SOMEONE in Manny Pacquiao’s camp dropped the ball…. big time.
He was supposed to fight Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane this coming April for an undisclosed guaranteed prize money.
That fight had the blessing of Bob Arum. as the latter confirmed having negotiations with Duco Events, a promotions company based in New Zealand who handles Horn.
You know, remember him? The PROMOTER with the contract and all??
But someone at Manny’s camp began batting eyelashes with Amir Khan and his team, and proceeded to make alternative plans.
As to who this someone is appears to be unclear but what is certain is that it was NOT his promoter.
MISTAKE. At this point, a potentially embarrassing faux pas could still have been avoided had th ey done the simple expedient of getting Arum’s go signal and not presume they could just string him along.
But this they did not do and they proceeded to commit another big blunder: announce the fight on social media.
Pacquiao’s official Twitter account proudly announced: “Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted. #PacquiaoKhan”
We all know what happened next.
Arum summoned Michael Koncz to the USA. We can only surmise what expletives were thrown in there, but after that meeting it was politely and diplomatically announced that Top Rank would not promote the fight unless there was guaranteed prize money.
Pie in the sky, Arum called it.
BUSINESS. You really can’t blame Arum. At the end of the day, it’s all about business and the relationship between a boxer and a promoter is a business relationship.
Being the savvy businessman that he is, Arum clearly wanted to remain in control of every aspect of the fight to make sure that it is financially rewarding for both him and his fighter.
So now Manny is left with no opponent and fight dates in April and May scrapped.
So who dropped the ball resulting in a rather embarrassing situation for our Pambansang Kamao?
Your guess is as good as mine.
VERBATIM. “That deal is done for now. They were talking to the wrong people”
?Bob Arum on Pacquiao-Khan(http://www.boxing.com)
LAST ROUND. It’s on the devilishly handsome Jack Flores-Garcia who recently turned a thunderous three. Cheers!
