Pacquiao sure to get $20M for April 9 fight

Manny Pacquiao AP FILE PHOTO

NO MATTER who Manny Pacquiao fights next, the Filipino icon stands to get a $20 million purse, guaranteed.

That’s the only thing certain as far as Pacquiao’s return to the boxing ring on April 9 is concerned, according to promoter Bob Arum.

Interviewed by ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Arum said he would prefer that Pacquiao choose between Terence Crawford or Timothy Bradley because the two fight under his Top Rank Promotions.

While Amir Khan remains a candidate, Arum doubts whether Pacquiao would pick the Briton because the Middle East, the preference of financiers of such a fight, is no longer on the table as a venue.

In the same report, the unbeaten Crawford (27 wins with 19 knockouts) said he could fight Pacquiao at 140 pounds, where he is the World Boxing Organization champion.