Pacman picks Khan for April 23 fight
Manny Pacquiao has chosen, decided and agreed to fight Amir Khan, his former sparring partner and someone he considers his friend, on April 23.
The venue of the fight is yet to be finalized although the United Arab Emirates seems to be the logical choice because of the “insane amount of money” on the table.
“Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted,” Pacquiao wrote on Twitter yesterday. A reliable source told The
STAR two weeks ago that Pacquiao was being offered $38 million to bring his act in the UAE – perhaps in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
The source said it was Pacquiao himself who disclosed the amount.
When Khan’s name cropped as a possible opponent, the United Kingdom was mentioned as a probable venue, but the question was if the UK could offer amount of money being offered by the UAE group.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, had confirmed the offer from the UAE, and described it as “an insane amount of money.”
Arum had wanted to pit Pacquiao against Jeff Horn of Australia in a fight that could have taken place in Brisbane.
But Pacquiao’s personal adviser, Mike Koncz, said Pacquiao was being offered “peanuts” for a fight Down Under, and sought other deals.
It was reported that the Duco group in Australia was ready to give Pacquiao $5 million and couple of millions more on the side for him to take on Horn.
Koncz went to the UAE and found the $38 million offer.
Khan, a British fighter with Pakistani roots, trained under Freddie Roach for some time and had the chance to work and spar with Pacquiao.
The two boxers became friends, and once said they wouldn’t fight each other. But the opportunity is here for both fighters to give the fans what they want.
Almost simultaneously with Pacquiao’s tweet, the 30-year-old Khan, a silver medalist in the 2004 Athens Olympics, went to social media.
“My team and I have agreed with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight,” he said.
The Pacquiao-Khan fight may end up as the biggest fight of 2017.
Pacquiao went to social media weeks ago to ask his fans whom they preferred as his next opponent, and Khan’s name came on top with 48 percent of the votes.
Kell Brook, Terence Crawford and Horn came in far behind.
“See you in UAE for my next big fight,” Pacquiao tweeted a couple of weeks ago.
April 23 is less than two months away, and the 38-yearold Pacquiao should start training as soon as he wakes up this morning. The same goes with Khan.
Koncz said Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, wants to train in Manila, while the Senate is on a break.
“He wants to do it the way it was done the last time,” said Koncz.