A report has circulated in the internet, saying an agreement has been reached regarding an opponent for eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says otherwise.
The report, which Daily Mail published on Nov. 3, said that British fighter Amir Khan has reached an agreement with the Pac-Man and has agreed terms “in every last detail” to meet him in April. The confirmation was given by Khan's own father and mentor, Shah Khan.
“Our paperwork went off to Arum on Friday and every point is covered,” said Shah.
Some have thought that the fight might be held in Dubai, but Shah said: “The location is definitely the US. The date in April may vary by a week or so but April is the month.”
After the Daily Mail report went out, Yahoo Sports reached out to Arum, who apparently was surprised at the news.
"It's total bull-[expletive]. It's complete bull-[expletive],” said Arum. “I'm sitting here trying to figure a way to sell tickets to my fight [Saturday in Las Vegas between Timothy Bradley and Brandon Rios] and now my phone is ringing off the hook because this lunatic made some [expletive] up."
Arum said that he asked Khan's attorneys about the deal, and they said no deal was made.
"This summer when I was on vacation in Spain, I went to England and I had breakfast with Khan's uncle and his attorney," said Arum. "Since then, we've been talking back and forth, this and that, this and that. I've never talked to the kid, Amir, never. Never have I spoken to him. He's in the running, yes, but we're nowhere near a deal with anyone, let alone him."
He also said that he sent tapes, showing Terence Crawford's winning bout against Dierry Jean, to Pacquiao's manager. Pacquiao will watch that tape before choosing an opponent.
Sports Illustrated also asked Arum regarding the news. Again, he confirmed that it's a hoax.
“There is no deal,” Arum told SI. “I’ve been talking to [Khan’s] lawyer and his uncle. They have been good conversations. But there are no contracts, no nothing. Manny still has to decide who he wants to fight. And we still have to see what happens Nov. 7 between [Tim] Bradley and [Brandon] Rios.”
For now, there's no confirmed opponent. But given that this will be his last fight before retiring and hanging his boxing gloves in the locker room, Pacquiao should be excited and prepared.
