Manny Pacquiao (left) and Amir Khan. AFP FILE PHOTOS
Manny Pacquiao liked it. Amir Khan wanted it. The fans demanded it. Both fighters had even already announced they would be clashing on May 20 in the United Arab Emirates.
As it turned out, however, the supposed dream deal is baloney.
Apparently, with no money on the table, it’s been shot down by Pacquiao’s longtime promoter Bob Arum.
“It’s kaddish for the UAE deal. It’s dead,” Arum told espn.com Tuesday. “I’m talking to him about another proposal for another fight, not Khan. Khan won’t be Manny’s next opponent.”
And Pacquiao’s next fight won’t happen until June or July.
Against whom, Arum refused to reveal the name or names of Pacquiao’s probable opponent.
According to Arum, he wanted Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, to discuss the matter with the Fighting Senator and explore the options before he makes it public.
When the $38 million Pacquiao-Khan duel was first announced, Arum already expressed his reservations.
“When they contacted me, I told them it was pie in the sky, that this is crazy, it’s not going to happen,” Arum told the Los Angeles Times.
“Manny wanted to roll the dice. He rolled the dice and it came up snake eyes. If something is too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.”