Date:  Saturday, July 2, 2017

WBO Welterweight Championship Title Bout

Location: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Promoter:    Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:  Mark Nelson

Judges:  Waleska Roldan (117-111), Chris Flores (115-113), Ramon Cerdan (115-113)

Results:   The WBO Welterweight Title was obtained by a new World Champion Jeff Horn against Manny Pacquiao by Unanimous Decision.

TV: USA ESPN, Panama RPC Channel 4, Australia Main Event, New Zealand Sky Arena, Canada Super Channel

By Cliff Rold

The road show is nothing new for a star on the wane.

With his numbers down from what they were in the States, if still strong for most fighters, Manny Pacquiao is hitting the road this weekend (Saturday, ESPN, 9 PM PST/6 PM PST). Pacquiao is fighting outside the US and it’s hard to argue with the business results. The Suncorp Stadium in Australia is going to look great on the broadcast.

Will Pacquiao look great too?

Much of that will come down to the question: who is Jeff Horn?

Anonymous to even most hardcore fight followers, Horn didn’t even turn professional until after the fourth fateful battle between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. There are some recognizable names on his record, faded versions of Randall Bailey and Ali Funeka, but none of them give him recognition yet.

He’ll determine whether he can attain that Saturday night.

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledgers

Manny Pacquiao
Age: 38
Current Titles: WBO Welterweight (2016-Present, 1st Attempted Defense)
Previous Titles: Lineal/WBC World Flyweight (1998-99, 1 Defense); IBF Super Bantamweight) 2001-03, 4 Defenses); Lineal/Ring World Featherweight (2003-05, 2 Defenses); Lineal/Ring/WBC World Jr. Lightweight (2008); WBC Lightweight (2008-09); Lineal/Ring World Jr. Welterweight (2009-10); WBC Light Middleweight (2010); WBO Welterweight, (2009-12, 3 Defenses; 2014-15, 1 Defense); TBRB/Lineal Welterweight (2016; Retired)
Height: 5’5 ½
Weight: 146 lbs.
Hails from: General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines
Record: 59-6-2, 38 KO, 3 KOBY
Rankings: #1 (BoxingScene, TBRB, ESPN, Boxing Monthly, BoxRec); #4 (Ring)
Record in Major Title Fights: 20-3-2, 11 KO, 1 KOBY (including Lineal title Fights)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Chatchai Sasakul KO8; Medgoen Singsurat TKO3; Lehlo Ledwaba KO6; Agapito Sanchez Tech. Draw 6; Jorge Eliecer Julio TKO2; Marco Antonio Barrera TKO11, UD12; Juan Manuel Marquez D12, SD12, MD12, KO by 6; Erik Morales L12, TKO10, KO3; Oscar Larios UD12; David Diaz TKO9; Oscar De La Hoya RTD8; Ricky Hatton KO2; Miguel Cotto TKO12; Joshua Clottey UD12; Antonio Margarito UD12; Shane Mosley UD12; Timothy Bradley L12, UD12, UD12; Brandon Rios UD12; Chris Algieri UD12; Floyd Mayweather L12; Jessie Vargas UD12

Vs.

Jeff Horn
Age: 29
Current Titles/Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’9
Weight: 147 lbs.
Hails from: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Record: 16-0-1, 11 KO
Rankings: Unrated
Record in Major Title Fights: 1st Title Opportunity
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Randall Bailey RTD7

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Pacquiao A-; Horn B
Pre-Fight: Power – Pacquiao B+; Horn B
Pre-Fight: Defense – Pacquiao B+; Horn B-
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Pacquiao A; Horn B

If Horn is going to win, his feet and a tricky right hand will be his deliverance. He’s not as fast as Pacquiao, not even this older version. Horn does have canny timing with the right; he throws it straight and as a timed looping lead. The challenger also has a good, hard, straight jab. He can sit down inside but, at least in his last few fights, seems to feel more comfortable using his feet to create space.

