UAE purse big hurdle to Manny vs Horn?

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is not too keen on fighting the former schoolteacher from Brisbane.

And apparently, the big offer from the United Arab Emirates is still in play, and has kept Pacquiao from agreeing to take on Jeff Horn.

“Hindi niya type labanan si Horn (He’s not inclined to fight Horn),” said a very reliable source from within Team Pacquiao yesterday.

“Hinahantay pa din niya yung offer sa Abu Dhabi na mas malaki ang purse (He’s still waiting for the offer from Abu Dhabi where the purse is bigger),” the source added.

“I don’t know him (Horn),” Pacquiao had told Fox Sports when news broke out last January that he was going to face the unbeaten Australian (16-0-1).

Asked if the UAE offer is still in play, the source said, “Meron pa (It remains).”

It appears that only when the UAE offer is totally lost will Pacquiao agree to fight the 29-year-old Horn.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum said a couple of days ago he’s just counting the hours before Pacquiao finally signs the fight contract.

“On the Australian side everything is done. Jeff Horn has signed the contract,” Arum told The STAR last Saturday.

Arum had given Pacquiao a deadline (March 30) for him to take the Horn fight on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

“Or he will have to wait until November,” Arum told The STAR last Saturday.

There’s no word from the Pacquiao camp.

Arum did not confirm or deny a report that Duco Events of Brisbane has sweetened the pot in trying to lure Pacquiao over  – from $5 million to as much as $10 million.