If negotiations go smoothly, Pacquiao’s defense of his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Horn in Brisbane, Australia, on July 2 will be finalized before the week ends.
This developed after Team Pacquiao heeded the call of promoter Bob Arum for the Fighting Senator to choose among four fighters he submitted for a July fight.
As it turned out, Horn—who got swept aside as Pacquiao’s opponent on April 23 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium when Briton Amir Khan and the United Arab Emirates entered the picture—remains the most viable option.
Though not as lucrative as Pacquiao-Khan, which eventually fell through, the money for Pacquiao-Horn has been guaranteed by both the Queensland Government and the Brisbane City Council.
“We are discussing the matter with Arum,” Koncz told AFP by text message, when asked if Pacquiao would sign a contract Friday to fight the unbeaten Horn (16-0 with one draw).
The Inquirer was able to contact Koncz over the phone Friday afternoon, but he opted not to comment on the Pacquiao-Horn deal.
“I don’t have a statement today,” said Koncz. “I’m not even thinking about that (fight) at the moment.”
On Wednesday, Arum hinted that negotiations between him and Duco Events, Horn’s promoters, are ongoing.
This time, there’s no turning back for Pacquiao as he’ll only be available to fight up to July 2 as the Senate will resume session the following day.
Pacquiao intends to fight twice this year, the next one slated in November.