Pac-Horn II nears final stretch

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is ready to iron out details of the rematch between Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Australian Jeff Horn, who unseated him as WBO welterweight champion last July.

Arum said the match could be held anew in Brisbane’s 55,000-seat Suncorp Stadium on Nov. 12.

The fight date will give Pacquiao ample time to concentrate on his training since the Senate will adjourn on Oct. 14 and reopen only on Nov. 12.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, told philboxing.com that during Pacquiao’s first fight with Horn, they made the mistake of not getting bigger and stronger sparmates who could’ve prepared the Fighting Senator better against the younger Horn.

“They get 130-pounders and that doesn’t work when you’re getting ready for a guy who weighs like 170 pounds when he gets into the ring,” said Roach.

The bespectacled boxing Hall of Famer also disclosed that there will be some changes in the training camp.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz chose the sparring partners of the eight-division world champion for the first fight. This time, Roach said he would pick the sparmates.

Meanwhile, Arum said that aside from the date, one of the details that need to be agreed upon is the venue of the rematch.

Pacquiao earlier floated the idea of staging the second fight in the Philippines or on neutral ground like Las Vegas, Texas or Dubai.

If the fight pushes through here, the potential venues include Smart Araneta Coliseum, Philippine Arena or the Mall of Asia Arena.

Because of the first fight’s high rating on ESPN and the huge gate revenues, however, it is likely that Arum will vouch for Brisbane anew.

Meanwhile, Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, told a news agency recently that Pacquiao must first sign the rematch contract before Arum can market the event.
Quirk said the rematch could only happen with the financial support of the Brisbane City Council. It all boils down to this: No contract, no financial support from the city government of Brisbane.