He’s going to need space with Pacquiao.

While he throws far less than he did in his prime, sometimes closer to half of what he did against the like of Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito many years ago, Pacquiao is still effective in picking spots and stringing together combinations. His feet are also still an asset, allowing him to get in and out and around younger foes.

Along with his talent, there is a reservoir of experience opponents have to overcome. There is a reason all three of Pacquiao’s clean losses since 1999 have been to first ballot Hall of Fame talent.

Both guys can be hit. Horn has decent head movement but against Funeka and Bailey he seemed wide open for the jab at times. Pacquiao, the shorter man, may find an advantage there from his southpaw stance. Horn will have a height edge and could try to muscle Pacquiao when they get in close but he’d be open to the body. Funeka put Horn down with a sharp body shot in their fight.

In terms of intangibles, one guy is Pacquiao and one is a guy fighting a live, world-class talent for the first time. What we’ve seen so far from Horn is promising but he’s fighting someone unlike anything he’s seen to date. To his credit, when he was down he got up and won. He’s handled a cut. Adversity isn’t a stranger.

How much adversity will Pacquiao provide? Is this the night where he finally creeps towards the boxing rocking chair? His performances against Bradley and Vargas last year indicate he’s still got a lot left. It’s up to Horn to prove he can top the efforts of those two more proven foes. 

The Pick

Watching his last three fights, it was hard to shake the thought that Horn wouldn’t even belong in the ring with a prime Manny Pacquiao. This isn’t a prime Pacquiao and still nothing about Horn suggests he’s in league with the last two men Pacquiao defeated. It’s hard to gauge before any fight just what youth, hunger, and a massive hometown crowd can mean but based on talent, Pacquiao would have to be greatly receded from where he was when last we saw him to be defeated here. He’s faster, even at 38, hits harder, and has a far more expansive offensive repertoire. His combination punching should more than offset Horn’s over reliance on the right hand and Pacquiao’s body work will bring his hands down. Horn might last the route on guts but Pacquiao is the pick to win. 

www.boxingscene.com/manny-pacquiao-jeff-horn-pre-fight-report-card–118077?print_friendly=1

 UP TO SCALE. Jeff Horn makes the 147-pound limit while Pacquiao has no trouble on the scales. Photo by Ryan Songalia/Rappler

Manny Pacquiao weighs 146 pounds while Jeff Horn checks in at 147

BRISBANE, Australia – Despite reports that he woke up 7 pounds overweight the day before, Jeff Horn checked in right at the 147-pound limit for his WBO welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, who could make the limit a division below, weighed in a pound under at 146.

There was far less pomp and circumstance for this weigh-in than usually accompanies Pacquiao’s trips to the scales in Las Vegas and Macau, as only media, officials, VIPs, plus select fans filled the small Paddington Room of Suncorp Stadium, where the fight event will take place tomorrow, Sunday, July 2.

Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) thrilled the crowd by throwing his clothes to observers. He kept a smile on his face as Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) stared intently across drawn-out cheeks at the face-off.

“It’s never easy to cut that many kilos, but I’m feeling a lot better now putting the fluids back in,” said Horn afterwards.

Trainer Glenn Rushton was confident that that his fighter Horn would make the weight. But just to make sure, he had him check his weight on two different scales.

“I think you can see from Jeff’s demeanor here that he’s not overawed at all. He’s relaxed,” said Rushton.

“If Manny Pacquiao is gonna beat us, he’s gonna have to do that on his merits. He’s not gonna go out there and overawe Jeff or have Jeff sort of have stars in his eyes. That’s not gonna happen.

He anticipates Horn will come into the fight weighing between 70 and 71 kilograms (154.3-156.5 pounds).

The show, already slated to be the biggest boxing event in Australian boxing history, was already past 50,000 tickets sold, a Duco Events spokesman said.

www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/boxing-mma/pacquiao/174403-pacquiao-horn-weighin-brisbane

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion and the only sitting Senator to capture a world championship belt, will add another first to his burgeoning list of Hall of Fame-caliber accomplishments with his live debut on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (also streaming live on the ESPN app) on Saturday, July 1 at 10:00 p.m. ET. 

