THERE seems to be growing apprehension within the Manny Pacquiao camp regarding the Filipino fighter’s proposed battle against superstar Oscar de la Hoya.

Well-known Pacquiao confidante Rex “Wakee” Salud yesterday told the BusinessMirror it would be best for the four-time world champion to instead target British superstar Ricky Hatton.

Hatton, a former champion at super lightweight, will try to regain a crown in the same division when he battles defending champion Paulie Malignaggi this November in Las Vegas.

“It will also be a huge money fight for Manny if he fights Hatton but more important, the health risk will be a lot lesser compared with fighting de la Hoya,” said Salud in a telephone conversation.

Salud said a bout with de la Hoya will be a “very difficult” fight and that the six-time world champion has a great chance of winning the bout via a daunting knockout win.

Pacquiao’s lawyer Jeng Gacal, in an interview with Sports Radio show Sports Chat last week hosted by this writer, admitted on air that he’s been advising Pacquiao to think twice and think hard before finally accepting de la Hoya’s challenge.

Gacal said the obvious disparity in height and weight is what is making him feel awkward in pursuing the planned bout.

Gacal added that Pacquiao is taking a “take it or leave it” stance in asking for a 60-40 split in favor of de la Hoya, which the Filipino champion feels he deserves.

Gacal said the de la Hoya camp is offering a 70-30 scheme and a $10-million guaranteed purse, a proposal they feel is undue for a fighter like Pacquiao who, in all likelihood, will be sacrificing a lot in terms of physical matchup.

“Knowing Manny, he is the type of fighter who will accept any challenge hurled at him. But of course it will be a tough fight for Manny so what we are asking is something that we believe he truly deserves,” said Gacal during the interview.

In November last year, American trainer Freddie Roach, in one of his interviews with the same radio show, broached the idea of Pacquiao facing de la Hoya down the road, especially if the Filipino warrior successfully wins a lightweight crown.

A few weeks after winning the World Boxing Council lightweight crown from David Diaz, Roach again went on air and that time sounded resolute in seeing Pacquiao challenging de la Hoya, since the former Olympic gold medalist has been shopping for an opponent for his planned final bout.

Nearly settled

The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday that negotiations for a fight between Pacquiao and de la Hoya are nearly settled, except for the size of the purse.

According to the report, de la Hoya has agreed to fight Pacquiao at 147 pounds and with eight-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 December 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 in the report.

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Go for Hatton, not Oscar, Wakee advises Pacquiao

THERE seems to be growing apprehension within the Manny Pacquiao camp regarding the Filipino fighter’s proposed battle against superstar Oscar de la Hoya.