Ni: Gilbert Espena
IGINIIT ni Top Rank promoter Bob Arum na ayaw nang lumaban ni eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao sa Brisbane, Australia sa paniniwalang nalutong Macao ito para magwagi ang naka-upset na si WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn kaya posibleng ikasa niya ang Aussie boxer kay undisputed super lightweight champion Terrence Crawford ng United States.
Nakipagnegosasyon na si Arum kay Pacquiao ,ngunit tutol na ang Pilipino na lumaban sa Australia at mas gusto ang huling laban sa Pilipinas bago magretiro sa boksing.
“Pacquiao up to this point made it plain he’s not coming over to fight in Australia,” sabi ni Arum sa BoxingScene.com sabay diing tutol din ang Pilipino sa Las Vegas bout. “No, he doesn’t want to fight in Vegas, either. He wants to fight in the Philippines and with the peso being 52 peso’s to the dollar – how the hell is everybody going to get paid, let alone him?”
Natalo si Pacquiao kay Horn sa kontrobersiyal na 12-round unanimous decision na hinihinalang minaniobra ni Arum para pasikatin ang Aussie boxer na nasa stable na ngayon ng Top Rank.
“I’m not at a standstill (with Pacquiao) but he’s made his position clear, the world goes on,” giit ni Arum. “I would love to do a big fight for him in Manila or some place else in the Philippines but the problem is don’t expect me to pay for it.”
Minaliit din ni Arum ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas lalo ang Department of Tourism na walang kakayahang pondohan ang laban.
“The tourism board in the Philippines has told us they’ll do everything to help promote the fight except put up money. You’ve got to respect that,” dagdag ni Arum. “We’re going to meet with Terrence and we’re going to lay out a plan starting early next year leading towards a welterweight championship match, probably with Jeff Horn.”
