Promoter Bob Arum is bent on staging Pacquiao’s remaining fights outside the US following the continuing revenue decline of pay-per-view (PPV) fights in the US.
Early this year, Arum said he is eying competitive fights outside the US for Pacquiao not only because of low PPV turnout in the US market even for big ticket fights but the fighting senator is known and popular outside the US.
“I think Manny Pacquiao is more than just a boxer because he is representing the Philippines,” he said. “It’s good for him to fight in places around the world same way Muhamad Ali fought so many fights outside of the United States.”
Arum is looking at the UK, Middle East, Australia and Mexico as possibe venues for Pacquiao’s upcoming fights.
“Now that the New Year is over I’m going to finalize a location because we’re looking out an opponent depending on the locations like in Australia, England, Middle East or maybe even in Mexico. That’s what I want to do with the last period of Manny’s career, Arum said. “I want him to be known as a worldwide fighter.”
Naturally, the 85-year-old Hall of Fame promoter will most likely choose opponents who are popular in these countries because it would be easier to promote a fight with a popular home-grown talent.
Considering Arum’s plan for Pacquiao’s remaining fights, there is a great possibility Pacquiao will face Amir Khan (31-4-0, 19 KOs) either in UK or in the UAE before the end of the year. Pacquiao usually fights twice a year.
Before signing up with Horn last month, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Michael Koncz was presented a lucrative offer from a Middle East group to stage the long-delayed Pacquiao-Khan fight in UAE. Unfortunately the fight negotiations failed to gain traction due to timing and funding constraints. Read more:
Khan has not fought for about a year and is now ready to face Pacquiao after the last failed talks in Dubai between Koncz and his handlers.
“I am ready to fight Pacquiao anytime. He is a great champion and I want to fight him. I can fight him in Dubai, Abu Dhabi anywhere he wants,” Khan said.
“Last time also we had come pretty close to fighting each other but the plan did not work out. So this time around I hope things will go through smoothly,” he added.
The other possible opponent is Kell Brook (36, 1-0, 25 KOs) also from the UK. Brook is set to face unbeaten Errol Spence on May 27 at the Brammall Lane, Sheffield, England.
Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach has been eying Danny Garcia for Pacquiao’s next fight but it will only happen if the fight is held in the US.
Other US challengers include Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman and Terence Crawford, among others.
