Manny Pacquiao vs Amir Khan Super Fight Not Happening, Confirms Bob Arum
The highly anticipated "super fight" between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan has been cancelled. This was confirmed by Bob Arum, the official promoter of the Filipino boxer.
Former sparring mates Pacquiao and Khan confirmed last February that their fight will happen this year and that the location of the fight is the only thing left to be determined. That time, both fighters announced via Twitter that their fight may happen somewhere in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Recently, however, Arum confirmed that the super fight slated for April 23 is now "dead." The boxing promoter told ESPN, "Michael is on his way back to meet with Manny but it's kaddish for the UAE deal. It's dead." He was referring to Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser.
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Arum also confirmed that Pacquiao may fight again but not against Khan. "I'm talking to him about another proposal for another fight, not Khan. Khan won't be Manny's next opponent," he said. According to him, his new proposal to Pacquiao could be set for July and any prospect of a fight with Khan will have to be discussed in autumn this year.
The blockbuster fight between Pacquiao and Khan would have raked in around $32 million. However, after the fighters confirmed that they had already reached an agreement last month, Arum said to L.A. Times that the the figures were crazy. "When they contacted me, I told them it was pie in the sky, that this is crazy, it's not going to happen," he added.
Arum also said the super fight and the figures involved in the fight were too good to be true and outlandish. "If it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true," he said.
The cancellation of the super fight is expected to come as a bitter blow to the Bolton fighter, who has been desperate to get back on track after losing via knockout in his fight against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez last year.
