As early as December 2008, talks of Pacquiao-Hatton match (or Hatton-Pacquiao for the billing conscious) have already been circulating – on the web, prints, radio, television, and yes, especially through the grapevine. Of course it is another much anticipated match for all Filipino as Manny Pacquiao has successfully caught the attention of our countrymen, even non-boxing aficionados like me.

Unfortunately this match might not reach the ring as it will end right at the negotiation table. Team Pacquiao is ready to abandon the negotiation because the camp of Ricky Hatton is going for a 50-50 split of the fight purse, whereas Team Pacquiao is insisting on a 60-40 split.

If Hatton’s camp refused to sign the contract and insist on 50-50 split, Team Pacquiao might just look for another opponent.

But it doesn’t end there. Hatton threatens Pacquiao with legal action if he backs out of the fight. Apparently, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum already has a verbal agreement with the Hatton’s camp before the end of 2008 that they are going to split the purse 50-50.

Hatton’s camp expects this verbal 50-50 split agreement to be honored.

This isn’t the first glitch in the Hatton-Pacquiao (Pacquiao-Hatton) match. Early on, Hatton’s camp was insisting that the fight take place at London’s Wembley Stadium.

Should everything be ironed-out finally, the fight is scheduled to take place on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas.

Until then, us spectators will just have to wait.