The fight will be called ringside by ESPN commentators Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas. 

They will be joined by guest analyst Timothy Bradley, Jr., a former two-division world champion recently trained by Teddy Atlas who has met Pacquiao three times in the ring, winning their first match in a decision. ESPN Deportes will pair Jorge Eduardo Sanchez and Juan Manuel Márquez to call the main event in Spanish, with prefight commentary from Pablo Viruega, Leopoldo Gonzalez, Claudia Trejos and Juan Manuel Márquez.

Pacquiao, the Boxing Writers Association of America’s reigning Fighter of the Decade, will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown against undefeated No. 1 contender and Brisbane’s favorite son Jeff “The Hornet” Horn at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. 

This will be the first time Pacquiao has not fought on pay-per-view since Sept. 10, 2005, when he stopped Hector Velazquez in the sixth round — 12 years and four weight divisions ago.

ESPN’s coverage of “The Battle of Brisbane” will begin on Friday, June 30th, and includes live coverage of the Pacquiao and Horn weigh-in at 7 p.m. ET within SportsCenter on ESPN and within Golpe a Golpe on ESPN Deportes.  During the week of June 26, classic Pacquiao fights will also be available on demand and streaming via the ESPN app, on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes, including Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton (5/2/2009), Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez (11/12/11) and Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley (4/12/14).

The July 1 telecast will also feature Irish Olympic hero Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), from Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs), of Brisbane, and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight world champion Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, defending his title against top-rated contender Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan.  The live telecast will open with an eight-round middleweight rumble between Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, Calif. and son of former three-division world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley, and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), of Canberra, Australia.

     

www.boxingscene.com/photos-pacquiao-horn-go-face-face-final-presser–117975?print_friendly=1

In days, international icon and megastar boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will defend his world welterweight title in his first fight that will not be broadcast on Pay-Per-View [Pay-Per-Event] since 2005.

This Saturday, the ‘Pacman’ will risk his belt against undefeated Australian contender Jeff Horn in a bout that will reach a much wider audience, as it will be televised from coast to coast in the United States at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in Mexico by Azteca 7, La Casa del Boxing. .

Pacquiao and Horn played the world championship welterweight World Boxing Organization (WBO) in the main event of the historic event ‘Battle of Brisbane’ to be held before a record crowd of over 55,000 fans abarrotarán Suncorp Stadium of city located east of Australia.

“It will be exciting fight before more than 60,000 fans and the hometown of my opponent. That gives me more motivation to focus and get the win,” Pacquiao said.

“I’m not underestimating. I did my job and I trained hard for this fight. If he based his homework at my fights with Marquez, that’s good for me. We will give a good show for the fans,” said the fighter who will go for win No. 60 out of his legendary career.

The senator also the only eight-division world champion in boxing history was extremely pleased with the news that his fight will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

“I am very happy that this fight will be broadcast live in the United States on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Now everyone can see my fight. That’s good for boxing. ”

Meanwhile, Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, will come into this fight having won his last three fights – all in 2016 – before Ali Funkea, Rico Mueller and Randall Bailey, on the fast track. Horn is world ranked No. 2 by the WBO and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

“I think I have a style which Pacquiao has not faced. I think you’ll have trouble with my style. I’m bigger than him. He may be faster, but I’m pretty fast too. What I can connect with a straight right and nobody knows what can happen, “said the Australian who was inspired by the withering right hand with which the Mexican Juan Manuel” Dinamita “Marquez knocked out Pacquiao.” I’m very excited and I can not wait to to the day of the fight. I’m ready for war. I do not have much more to do. I’m saving energy and nerves for the day that I need, which is the day of the fight. ”

