By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum is playing his last card?a 52-48 percent split of revenues in favor of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in his scheduled May 2 showdown with Britain?s Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton.

In an overseas telephone conversation from Las Vegas, the promoter said there was a little change from the originally agreed upon 50-50 split between Pacquiao?s promoter and Hatton?s handlers, who conceded to a 52-48 in favor of Pacquiao.

?They all say it?s going to happen, but it has to happen today [Monday, Manila time],? said Arum.

That?s because Arum said he has a conference with the Hatton representatives, presumably lawyer Gareth Williams, at 10 a.m. on Monday (US time).

?Pacquiao has the contract and hopefully he?s going to sign because we are talking about millions of dollars that Hatton is going to bring in,? said Arum. ?If we don?t make a decision, there won?t be a fight.?

Pacquiao had earlier demanded a 60-40 split, but told Standard Today on Sunday that there was a possibility of a deal being done on a 52-48, or 55-45 revenue split.

One of his close friends Rex ?Wakee? Salud explained that the 55-45 split was premised on the possibility of Hatton getting the bigger cut on British pay-per-view buys, and Pacquiao enjoying the advantage in the rest of the world.

But it was pointed out that such a deal may work to the disadvantage of Pacquiao financially, since historically, the British PPV market in most big Hatton fights was huge and the best example was the Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout, which drew over 1.25 million buys in Britain and only 850,000 in the US.

Salud disclosed what Arum believed was the reason behind Pacquiao?s demand for a 60-40 split and that was his desire for a higher guarantee. Pacquiao received an $11-million guarantee for the Oscar de la Hoya fight last Dec. 6, while De la Hoya received a $20-million guarantee. Salud hinted that if Arum upped Pacquiao?s guarantee, the deal could be made.

Arum appeared peeved over people, who keep whispering to Pacquiao.

?They know nothing,? said Arum.