A fight in the UAE between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan has moved a step closer after the British boxer agreed to change the bout to May 20.
The two boxers announced this week on their respective Twitter accounts that they would meet on April 23, and although no venue to stage the event was confirmed, the UAE was understood to be the frontrunner. Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, later told The National the fight would take place in the Emirates next month.
However, on Wednesday, Koncz said he was instead working towards May 20 following a meeting with promoter Bob Arum, the founder and CEO of Top Rank, and that he would seek approval from both Pacquiao and Khan. Khan's camp then confirmed to The National late on Wednesday that the two-time world champion had agreed to the revised date.
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It now appears the UAE – and more specifically Dubai - is set to host the fight between Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, and Khan, his former training partner.
Speaking earlier in the day, Koncz told Yahoo Sports: “We decided to move it to ... May 20 in the United [Arab] Emirates so we’d have time to promote it properly and make it a huge success.
“I have to talk to both fighters [on Wednesday] to get them to approve going in May instead of in April. I don’t think that will be any problem.”
Koncz also addressed the logistics of putting on a fight in the UAE where not only the time difference — 12 hours ahead of Las Vegas — will play a part, but the fact Sunday morning represents the first day of the work week, meaning a bout that would be broadcast on the traditional Saturday evening slot would be impractical.
“We just want to do the best and the biggest fight we can, and this makes a lot of sense for so many reasons,” Koncz said. “We’ll be able to properly promote it and while it will be a Friday in the US, it will be a Saturday there.
“We were going to do it originally on a Sunday there, but that’s the start of their work week and we didn’t feel at the end of the day that would make as much sense. Their weekends are Friday-Saturday and putting the fight on Sunday when everyone was going back to work seemed like it might be a problem.
“Friday is a different night [than most PPV cards are held in the US], but remember how big the Friday Night Fights used to be? We have the time now to promote it properly and I think we have the right fight, so I think it will do well.”
Pacquiao, 38, acts as a senator in the Philippines House of Representatives, but returned to the ring last November, sealing a unanimous-decision victory against Jessie Vargas following a short retirement to pursue his career in politics. His record stands at 59-6-2.
Khan, meanwhile, last fought last May, when he suffered a sixth-round knockout to Saul Canelo Alvarez. The Englishman, 30, has 31 victories and four defeats.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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