MANILA, Philippines - Malaki ang naging papel ng Brisbane City Council para sa pagpondo sa laban nina Filipino world eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at Jeff Horn noong Hulyo 2.
Kaya naman bago ibigay ang kanilang suporta sa rematch nina Pacquiao at Horn ay gusto munang makuha ng Brisbane City Council ang ‘commitment’ ni ‘Pacman’.
“The Battle of Brisbane only happened with the strong financial support of Brisbane City Council,” sabi ni Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk sa panayam ng News Corp. “I need to know we definitely have a fighter coming from the Philippines to fight Brisbane’s world champion Jeff Horn and I need to know that fighter is Manny Pacquiao.”
Inihayag kamakalawa ni Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk na nakipagpulong na siya kina Horn at Duco Events director Dean Lonergan at naging positibo ang kanilang pag-uusap.
“So we’re fighting hard to get it, we’re in Jeff Horn’s corner, and it’s about time the lord mayor made it clear - is he supporting this rematch or is he not?” ani Palaszczuk.
Noong Hulyo 2 ay tinalo ni Horn si Pacquiao para sa kanyang unanimous decision victory at agawin sa Senador ang bitbit nitong World Boxing Organization welterweight crown sa Suncorp Stadium sa Brisbane, Australia.
May nakasaad na rematch clause sa kanilang fight contract na maaaring gamitin ng 38-anyos na si Pacquiao para resbakan ang 29-anyos na si Horn.
Wala pang opisyal na pahayag si Pacquiao kung kakagatin ang rematch kay Horn o tuluyan nang magreretiro kagaya nina Juan Manuel Marquez at Timothy Bradley, Jr.
“We don’t know at this time and I’m withdrawing any financial support until Manny fronts up and tells us his intentions,” ani Quirk.