Tentative bookings have been made in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide but the Queensland government will be given first shot at hosting the biggest fight in Australian history after Brisbane schoolteacher Jeff Horn secured his dream date with welterweight legend Manny Pacquiao for the world WBO title.
A whirlwind 48 hours of talks between Horn?s promoters Duco Events and American promoter Bob Arum culminated in an agreement on April 23 as the date for the fight but not the venue.
Suncorp Stadium is the favourite and the Queensland government will be given every opportunity to secure the bout, but other states and countries ? the United Arab Emirates are vying for hosting rights ? are believed to be lying in wait given the gravitas involved with hosting a Pacquiao fight.
The 38-year-old Filipino is an eight-division world champion, world boxer of the decade for the 2000s and the current WBO welterweight belt-holder. Arum has already outlined plans for Pacquaio to fight three times this year, culminating in what could be a farewell bout against Englishman Kell Brook in October.
Horn wants to put a spanner in that plan as he looks to extend his unbeaten run against a man revered as one of the greatest fighters of his generation. Not surprisingly, Horn also wants the fight to be held on home turf, but both Duco?s Dean Lonergan and Arum made it clear that would be contingent on the Queensland government coming to the party.
?The preference for all parties is for the fight to be held in Australia and we are working towards this outcome,? Lonergan said from Las Vegas.
Arum added: ?I would expect three to four thousand Filipinos to fly from The Philippines for this fight Down Under. It will be the biggest boxing fight in Australian history but until the money is secured, we have to keep our options open, including looking at the Middle East and USA. But I love the idea of doing the fight outdoors.?
Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones confirmed the state?s interest in hosting the bout. ?There has not yet been a formal approach to the government regarding the fight, but we are always happy to discuss attracting major sporting events to the state,? Jones said.
?Suncorp Stadium is one of the best outdoor sporting venues in the country, so I think Queensland would be at an advantage compared to the other states. There isn?t a bad seat at Suncorp so we?ve got a real home advantage in having such a great stadium here that would be the perfect place to hold a fight of this magnitude.?
Talks are expected to escalate between Duco Events and the Queensland government next week as the clock ticks on all parties.
It is understood Pacquiao is likely to receive a purse in the vicinity of $US5 million for the fight, well below the figure of $US20m he was looking to secure to fight American Terence Crawford.
Horn is likely to receive a fraction of that, but money is not the driving factor for the 28-year-old, who can open the door to big-money fights in the US should he conquer Pacquiao. After only 17 fights, he has the chance to topple a legend.
?I want it at Suncorp … that would be amazing,? Horn said.
?It?s crazy to think about. It?s a big step, but it is a step I am wanting to take.
?I prefer to be the outsider for a fight. When they expect you to win, that?s when the pressure is on. I have no pressure at all. I?m going to show Manny I?m not an easy fight.
?I?m fighting a legend in the sport and I think I?m going to beat him. I have watched Pacquiao over his career. He is a very good fighter ? I give him that ? but I feel in his last few fights I have seen some weaknesses.
?I think I can beat him. He is a smaller guy. He hasn?t stopped a welterweight for some time now. I think my style is going to trouble him. I always pictured getting a world title and getting this shot.
?It?s surpassed my dreams already.?
