Manny Pacquiao tells Arum signed contract on the way

by Lance Pugmire

In the latest, unexpected turn in an unpredictable negotiation, Manny Pacquiao's representatives told the boxer's promoter, Bob Arum, that Pacquiao's signature on a contract to fight Ricky Hatton will be faxed and e-mailed tonight to Arum's Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas.

"Manny has assured me he's signed the contract, that he's announcing to the Philippines press that he's signed it, and that everything's done," Arum told The Times Thursday night.

A day after Hatton tired of repeated Pacquiao signing delays and instructed his promoter, Richard Schaefer, to pull out of the fight and look for other opponents, Pacquiao released an early morning Thursday statement urging Hatton to cut out the "middlemen," and "get it on." read more