On Tuesday, WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao confirmed that his next fight will be held in the United Arab Emirates, two months from now.
"We are really going to fight in the UAE by April. I don't really have a fixed date, probably the third week of April... I don't really know yet," Pacquiao said to GMA News.
He said negotiations were still in progress with the camp of Australian Olympian Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs).
For several weeks, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, has been pushing that his fighter's next bout will take place in Australia - against Horn. The deal was made between Arum and Horn's lead promoter, Duco Events.
But Pacquiao posted a social media poll earlier this week, where he asked his followers to select his next opponent - and fighters like Amir Khan and Terence Crawford were way ahead of Horn in the voting.
Duco Events, in charge of promoting the fight, said they were aware of social media posts and comments from Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz that the Filipino would next defend his WBO welterweight title in the UAE.
“Michael Koncz has looked at other options, and he is well within his rights to do so,” Duco founder Dean Lonergan said. “But Top Rank will still make the final call in consultation with Manny.”
Pacquiao is having no issues with juggling his training camp and duties as a Senator in the Philippines.
The Senate will be on legislative break from March 18 to May 1.
Pacquiao said he is also proposing to hold a match in the Philippines after his fight in UAE.
"We want to work things out to have a fight here in the Philippines after the fight in UAE. Maybe as a way to end my career in boxing we can have an event here," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao last fought in November in Las Vegas when he defeated Jessie Vargas with a unanimous decision victory.
