According to Dan Rafae of espn.com, WBO Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has turned his attention towards a fight with Amir Khan in the United Arab Emirates , thus leaving previously mentioned potential opponent Jeff Horn at the alter.
“My team and I are in negotiations with Amir Khan for our next fight. Further announcement coming soon,” Pacquiao wrote on social media.
n fact, Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world titleholder who outpointed Jessie Vargas to reclaim a welterweight world title in a dominant performance on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, had previously said he had never heard of Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), a 2012 Australian Olympian. On Wednesday night, Bob Arum told ESPN that the deal in Australia had fallen apart because of Pacquiao’s desire to chase the money in the UAE.
“The Australian deal is not going to happen now, because Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates and the people there favor him fighting Amir Khan,” Arum said.
“Whether it will happen or not, I just don’t know, because they have to come up with a large amount of money,” Arum said. “Manny seems to believe they will come up with the money. I have some reservations whether it will happen or not. If the money comes up, I will aid and abet the fight happening. But right now, I’m holding my powder. I don’t really know.”
May 20 has been the rumored date for a possible Pacquiao-Khan fight, but Arum said even if the bout happens, it won’t be then.
“May 20 is a non-starter. The senate in the Philippines [in which Pacquiao serves] is in session then,” Arum said. “Maybe in April or maybe June, but not May.”
“The Australian deal was a lot of money, but it paled in comparison to the … money they’re supposedly offering — $38 million,” Arum said derisively of the deal Pacquiao is pursuing. “I’m a practical man. The money in Australia wasn’t anywhere near $38 million. What do I know? We live in an alternative reality world. I don’t know what the story is. If the $38 million is real, it trumps the Australia deal. If it’s real, we will assist putting on the event, but I am not holding my breath and I’m not making plane reservations.
“We’ll see what we see. If the $38 million comes up, the fight will take place and we’ll all be happy. And if it doesn’t, there will be one guy who won’t be surprised.”