Transmission of July 1 will also present the Irish Olympic hero Michael Conlan (2-0, 2 KOs), of Belfast, in a six-round featherweight bout against Jarrett “Juarez” Owen (5-4-3, 2 KOs) , Brisbane and world champion junior bantamweight IBF [International Boxing Federation (IBF)] Jerwin “Pretty Boy” [Pretty Boy] Ancajas (24-1-1, 16 KOs), of Cavite City, Philippines, defending his title against challenger. Teiru Kinoshita (25-1-1, 8 KOs), of Kobe, Japan. The live broadcast will begin with a middleweight bout over eight rounds Shane Mosley, Jr. (10-1, 7 KOs), of Pomona, California son of world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley and David Toussaint (10-0, 8 KOs), Canberra, Australia.

www.worldboxingnews.net/2017/06/29/news/pacquiao-horn-ready-to-rumble-in-brisbane

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight World champion Manny “Pacman’ Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) and his Hall-of-Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, held a media workout today in Australia, preparing for this Saturday night’s ESPN showdown between Pacquiao and his title challenger, Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs).

MANNY PACQUIAO: “We have a really good plan for this fight. We worked hard in training camp both in Manila and in General Santos City. I’m totally focused for this fight. I am not looking past this fight because at this point in my career, every fight is the most important. There are no tomorrows if I don’t win today.

“Jeff Horn is OK. I’ve watched video of his fights. He brings a lot of action into the ring. 

“I know what he is feeling. I remember everything about my first world title fight.

“Being a senator and training for a fight is hard. It takes discipline and time management. Luckily, the Senate has been in recess for the past few weeks and I have been able to focus on training for my world title fight.

“A Senator’s job is to defend his people … to fight for their rights.

“I know Jeff Horn used to be a teacher. In the ring, I’m a teacher too.

“I am ready for Jeff to come out and be aggressive. If he does that it will be a great fight for the fans.

“The biggest crowd I ever fought in front of was at Cowboys Stadium against Joshua Clottey. I’m told this could be bigger [51,000+]. I am very excited for doing that, even though they may not be rooting for me. I am also very happy that ESPN will be televising it live.to the U.S. Now everyone can see it. It’s good for boxing.”

FREDDIE ROACH: “Manny is a performer. He loves people, loves a big audience. Brisbane has all that for this fight. He’ll be fighting in front of the biggest crowd of his career.

“Not everyone gets the opportunity to fight for a world title. It was always my dream but I never fought for one. It’s a big deal. Jeff Horn earned this opportunity. He is the WBO’s mandatory challenger.

“Manny gave me 110% in training camp. He always does. No one works harder in the gym. The difference in this camp from recent ones has been his aggression. He’s scored several knockdowns and I haven’t seen that in years. He has kept his foot on the pedal throughout, even when he’s had a sparring partner in trouble. After his ring work he is singing and dancing – not well – but that’s not the point. He is really hungry to make a statement in this fight against Horn. He’s even playing Shakira during his workouts again and he hasn’t done that in years.”

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pacquiao-im-totally-focused-fight-407726

The referees, judges and supervisors for this Sunday’s world title defenses of Filipino world champions Manny Pacquiao have already been assigned by the respective sanctioning bodies as both Pinoy champions are set defend their world crowns in “The Battle of Brisbane” before an audience of 50,000+ fans at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, this coming Sunday July 2. 

Officials are all neutral and experienced, so fans can breath a sight of relief. The WBO officials for Manny Pacaquiao against Brisbane challenger Jeff Horn are:  

Referee Mark Nelson of Minesota, USA. Judges: Mrs. Waleska Roldan of New York, Mr. Chris Flores of Arizona, USA. and Mr. Ramón Cerdán of Argentina. 

The last time Mr. Mark Nelson – a referee since 1992 – worked as a third man in a world title fight was in the WBO/WBC super lightweight world title defense of unified undefeated champion Terence Crawford (31-0, 22 KO’s) against challenger John Molina Jr. Crawford knocked out Molina in eight rounds, with referee Mark Nelson doing his usual outstanding work. 

