Hatton-Pacquiao Fight Could Be Back On, Claims Promoter

In yet another twist in a contract negotiation that has seemed bizarre even by boxing's sometimes chaotic standards, Manny Pacquiao's representatives have told his promoter Bob Arum that the fighter now intends to sign for the 2 May fight against Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

The deal appeared to have collapsed when Richard Schaeffer, the chief executive of Hatton's promoters Golden Boy, accused Pacquiao of behaving "like a spoiled child" over the matter which hinged over whether or not he was prepared to accept a 50-50 split of the purse, and Schaeffer revealed he was in talks with Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jnr about an alternative fight.

But Arum has now revealed: "Manny has assured me he's signed the contract, that he's announcing to the Philippine press that he's signed it and that everything's done." Schaeffer said he would make no comment until he sees the signature on the contract, but it seems Pacquiao has now accepted a 52-48 split when faced with the very real likelihood that Hatton would not baulk at the prospect of taking another fight.

The question may now be whether or not the Hatton camp is prepared to get the fight back on after two weeks of will-he-won't-he uncertainty that has held back the official announcement of the contest, which was expected to be staged either at the MGM Grand or the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

In Los Angeles, the Mexican Antonio Margarito has stated his intention to knock out Shane Mosley to retain the WBA welterweight title when they meet in another Bob Arum-promoted fight at the Staples Center on Saturday. Although Mosley has also promised a "special" performance, Margarito said: "I know Mosley's style, he knows mine. He knows I'm not stepping back. I'll be pressuring him to fight my fight. You will see a knockout!"