Manny Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight against Amir Khan has been moved from April 23 to May 20 in the United Arab Emirates (May 19 in the United States) either in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
The decision was arrived at following a meeting between Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz and promoter Bob Arum in Las Vegas Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
“We decided to move it to May 19 here and May 20 in the United [Arab] Emirates so we’d have time to promote it properly and make it a huge success,” Koncz told Yahoo Sports. “I have to talk to both fighters [on Wednesday] to get them to approve going in May instead of in April. I don’t think that will be any problem.”
Khan was chosen after he emerged runaway winner in a Twitter poll conducted by Pacquiao asking fans who they wanted to be his next opponent.
Jeff Horn, Arum’s original choice for Pacquiao’s next fight in Australia, came out last and was eventually stricken out. —ROY LUARCA