UPDATE: Various reports posted on Pacland, a website dedicated to Manny Pacquiao, indicates that the fight is on.

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By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — A day after promoters declared the fight has been called off after an impasse over the prize money, Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao has agreed to accept the offer to fight British superstar Ricky Hatton on May 2, a report on philboxing.com said.

The report quoting Pacquiao’s close friend and confidante Rex “Wakee” Salud said the Filipino idol was convinced when told that he would receive a $12 million guarantee and 52 percent of the pay-per-view shares.

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INQUIRER.net

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite - Abe Avena of Mt. Malarayat reached the semifinals for the third time in as many years by making short work of his power hitting Korean foe Dong Kyun Goh of Lake Caliraya in the men’s division even as Carmela Lee of Ayala Greenfield shocked ladies top seed Grace Atienza in the fourth National Tournament of Club Champions (NTCC) at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club here.

Avena, a losing semifinalist in all his three stints here, used his accuracy to handle the brute force of the muscular Goh, taking a 3-up lead at the turn en route to a 5&4 victory that earned him a shot at the No. 1 ranked Chino Raymundo of Valley in the Final Four on Friday.

Raymundo got a free ride into the semis when his opponent Tootsie de Jesus of Tagaytay Highlands failed to show up due to an earlier commitment he made with a business partner for a member-guest tourney.

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By Agence France-Presse

MANILA–A planned May 2 showdown between Britain’s Ricky Hatton and Philippines star Manny Pacquiao has been called off after two of the sport’s top draws failed to agree on how to split the purse.

“Basically, the two camps could not agree on the purse,” Pacquiao aide Jeng Gacal told reporters in Manila on Thursday of the reported 24-million-dollar kitty for what had been billed as one of the biggest fights in years.

Pacquiao, the WBC lightweight champion considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, let a Wednesday night Hatton deadline lapse on the Briton’s final offer of a 52-48 split in the Filipino’s favour.

“Manny did not sign it,” Gacal added, confirming earlier reports the mega fight, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, was off.

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By Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES–If Kobe Bryant was looking for an added challenge against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, then the Los Angeles Lakers superstar got more than he bargained for.

Playing through the pain of dislocated right ring finger, Bryant had 20 points, 12 assists and a half dozen rebounds in the Lakers 105-88 win over Cleveland at Staples Center arena.

Bryant sustained a dislocated finger in the opening minutes of the first quarter of Monday’s game as the Lakers finally beat Cleveland after failing in their previous five attempts.

“My teammates looked at it and looked away,” Bryant said of the injury. “No fun.”

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By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao on Saturday rejected a fresh proposal for a 52-48 revenue sharing with British superstar Ricky Hatton in their 140-lb battle in May.

And the latest twist in the negotiations could open the door for Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose handlers, Pacquiao disclosed, have been communicating with his camp for a possible match that could lure the former pound-for-pound king out of his retirement.

But Pacquiao isn’t about to give up on the Hatton fight just yet.

“Kita mo, nagbago din sila (You see, they changed their minds),” Pacquiao said with a laugh as if to stress that he is still the draw in this planned super fight pitting the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter against the king of the junior welterweight division.

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By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

As far as Manny Pacquiao is concerned, there is still no deal to fight British slugger Ricky Hatton.

This was confirmed Friday by Pacquiao adviser Rex “Wakee” Salud, who said that the Filipino superstar isn’t fighting Hatton unless the revenue sharing tilts to his favor.

“Manny’s stand is the same; he is not fighting unless the numbers move to his favor,” Salud told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Pacquiao is demanding 60 percent of fight and pay-per-view purses, a sharing that does not sit well with the Hatton camp, which claimed that a verbal arrangement for a 50-50 split had already been made.

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Agence France-Presse

MELBOURNE–Roger Federer Tuesday backed his own chances for lifting a fourth Australian Open title while marveling that British bookies are tipping untried Andy Murray for the trophy.

“Murray’s the favorite? Good for him, but it doesn’t help him a lot,” said the Swiss player at the presentation of the eight-man Kooyong Classic, considered the top tune-up for the grand slam starting on Monday.

But after losing twice to the Scot this month, once at an unofficial exhibition and in the Doha ATP semi-finals, Federer does give the number four player his due.

“He’s put himself into a great position,” said the 13-time grand slam champion who could pull level on the all-time best of 14 held by Pete Sampras with a title in Melbourne.

“He’s playing well and finished well last year. But I’m surprised that the bookies say he’s the favorite. He’s never won a slam, it’s surprising to hear,” he said.

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