By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THE eagerly awaited showdown between the world?s no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao and Britain?s Ricky Hatton is expected to be formally announced today.

Pacquiao?s lawyer Franklin ?Jeng? Gacal, who spoke to Hatton?s lawyer Gareth Williams, said everything was okay and that the signed contract had been forwarded last Friday (Manila time) to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

?Hopefully, the official announcement would be made on Monday,? said Gacal, who doesn?t foresee any last-minute hitches.

Williams, who is Hatton?s legal adviser, told The Daily Telegraph that the superfight with Pacquiao is 99-percent certain to take place.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer assured him that he had ?a signed contract from Manny Pacquiao, which is fantastic ?

Schaefer, who is Hatton?s promotional agent in the US, said he didn?t anticipate any problems. ?I?m hoping by Monday to officially announce the fight.?

Schaefer was quoted as saying, ?judging by the anticipation of the announcement, it should be one of the biggest fights in years.?

Williams told boxing writer Gareth Davies of The Daily Telegraph that Hatton now has a fight to look forward to. The lawyer confirmed he had spoken to Gacal, adding ?I hope that had helped to push the fight through.?

Pacquiao relaxed with close friends playing a round of golf at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong yesterday. He is expected to leave with wife Jinkee and their new-born baby girl Queen Elizabeth for their hometown of General Santos City on Monday morning?s Philippine Airlines flight.

Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao would report to the Wild Card gym on March 1 after he kicks off a promotional tour late February, which will take him to London and Manchester, hometown of Hatton.