Mrs. Waleska Roldan’s last officiating work in a world title clash was as recent as last March at the Madison Square Garden in New York in the close, bloody super flyweight title defense of 30-year-old Nicaraguan 4-division world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez against Thailand challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (also known as Wisaksil Wangek).  

After the twelve torrid rounds of non-stop dramatic action, Chocolatito lost his crown in a controversial split decision. But Ma’am Waleska voted a 113-113 draw, a scorecard hailed by a great number of fans and boxing writers as the fight’s best scoring.  

The second Pacquiao judge is Chris Flores, who is also a referee. Mr. Flores was ringside in Mexico last May as judge in the third defense of IBF 105-lbs world champion Jose Argumedo of Mexico against Colombian challenger Gabriel Mendoza. No scorecards were needed as the Argumedo ended matters with a TKO over Mendoza in round 8. 

And the third Pacquiao judge, Ramon Cerdan, is a veteran judge in hundreds of fights since 1998. 

Mr. Cerdán was with pen and paper on hand just three weeks ago in his native Argentina as a judge in an all-Argentinian affair: the title defense of WBO/WBA/IBF of super lightweight world champion Ana Laura Esteche defending against her Argentina compatriot Adela Celeste del Carmen Peralta.  

It was a split decision. Two ringside judges saw Esteche winning. However, judge Ramón Cerdán voted for Peralta. Esteche retained her crown.  

The supervisor in the Pacquiao-Horn fight is none other than WBO President Francisco “Paco” Varcarcel of Puerto Rico, a man of boxing who loves Manny Pacquiao and loves fair scoring. 

www.http://philboxing.com/news/story-128960.html

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Former three-time world champion Jeff Fenech has advised WBO #1 Jeff Horn he can defeat WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on July 2 if he uses the correct tactics at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland Australia with a predicted attendance of 55,000+ fight fans. Fenech talked to Grantlee Kieza of the Courier Mail.

“Just bash the bloke in close,” Fenech said. “It’s no more Mister Nice Guy now. I’m not saying break the rules but you have to rough Manny up. Jeff, do everything to hurt him in close. Twist him, twist his knees, use your weight advantage, bully him — bang your shoulder into him. Manny can punch at a distance, Jeff. Close the distance. Stay on his chest and make him feel all of his 38 years.”

Pacquiao-Horn has already eclipsed Fenech’s record for the biggest crowd ever in Australian boxing which had stood at 38,000 for the 1992 world title fight with Azumah Nelson at Princes Park in Melbourne.

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/fenech-horn-can-defeat-pacquiao-uses-right-tactics-407426

BRISBANE, Australia — Manny Pacquiao attended church and had a light training session in Brisbane on Sunday after arriving late Saturday for his July 1 world title fight against Australian Jeff Horn.

The 38-year-old Pacquiao was accompanied by trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning coach Justin Fortune, sparring partner George Kambosos Jr. and other members of his entourage, which his spokesman said totaled about 160.

“Training is good. We did a lot of hard work. I am very excited for the fans to give a good show to show my best and in boxing ring,” Pacquiao told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. “Some reports coming out of the Philippines that I haven’t been training hard are not true. It just happens that when some of our friends came around to our training camp, we weren’t doing much and people assumed I wasn’t training hard.”

Roach, who has trained such world champions as Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Wladimir Klitschko, said Pacquiao intends to keep his world title.

 

“He has the best work ethic in the world. He trains hard every day, and we do 48 boxing rounds every day, nonstop — just work, work, work,” Roach said. “We are here to win the fight. We don’t take anyone lightly.”

Pacquiao, who now is a Philippines senator, has a career record of 59-6-2 with 38 knockouts. The fight against Horn will be Pacquiao’s first defense of the title he won in November with a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas.

The 29-year-old Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) is a 2012 Olympian.

