Manny Pacquiao’s promoter has denied reports the Filipino is poised to fight Amir Khan, saying the boxer is “determined to explore” the option of staging his next bout in the UAE.
Pacquiao, 38, had been expected to take on undefeated Australian Jeff Horn at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on April 23. However, the eight-division champion threw that into doubt last week when his various social media accounts stated he was set to fight in the Emirates.
Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, has earlier told reporters in Abu Dhabi that his client would “100 per cent” defend his WBO Welterweight title in the UAE.
Pacquiao added fuel to the fire last Monday by asking his Twitter followers to choose his next opponent, with England's Khan emerging as the overwhelming favourite. Of the four options, Horn was ranked last.
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Reports this week in the British media claimed Khan has agreed a deal to fight Pacquiao in England, but Bob Arum, the chief executive of promoters Top Rank, dismissed the reports.
"The Amir Khan story has come out of nowhere," said Arum in a report in Australia's Courier Mail. "What's happening is that Manny is talking to these people in Dubai who have offered him an insane amount of money. Whether [the offer] is real or not real — he is determined to explore it to see if it has any validity. That's all I can say."
As it is, an event in the UAE remains highly unlikely given the finances required and the logistics in organising the fight at such short notice. Pacquiao (59-6-2), also a senator in the Philippines House of Representatives, made a successful return to the ring on November 5 with a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas following a short retirement to pursue his career in politics.
Horn, who has 16 wins from 17 fights with one draw, still seems his most probable next opponent.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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