No way Pacquiao-Horn 2 happens in Philippines, says Arum

MANILA, Philippines – Promoter Bob Arum on Wednesday said the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn being staged in the Philippines in December is not going to happen.

"It's impossible," Arum told The STAR a day after Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo bared plans to bring the rematch between Pacquiao and Horn to the Philippines.

"It's impossible because we have a contract that if there's a rematch it has to be in Australia," said Arum of the deal signed by both camps, including Pacquiao and Horn and their respective promoters and the Queensland government.

If Pacquiao insists on doing a fight in the Philippines in December, then the 38-year-old fighting senator should start looking for an opponent because it's not going to be the rematch with the 29-year-old Australian.

"Manny can say, 'Okay, I'm not doing the rematch.' Then Horn will fight somebody else in Australia and tell Manny, 'See you next year.' But if he (Pacquiao) wants to do the rematch and do it this year it has to be in Brisbane," Arum stressed.

The first fight took place last July 2 at the Brisbane Stadium, before a live audience of over 51,000. The rematch is expected to be bigger than the first one, and Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced the other day that a deal is in place for a November 12 fight.

Arum said the only way for the rematch to be held outside of Australia, including the massive Philippine Arena just north of Manila, is if Horn, now the WBO welterweight champion, agrees to it.

"Unless Horn agrees otherwise, and Horn is not going to agree. Nobody has even talked to Horn about doing the fight in the Philippines," said Arum, who was startled to read the news from the Philippines Tuesday that there are talks on bringing the rematch across.

"So, I mean, I don't know who started this and what it's about. This is like ridiculous," said Arum.

The Philippine tourism official said she's been in talks with Party List Representative Eric Pineda, who is also the business manager of Pacquiao, regarding the hosting of the rematch in December.

Arum said he's surprised why some people are even talking about staging the rematch when they have nothing to do with the fight itself.

"This is all nonsense. The contract with Horn and Duco (Events of Australia) is with Top Rank. And it has specific language," said Arum.

"It just can't happen. Period. It can't happen," said the 85-year-old American promoter.

It's very unlikely for Horn to even think of coming over to the Philippines to defend his title against Pacquiao, unless the Philippine government offers him the moon and the stars.

Arum said the last time he heard of plans to bring a Pacquiao fight in the Philippines, President Duterte was not too excited.

"All we know is that when the President was asked whether the government would support a fight or put up the money for the fight, he said, "No. We'd rather spend the money on feeding poor people.' And he's right," Arum told The STAR over the phone Wednesday morning.

The other day, the Brisbane Lord Mayor announced that they've gotten the commitment from Pacquiao that he's coming to Brisbane in November to do the rematch.

"Absolutely," Arum said about the deal being in place, until he woke up hearing news that there are plans to bring the fight to the Philippines in December.

"It's impossible," he said.