Arum: Khan was rejected for Pacquiao fight by cable/satellite distributors

By Scott Gilfoid: If you’re wondering why Amir Khan wasn’t selected as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent for his 4/9 fight on HBO PPV, it’s because he was rejected by the Cable and satellite distributors, according to Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank. They rejected the 29-year-old Khan for a variety of reasons for the Pacquiao fight. First of all, they felt that Khan’s record was blemished with defeats, and they weren’t impressed with his ratings for previous fights. If Khan couldn’t bring in good ratings on regular Showtime or HBO, then it’s likely that he wouldn’t pull in the fans for a pay-per-view fight against Pacquiao. They also thought that Khan wouldn’t perform. I’m not entirely sure what they mean by that, but my guess is they thought Khan would run around the ring trying to keep from getting hit by Pacquiao all night long. Khan moves a lot, and he does a lot of shoving and putting his opponents in headlocks and leaning on the back of their necks. Some of the stuff Khan does isn’t as bad as it used to be before he started training with Virgil Hunter in the Bay Area in Northern California. Given that Khan is no longer the most active fighters, it’s quite possible that his old habits might have crept back in with him not training a lot anymore. “They didn’t feel Khan would do anything,” Arum said to the latimes.com about the cable and satellite distributors rejecting Khan as an opponent for Pacquiao. “ has a spotty record, hasn’t done great ratings. Why would we feel he’d do well on pay-per-view?” The Cable and satellite distributors also said that Khan is not “that well known yet,” which I kind of agree with. Khan obviously well known in the UK, where he comes from, but in the United States he just hasn’t had enough fights and he’s not looked great in the fights that he’d had over there. Khan has fought only eight times in the United States in the five years that he’s been fighting there. Eight times is obviously not going to be enough to build a large fan base and bring in good ratings. Look Terence Crawford. He’s been fighting in the United States his entire career, and he’s not someone that brings in huge Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin type ratings. http://www.************.com/2016/01/arum-khan-rejected-pacquiao-fight-cablesatellite-distributors/ Link won't work for some reason. BOXING NEWS 24 . com

Comments (20)

Yet they approve Pac vs Clottey off a loss, Mosely off a loss and a draw vs a shlt fighter, Margarita off a KO loss and year retirement, Algeri who isn't know to anyone. Yea ok cowards.

10y ago

JJRod

Bs. Khan is more we'll know than Bradley. It should have been Khan, but Arum wanted Bradley. This is no different than when Arum shoved Mosley down our throats.

10y ago

STREET_CLEANER

I much as I don't like a Khan/Pac fight I like a Bradley 3 fight even less. I do agree that Khan is not an big attraction in the US. Maybe they would had done better in the international market. As bad as the Algieri matchup was at least they knew that Chris would actually get up from knockdowns and fight, Khan would had been put the sleep

10y ago

paulf

but Chris Algeri wasn't? Sure, Grandpa. Why don't you tell us about the time you floated 500 miles downriver atop a single roof shingle while you're at it?

10y ago

Eastcoast

I wanted Paquiao/Khan, but this is a funny consolation given Khan's a twat.

10y ago

TAKEOVER7209

Queen con sucks **** him!

10y ago

Kagami_Taiga

I'm not exactly mad Khan didn't get the fight. With that said, this is bull. Since when does Arum care what cable providers think? That's dog crap.

10y ago

HarvardBlue

I hear all the complaints and I agree. However, for years Arum and company said Mayweather was the one holding up the fight with Pacquiao and most of you bought it hook, line, and sinker. So forgive me for not having any sympathy. Btw Kahn vs Pacquiao would suck just as bad as Bradley III.

10y ago

elfag

so now direct TV selects pac's opponents? and they were ok with algeri but not khan? sure bob we believe that

10y ago

Daddy_T

A fight against kahn would sell better than Bradley 3

10y ago

alexguiness

The Khan fight was never going to happen because Arum keeps everything inhouse This lying odious creature hates anyone who has anything to do with Haymon They used Khans name and Broners name to bring some excitement and create some buzz. He got the news headlines he wanted Good point. But if you know it, I know it and 99% of NSB knows it... Why does Khan believe it?

10y ago

alexguiness

Rios is an exciting Mexican so I feel like they'll always get a pass on this. I do agree with you on Algieri though. That fight punches holes Arum's statement. I agree, Rios was Mexican and perfect as a punching bag for Mannys comeback fight. He was also a TR fighter. The Algieri pick was odd, maybe it was because the fight was in China...little Asian guy beats up the big white American scenario. Just a thought.

10y ago

RespekonMyName

Sure. But Clottey and Algieri were great choices. And people were clamoring for a BS title fight with Margarito. Bob thinks he's so smart.

10y ago

HanzGruber

So to ppv people Bradley was the only one worth it all along? Arum is so full of shlt. Algieri and Rios were good for ppv?

10y ago

FLYBOY

Anybody who believes Bob 'The Liar' Arum is a gullible idiot.

10y ago

FrankieBruno

10y ago

Biolink

Can't use this excuse when Rios got a ppv fight with Manny despite having less fanbase and coming off a loss to alvardo. Algeri got a ppv fight despite having no fanbase and coming off a fight where he got dropped badly and many feel he didn't win his fight with ruslan. What welterweight has either these guys beaten? Rios is an exciting Mexican so I feel like they'll always get a pass on this. I do agree with you on Algieri though. That fight punches holes Arum's statement.

10y ago

SergioMartinez

and yet they were ok with Pacquiao Vs Algeri?? Pac Vs Khan, Broner, and anyone else would sell better than Pac Vs Bradley 2. I bought the last 2 Pac Vs Bradley, I'm tired of being suckered.

10y ago

josesooto

This is complete bullsht by Bob Arum and EVERYONE will buy into it, like they ALWAYS do. I've said this plenty of times before, no Amir Khan was not a real option for #48. Arum namedropping Amir was just an antic to get newsheadlines and stuff, it worked. The plan all along was to first of all, get the WBO belt back to Top Rank, after that, get Tim Bradley to become a champion is a sorry ass fight against jesse vergas, now that timmy is a "champion" again he can fight #48 for the title SMH Basically #48 gets to fight for the title he just lost right away. WBO & Top Rank are some funny motherfckers and i do not recognize their organization. Watch, after #48 becomes a "champion" again the next thing he is going to do is vacate so the WBO can set up another sorry ass fight for Terence Crawford to become a "champion", the fckery will not stop until Felix Verdejo gets a hold of the WBO 147 belt and so on with all their Top Rank prospects

10y ago

bigdunny1

Probably telling the truth. Khan is nobody in the United States. Then he looks extremely mediocre at WW, has beaten nobody, and yet still has the nerve to use Mayweather and Pacquiao's name for a quick come up. Screw that guy. I hope May and Pac never break bread with him. Can't use this excuse when Rios got a ppv fight with Manny despite having less fanbase and coming off a loss to alvardo. Algeri got a ppv fight despite having no fanbase and coming off a fight where he got dropped badly and many feel he didn't win his fight with ruslan. What welterweight has either these guys beaten?

10y ago