Manny Pacquiao v Jeff Horn: Deal almost done as deadline looms

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• March 28th 2017
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(L-R) Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn.

MANNY Pacquiao is at last “finalising the terms’’ for his superfight with Jeff Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium according to his long-term adviser Michael Koncz.

A month after initially abandoning the Brisbane deal to chase a $A49 million purse in the United Arab Emirates, Pacquiao “looks like” he will proceed with a July 2 fight against the unbeaten Australian, Koncz says.

The Canadian adviser told website Rappler in a text message this morning that the deal “should be finalised by (the) end of (the) week.”

(L-R) Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn.Source:Supplied

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum had given the world champ until today to make a decision because the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council — who are financing the bout — would not wait indefinitely.

Pacquiao is expected to make more than $A10 million from the defence of his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against the undefeated Horn, who has put his work as a schoolteacher on hold to become the No. 2 contender for the Filipino senator’s belt.

A post shared by Jeff Horn (@jeffhornboxer) on Feb 25, 2017 at 5:44pm PST

Arum and Horn’s promoters, Duco Events, had announced the Brisbane boxer would fight Pacquiao at Suncorp on April 23 but Koncz instead flew to Abu Dhabi chasing a huge purse for a bout with England’s Amir Khan that eventually fell through when the financial guarantee failed to materialise.

Pacquiao, 38, has a record of 59 wins in 67 fights. He hasn’t fought since last November when he regained the WBO title with a decision over American Jessie Vargas.

Horn, 29, who is unbeaten in 17 fights, will start the world title bout a heavy underdog but takes heart from the fact that Pacquiao has lost three of his last eight fights and has not scored a stoppage since 2009.

“I think I’m getting Manny at the right time,’’ Horn said. “He’s not as great as he was — he’s slipped a little bit and I’m on the rise.’’

Originally published as Horn v Pacquiao: Deal done by end of week