Arum Provides Update on Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn Event

By Steve Kim

So is the fight between WBO welterweight champion, Manny Pacquiao and 2012 Australian Olympian Jeff Horn a done deal?

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, told BoxingScene.com - "I just got off the phone with them, once they select the state it's going to be at, whether it's Brisbane or Melbourne, then we'll go forward with an announcement and so forth."

Arum has talked extensively about this fight being placed in Australia, while Pacquiao's adviser, Mike Koncz, has made comments about this fight taking place in locales such as Abu Dhabi. But the veteran promoter says everyone is on the same page.

"Michael is part of the team, I think Michael is talking to people in the Mid-East as our we. In other words, you never know who you're dealing with in the Mid-East. You never know what's going to come to fruition," Arum told BoxingScene.com.

For years there have been rumors and reports of significant cards taking place out there with nothing to show for it.

"So say Micheal's guy comes through and the number that they're talking at turns out to be the biggest number - why wouldn't we go there?" asked Arum, rhetorically.

"In other words, we're all on the same page. I wouldn't stop Michael from talking to the mid-East people until after we made a deal in Australia which everybody signed off on. I'm talking to people other than Australia as well. But in my mind I'm making the calculation that Australia seems like it's the most viable place for it to happen."

As for when a deal for the Horn fight will be finalized, Arum stated - ''probably ten days, there's no hurry."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.