Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao fight nearly set
BOXING
The boxers have tentatively agreed to a nontitle welterweight bout in December at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Their representatives are negotiating how to share the purse.
Negotiations for a fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao are nearly settled, except for the size of the purse.
De La Hoya has agreed to fight Pacquiao at 147 pounds and with 8-ounce gloves, said Richard Schaefer, chief executive of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, but they have not agreed on the share of the purse.
Schaefer and Bob Arum, president of Top Rank Boxing, which represents Pacquiao, began negotiations last week for a Dec. 6 nontitle welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Schaefer and De La Hoya spoke several times over the weekend and Schaefer relayed De La Hoya's final terms to Arum this morning.
"Now, it's up to Pacquiao if he wants to do it or not," Schaefer said.
Arum had pushed for the fight to be held at 147 pounds and with 8-ounce gloves. The Nevada Athletic Commission requires any bout at 147 or higher to be contested with 10-ounce gloves, unless fighters agree on a different size.
Pacquiao defeated David Diaz in June at 135 pounds. De La Hoya last fought in March at 150 pounds.
Schaefer would not disclose the purse, or the percentage Pacquiao was seeking, but said it would easily be the biggest payday of his career.
"We gave in a bit on the last round of negotiations," Schaefer said. "This time around, we're not willing to make any further concessions."
Schaefer said he expected to have an answer before this weekend.
dan.arritt@latimes.com
