JEFF Horn is still on top of the list to be the next opponent for all-time boxing great Manny Pacquiao as another big fight continues over Suncorp Stadium being the venue.
Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz again declared on the weekend that the World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight won’t be held in Brisbane, even though Horn’s promoters Duco Events are just as adamant the world champ will eventually see reason and accept their massive offer.
Koncz says the United Arab Emirates has offered a better financial package, but with time running out for the April 23 fight to suit American television, details for the bout — either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi — remain sketchy.
Jeff Horn’s quest to fight Manny Pacquiao hits another snag. Picture: Zak SimmondsSource:News Corp Australia
Koncz told journalist Nick Giongco of fightnews.com that all was well between the Filipino boxing great and his long-time promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, even though plans to move the fight to the UAE broadsided weeks of negotiations between Arum and Duco for the Battle of Brisbane.
“Manny has made it clear that he will end his career with Top Rank,” Koncz said.
“We all know about Bob’s contribution to Manny’s career and Manny knows that.
“There is no bitterness … no war involving us.”
Koncz said Pacquiao would spend the next six weeks training in the Philippines before travelling to the UAE two weeks before the fight.
He said the undefeated Horn, the No.2 contender for Pacquiao’s world title was “still in the mix” of probable foes, though Britain’s former world champ Amir Khan topped the list of fighters Pacquiao fans wanted to see after the Filipino fighter turned politician last week asked his supporters to vote on his next opponent.
Pacquiao’s playing hardball.Source:Supplied
While 21,000 fans voted for Khan, only 3100 voted for Brisbane’s “Fighting Schoolteacher”.
Not everyone wants to see Pacquiao-Khan, though.
Writing in British newspaper the Daily Mirror, Irish boxing star Barry McGuigan cautioned Khan about taking the fight following a devastating knockout loss against Mexican Canelo Alvarez in his last bout, and recent personal troubles.
“Khan can’t help himself — he loves the show,” McGuigan wrote.
“But we saw when he stepped up from welterweight to middleweight to fight Alvarez the dangers of biting off more than he can chew.
“And, given the high-profile turbulence in his private life recently, I’m not sure that kind of publicity is conducive to taking on Pacquiao.
“Even at this advanced stage of Pacman’s career anything less than 100 per cent would not be good enough for Khan, and even that might not be sufficient.
“Khan needs to get back to basics. Take a tune-up bout and gain some ring confidence.”
Originally published as Horn loses vote to fight Pacquiao
