Arum to Pacquiao vs Khan backers: Show me the money

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum said he is prioritizing the planned fight between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan.

But for him to do so, the fight’s purported backers in the United Arab Emirates must already produce the money.

“I don't want to talk about any other fights,” Arum said in a report by ABS-CBN. “That's what we are concentrating on – the fight with Amir Khan at the UAE.”

An investment group in the UAE is reportedly dangling a $38 million fund to hold the fight in the Middle Eastern country.

Pacquiao’s adviser Mike Koncz spearheaded the negotiations with the group, later on aligning with Arum at Top Rank’s office in Las Vegas.

They have agreed to stage the fight on May 20, which is almost a month farther than the originally proposed April 23 date, to allow a longer time for promotion.

Now more importantly, Arum wants to see the money for the ball to start rolling.

“In order for the fight to happen in the UAE, funds have to be produced to enable the fight to happen and I am hoping that those funds would materialize,” the veteran promoter added.

The issue of funding has been central in the fight’s planning, and it will either make or break the deal.

“However, if they (money) don't materialize, we have to do something else,” Arum continued.

The Top Rank boss previously held talks with representatives of prospect Jeff Horn to stage a Pacquiao-Horn tussle in Brisbane, Australia. But those fell through the moment Pacquiao announced he’s fighting Khan in the UAE.

Unlike the parties in the UAE, Horn’s people assured that a purse of $5 million to $6 million is sure to be on the table for Pacquiao.

 Arum, for his part, is hoping the UAE group delivers soon.

"But Michael is optimistic that the funds will materialize, and once they do, then Top Rank will roll up its sleeves and help put on a tremendous worldwide event. If they don't materialize, then we'll have to search for a viable alternative," he said.

"It is not accurate to say that the fight is on. It is also not accurate to say that the fight won't happen. We don't know. We have to wait and see if the funds materialize," Arum also said. – Dino Maragay