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.

Pacquiao, who had earlier demanded a 60 percent share of the prize, later lowered it to 55-45.

He also made it clear he would even agree to a 52-48 split “for as long as the minimum guaranteed purse is raised,” Gacal said.

However, “the Hatton camp refused to give in”, he said.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive for Hatton backers Golden Boy Promotions, told ESPN and the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday that the bout was called off by Hatton after Pacquiao would not sign by the deadline.

“The fight is off,” Schaefer told ESPN. “We’re 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.”

Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, earlier said the Filipino hero wanted more money and a bigger split of the profits.

“Manny decided not to sign. He was unhappy with the terms,” Arum told ESPN. “The fight is off. 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.”

The fighters were set to tour from next week to promote the fight. Now Hatton is scrambling to find another opponent to face on May 2.

Hatton, 45-1 with 32 knockouts, hopes to fight Oscar de la Hoya, the winner of next month’s fight between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez or retired star Floyd Mayweather. Such a bout might even be staged at London’s Wembley Stadium.

A Mayweather-Hatton fight would be a rematch of the 2007 bout in which Mayweather stopped the Englishman in the 10th round at Las Vegas. Mayweather has not fought in the 13 months since and declared himself retired.

Four-time world champion Pacquiao, 48-3 with two drawn and 36 knockouts, could still step in and save the fight by agreeing to the deal before another rival was signed, but that wasn’t seen as a likely possibility.

Arum said Pacquiao’s next possible foes include Humberto Soto, but the payday would be far less than a fight with Hatton.

Gacal, the Pacquiao aide, said that if no matchup materialises the Filipino star “will concentrate on getting a college degree.”

He said Pacquiao “deserved due respect” through a bigger share of the purse after the way he effectively sent boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya into retirement in a Las Vegas non-title bout last month.

“Hatton does not have Pacquiao’s status,” Gacal added.