The fight is expected to attract a sellout crowd of about 50,000 at the outdoor Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. It is scheduled for early afternoon next Sunday, which will be Saturday evening in the United States. The fight card will air live on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

  

www.boxingscene.com/photos-manny-pacquiao-grinding-hard-brisbane-horn–117950?print_friendly=1

 

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Superstar Manny Pacquiao’s world title defence from ‘down under’ when he puts his WBO welterweight title on the line against undefeated number two world-rated contender Jeff Horn will be aired exclusively live on BoxNation.

The eight-division world champion and the reigning ‘Fighter of the Decade’ takes on undefeated Australian Horn from the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next Saturday night.

Promoted by Top Rank and Duco Events, “The Battle of Brisbane” is expected to attract 55,000 fans, with Pacquiao fighting in Australia for the first time in his illustrious career.

The 38-year-old Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs), is coming off impressive wins over former champions Jessie Vargas and Timothy Bradley and is now in his third reign as WBO welterweight champion.

Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), who will be fighting in his hometown of Brisbane, enters this clash having won his last three fights – all in 2016 – against Ali Funeka, Rico Mueller and Randall Bailey inside the distance.

The 29-year-old goes into the fight extremely confident and will be looking for the record crowd to spur him on to victory on July 1st against the legendary Filipino.

Also featuring on the card will be Irish Olympian Michael Conlan who enters the ring for the third time as a professional when he takes on Jarrett Owen.

Conlan has looked sensational in his recent outings and will look to continue where he left off when he stopped Mexican Alfredo Chanez last May.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum can’t wait for the exciting card and has tipped Pacquiao to come out victorious in the main event.

“Manny has been a pioneer, bringing world title fights to Cowboys Stadium, The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena and now Suncorp Stadium. We’re boxing’s version of Lewis & Clark, discovering new markets,” said Hall of Fame promoter Arum. “Manny knows who will be the crowd favourite on July 1st, but he can’t wait to give Australia and the world a great performance. It’s going to be an unbelievable event.”

Jim McMunn, BoxNation Managing Director, said: “Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly one of the best fighters of this generation and we are delighted to showcase his fight with the unbeaten Jeff Horn exclusively live on BoxNation on July 1st. The welterweight division is stacked with amazing talent and WBO world champion Pacquiao is at the forefront of that. This will be a great event at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, with Horn looking to burst onto the scene by becoming world champion and shocking a legend in Pacquiao. It will be a great card for BoxNation subscribers to tune in and watch, with Irish Olympic hero Michael Conlan also on the bill.”

www.boxingscene.com/manny-pacquiao-vs-jeff-horn-boxnation–117843?print_friendly=1

pac.receives.wbo.sc.belt.04.330w

With just ten weeks before the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn fight, it appears that there may be a snag as conflicting reports have come in regarding the location of the fight. Although both Duco Events and Top Rank have indicated that the fight was to take place at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane Australia, Pacquiao’s advisor and marriage counselor Michael Koncz threw a curveball yesterday when he announced from Abu Dhabi that the fight would “100%” be held in the United Arab Emirates.

Shortly thereafter Manny Pacquiao Tweeted “See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao”.

The announcement came as a surprise to many fight fans in Australia, but Duco Events head Dean Lonergan still believes the fight will go forward in Australia.

“Duco have been working with Top Rank over the past three months to have the fight in Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.” Lonergan told Fightnews.

“We are nearing completion of the deal, and as far as I’m concerned Top Rank is the exclusive promoter of Manny Pacquiao and until Top Rank tells me otherwise we shall continue to try and get this deal done.”

Lonergan is hopeful to finalize the deal in the coming week.

“We had discussions today with the team of Top Rank that we continue on. I like to think that if we get a deal done it will be in the next week.”

Lonergan also told Fightnews that he “would be very surprised” if any other city or state could be ready to host April’s Pacquiao-Horn fight in “such a short space of time.”

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/pacquiao-horn-headed-u-e-393640