasted effort. I’m just so sick and tired of the games Pacquiao keeps playing and so are Ricky Hatton and Bob Arum as well." Arum said he couldn’t sit down and talk to Pacquiao, who told him to speak to his lawyer Jeng Gacal and adviser Michael Koncz. Gacal and Koncz “did everything short of tying Manny up and focring him to sign," Arum added. “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," Arum said. “It’s really as close to bizarre as anything I have ever been involved in." – GMANews.TV