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Bobby Motus
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Saturday, April 22, 2017
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ABOUT two months ago, the Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan camps were declaring to all gullible citizens of the world (this column included) that they are ready for a violent exchange of greetings and scheduled a May 19 bout at an undisclosed city at the United Arab Emirates. This supposed fight reportedly guaranteed between $30 to $38 million in prize money put up by a group of Arab investors.
Because promoter Bob Arum was not exactly enthusiastic about the match and was obviously favouring a fight “Down Under”, we only heard Pacman’s adviser Michael Koncz doing the press releases stating dates and other related details. In my limited understanding of prize fighting, only promoters have the ability and capacity to close fight deals and everything else that comes with it. Unless advisers have multiple functions, only then can they close deals.
The calendared UAE fight and all the accompanying hype melted under the hot desert sun because the one and only truly begotten god of boxing promotions didn’t put his stamp of approval on it. Also reportedly, Khan, who is a devout Muslim, will be observing Ramadan which will be a week after the May 19 fight, and he is kind of tentative on the match.
So here we go back to Australia and Queensland’s fighting school teacher Jeff Horn. Duco Events, which promotes Horn has confirmed that the Pacman will defend his WBO welterweight title on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium. Top Rank likewise said that the part-time senator had already signed the contract but are not saying much and for what amount is up for grabs.
Reports say that Pacman will be flying to Australia sometime next week and will be on a press conference with Horn at the fight venue. It was further reported that he will also have some promotional stops at Melbourne and Sydney. If what we’re hearing is true, then we can safely conclude that this fight is a done deal.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium seats 55,000-plus spectators and depending on final seating arrangements, they are expecting to surpass the 38,000 who filled Melbourne’s Princes Park in 1992 when Azuma Nelson bested Jeff Fenech. That was the biggest boxing crowd Australia has ever seen, and considering Horn will be fighting on home soil and Pacman’s international appeal, boxing fans just might pack the stadium to the brim.
According to Aussie promoters, tickets to the fight will be available online beginning April 26 with 6,000 general admission tickets at 40 Australian dollars each and 27,000 seats to be available below A$100. Corporate tickets will be sold starting at A$495 per person in a corporate box.
Freddie Roach admitted that the younger, stronger and taller Horn is a good fighter, a strong counter-puncher yet for the nth time expects Pacman to win by KO. The last time Pacman floored an opponent was in 2009 when he knocked out Miguel Cotto. Yet the Australian’s trainer Glenn Rushton said that his ward could very well match up, likening Horn to a Pacman ten years removed from 38. Whatever guys. Just one well-timed solid punch will do the trick.
Damn if we will be hearing of this fight as “para sa bayan”. The moment Pacman unretired, nationalistic undertones drowned in sewage. The one and only aim for The Battle of Brisbane is money. Anything else is bullcrap. It’s only eight hours away and we could be seeing someone from across the Guimaras Strait on top of the ring waving the national colors. Abangan./PN
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