GOODBYE, MACAU. Hello, Texas? Plans are afoot for Manny Pacquiao to see action in the Lone Star State on April 21 after Top Rank and handlers of the Filipino star agreed to postpone the Macau gig to September or October.
Mike Koncz, the Canadian adviser of Pacquiao, told the Bulletin early last night that the proposed April 28 match with Korean Injin Chi has been shelved in favor of a clash with one of three opponents who Top Rank will approach on Monday.
“We have the names of the three and Top Rank is going to talk with their handlers beginning Monday (Tuesday in Manila),” said Koncz, who cited a “conflict in schedule” as reason behind the decision to postpone the Macau event.
Texas, according to Koncz, “is the frontrunner” in hosting a Pacquiao fight owing to its large Hispanic population. He added that Pacquiao will headline the Texas promotion with super-flyweight Jorge Arce of Mexico fighting in the main supporting bout.
Pacquiao is no stranger to Texas having scored his breakthrough victory in San Antonio in Nov. 2003 by stopping the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera before a highly-partisan crowd.
Top Rank big boss Bob Arum and Pacquiao were supposed to meet in Macau this week but a last minute-change in schedule prompted Arum to scrap the meeting.
Recently, there were concerns whether Macau, a former Portuguese colony, would be able to host a Pacquiao fight not only because of a suitable venue but the indifference of its inhabitants about Western-style boxing.
Ringsiders say Top Rank and Team Pacquiao are looking at a Mexican, Japanese and South African for the Texas tussle.
Pacquiao hasn?t fought since disposing of Erik Morales in less than three rounds on Nov. 18, 2006 in Las Vegas.
The past few days, Pacquiao has been in the news, albeit in the wrong section of the newspaper, owing to his strong desire to run for public office in the May 14 polls.
While his fans and lots of his close friends are against it, Pacquiao is adamant about his intention to go after the mayoralty of General Santos City.
