It’s finally going to happen. Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers to ever take up the cudgels, is going to fight here in the UAE, against England’s Amir Khan.
At least that is the verdict of his legal adviser, Michael Koncz, who confirmed when contacted by The National on Sunday: "Yes the fight will be held in the UAE."
Despite the words in the affirmative, it is hard not to approach the news with a degree of scepticism and indeed cynicism. We have been here before – too many times – only to have our dreams shattered.
Over the past several years everyone from Khan to Pacquiao to Bob Arum, the chief executive of Top Rank Promotions, who look after the 38-year-old Filipino, have earmarked the UAE, and almost exclusively Dubai, as a venue to stage a top-level boxing contest. Whether the ambition was genuine, lip service or used as a bargaining chip to get a better deal elsewhere, nothing has materialised. Until now it seems.
The only fight of any real legitimacy, and I use the term loosely, was held here in 2008 – a heavyweight contest between former world champion Michael Moorer and Shelby Cross, which was over in just 32 seconds.
Pacquiao, who boasts a proud record of winning world titles in every weight class from flyweight up to light middleweight, is box-office gold and genuine boxing royalty. He made a successful return to the ring on November 5 with a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas, taking his professional record to 59 wins from 67 fights with six losses and two draws, following a short retirement to pursue his career in politics, proving he is still a force to be reckoned with.
While Khan’s career (31-4) is by no means in tatters, it definitely is in need of a career-defining win. The two-time world champion at light-welterweight, has not fought since last May when he moved up two weight classes to fight middleweight Canelo Alvarez.
The punch that ended the Briton’s gallant effort in Round 6 in Las Vegas that night would have floored an elephant, but as brutal as Pacquiao’s punches are, his powers are on the wane. He has not recorded a knockout since his 2009 second-round stoppage of Ricky Hatton.
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Read more
■ Manny Pacquiao v Amir Khan: 'Yes the fight will be held in the UAE'
■ Manny Pacquiao in the UAE: Three reasons why a fight could happen; three why it probably won't
■ Twitter poll: The fans have spoken: Amir Khan the choice to face Manny Pacquiao in UAE
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An event of this magnitude would almost certainly need either the backing or involvement of either the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Dubai Sports Council, or both. There would need to be significant financial backing too, considering both fighters command paycheques in the tens of millions.
For a fight to appeal to the mass pay-per-view markets of the US, a fight in the UAE would most likely have to take place at around 7am here, and on a Sunday, prime time on America’s west coast.
With tennis, rugby union, swimming, golf and Formula One already in the UAE’s portfolio of hosting world-class sporting events, staging a world title bout between two world-class ring technicians would add significantly to it, and open the doors to future world-title bouts.
Given the large Philippines diaspora here and the fact Khan is a British Muslim of Pakistani descent – not to mention the millions of diehard and casual fight fans – it would not be hard to imagine a “super fight” like this being a sell out, whether it be Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi or The Sevens in Dubai.
Optimism abounds the fight will take place here. Koncz told reporters in Abu Dhabi this month Pacquiao "100 per cent" would fight in the UAE; whoever looks after the boxer's Twitter account has tweeted twice this month on the subject, first on February 12 with a message saying "See you in UAE for my next fight", while the second 24 hours later asked Pacquiao's 110,000 followers in a poll who his next opponent in the UAE should be. Khan was the overwhelming winner on 48 per cent.
But just as we get our hopes up, something comes along to dash them. Khan’s camp released a statement on Sunday explicitly naming Dubai as a possible venue, but that also the US and UK were still being considered. So while UAE fight fans are desperate to start celebrating the news, it is probably best to temper it with a degree of caution as well.
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