By Hermie Rivera

Dear Manny,

The promoters are back with their gimmicks, latest of which is a subtle threat for you to accept their new demands.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum for one is calling for an L.A. meeting ostensibly to impose his long- pending card involving his wards, ( Edwin Valero and Humberto Soto.)

In the event this meeting happens, be prepared to answer questions obliging you to either fight one of his “ready to be slaughtered fighters” or agree to the 52-48 split of the Pac/Hat mega-pie.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Golden Boy Promotions are peddling the tale that Oscar de la Hoya will take on Ricky Hatton in England.

If so. will Hatton fight De La Hoya at 147 lbs? Or will Oscar go down to 140 pounds?

“Prepesterous” says one ill-informed fan.

Last we witnessed was the total destruction of Ricky by Floyd Mayweather Jr.at 147 pounds.

When I first heard of this proposal, two key points came to mind: Primero: is Oscar fit to fight Ricky in May after a severe or was it thorough-drubbing he got from Manny?

Segundo, Ricky’s disdain for a higher weight class to engage Oscar is foremost in his mind— what with his gruesome KO by Floyd— his lone loss in his checkered yet oft-times sensational career.

The other possibility they are toying with is for a rematch with Floyd Jr., a situation which entails difficulty for the Mancunian dynamo.

This fight is not going to happen either!

Neither is the winner being offered to you lest you’ll wind-up visiting a morgue (heavens forbid) instead of a vet’s clinic.

Pretty Boy Floyd Jr cannot make 140 and will insist on his usual 147 lbs or higher marks if ever he comes back— Internal Revenue Service tax-hounds notwithstanding.

But, if Mayweather had his druthers, he’ll opt for the Pinoy hero since Oscar would’nt dare get to Floyd at this time owing to his abysmal showing against you— the rampaging GenSan ‘cinderella’ man who’s on an absolute roll or tear as the case maybe.

And so Manny if I may; stick to your stand: that the Hatton group must decide whether to fight at your prescribed 55-45 split of the entire proceeds or have their Hitman  engage a lifetime career of a not so funny  comedian.

Manny, it was truly inspiring when you intoned: “Good luck sa plinaplano nilang laban nina  Oscar, Ricky, Floyd Jr. atbpa.

Hari-nawa, maging successful ang promotions nila.

As for me, I remain steadfast on my request for respectability.

Kung iyan ay ipagdadamot pa nila—-so be it..

I’ll go on seeking what’s right and proper kahit sino pa dian ang masaktan.”

Till here Manny—as always —keep punchin’.

Cordially,

Hermie Rivera

By Michael Marley

When he’s got an opponent in trouble, Manny Pacquaio instinctively knows what to do.

He comes forward with fire and fury, pressing that advantage to the fullest.

That’s what the Pacman needs to do now as the haggling over the May 2 super bout with Ricky Hatton drags.

I see Bob Arum complaining about Megamanny and his inner circle “negotiating through the media.” That makes me laugh as American athletes and agents are experts in doing just that.

Uncle Bob is a master at the same. Sometimes, I think baseball uber agent Scott Boras has taken a page or two out of the Don King or Arum media playbooks.

Maybe Uncle needs to be reminded that pacman lawyer Franlin Jacal works for his client and is not in the employ of Top Rank. Ditto for adviser Wakee Salud.

Even the Candian recluse Michael Koncz seems to have taken Manny’s side in demanding more upside than the 50-50 revenue split Team Hatton offered.

Now the Hattonites offer Pacquiao a 52-48 money edge and expect him to jump for joy, grab a contact singing pen and begin the publicity tour. Manchester here we come!

This time around, though, Pacman and his boys have flipped the script. No longer the docile, pliant Pinoy, Pacquiao demands full value for services rendered and for his awesome in ring prior accomplishments.

I say go for it, Manny, go for the knockout. They’ve conceded the 52-48, they caved once and now you can easily get the 55-45 division of all the money.

If you go for the jugular, you’ll set a great precedent for yourself and maybe for a future Manny Pacquiao ring hero.

The Casper Milquetoasts will tell you to cut and run, to put your John Hancock on the paper before Ray Hatton and his Golden Boys snatch the new offer away.

Don’t give Hatton a chance to walk, the cowards say. Come on, the Hatton side does not have a Plan F let alone a Plan B.

They’ve got no royalty, only jokers in their deck. Last week, Hatton’s lawyer was going to sue you and now butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

Word is the Hatton camp, the Goldens and Arum are all “annoyed” that you did not roll over and take the 50-50.

Isn’t that shame. Maybe they can make a movie about that, perhaps call it “White Men Can’t Slump” or something.

You and your family won’t be getting any retirement benefits, 401K’s or pensions from multijillionaires named De La Hoya or Arum.

Arum’s been pulling in the promotional cash since Ali-Chuvalo, Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, 1966.

Uncle Bob is on a 43-year run. When every fight is over, he goes to the bank.

You’ve done good in standing up this time, Pacman.

Now you need to close the show and get your rightful, eminently fair 55-45 split.

The Hattons, the Goldens, Arum…they’re all on the ropes now, champ.

Press on like De La Hoya for his own purses and like Floyd Mayweather Jr. always does. Squeeze them while you can.

Don’t settle for a decision, go for the mercenary KO.

This has nothing to do with sports. This is all about a brutal business.