Manny Pacquiao. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
How well Manny Pacquiao will perform against Jeff Horn will largely determine when, where, and against who will be his next fight.
An impressive win, specifically a knockout, will definitely make things easier for revered promoter Bob Arum to find a suitable opponent for Pacquiao in November.
A decision and a highly improbable loss, on the other hand, is bound to pull Pacquiao’s ring stock down and make it hard for Arum to negotiate for a marketable fight.
“Let’s wait and see (result of Pacquiao-Horn), Arum told Filipino sportswriters. “Whether he (Pacquiao) still has it.”
Though chief trainer Freddie Roach swears Pacquiao is in an even better from than when he dominated Jessie Vargas last November, Arum wants tangible proof that the eight-division world champion really has long mileage left.
Arum bared that there were offers from Qatar and even Russia, but he is being hampered by Pacquiao’s legislative duties in the Philippine Senate.
But if Pacquiao finally scores a knockout, Arum knows lucrative offers will pour in.