By Ronnie Nathanielsz

TOP Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer are scheduled to meet in Las Vegas on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time) to finalize the venue for the May 2 showdown between the world?s no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in Manny Pacquiao and Britain?s Ricky Hatton.

Arum told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Hatton?s handlers may be posturing to get a better deal in Las Vegas after claiming that they were ready to present an attractive package to entice Pacquiao to fight in Wembley Stadium, which would attract an estimated 100,000 fight fans.

?Everything is done. Richard is coming in to Las Vegas on Tuesday and we are going to decide which place to put it [fight],? said Arum, who added they would meet with representatives of MGM Grand on Tuesday morning and on Tuesday afternoon with Planet Hollywood to ?see what they have to say.?

Arum indicated that the Wynn Hotel people were also interested.

At the same time, he welcomed the public statements of Hatton?s trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. as being good for promoting the fight. ?He is a terrific ticket seller, he really stirs up the pot. It?s good to have him on board. They were the people that originally put him together with Oscar de la Hoya when we were looking for a trainer. We have great respect for Floyd Sr.?

There?s also been talk of huge revenues generated by the Pacquiao-Hatton fight with a figure of around $60 million being mentioned.

?They come out with these numbers which may ultimately be accurate. In other words, the fighters are all in for percentages. I figure this kind of money, $60 million or something like that as the pot. Yes, it?s not far-fetched if we can do the numbers that the Hatton-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight did.?

While stating that he hoped the numbers generated will be like the Hatton-Mayweather Jr. fight or even more, which would mean ?a real home run,? Arum cautioned that with the continuing economic crisis worldwide, to make any guarantees based on those numbers ?is insane.?

But the astute promoter, who is considered the best in the business, disclosed that he does know the guaranteed purse figures on the Pacquiao side, which his team was very happy about, but that he couldn?t reveal details.