Pacquiao, Thurman ‘closing in on deal’

MANILA, Philippines — The buzz is that it’s Keith Thurman for Manny Pacquiao on July 20 in Las Vegas.

The deal, according to Inside PBC Boxing, is close to being sealed, and may be announced in two weeks.

The MGM Grand, boxing’s capital, looms as the venue of the fight between the two PBC fighters.

If it happens, it will be a battle between two welterweight champions. Pacquiao is the WBA regular champion while Thurman is the WBA super champion.

The two camps are “closing in on a deal,” according to Mike Coppinger of Inside PBC Boxing, and that “there doesn’t appear to be any big hurdles to clear in completing (the) deal.”

Pacquiao, at 40, remains an attraction. His successful title defense against Adrien Broner last Jan. 19 at the MGM Grand sold 400,000 pay-per-view hits.

It’s going to be easier to sell Pacquiao vs Thurman.

Pacquiao (61-7-2 with 39 knockouts) has taken his time choosing his next opponent, and had previously looked at Errol Spence and Danny Garcia as candidates.

But international matchmaker Sean Gibbons said a few weeks ago that the choice had gone down to the 30-year-old Thurman, from Clearwater in Florida, and Garcia.

Pacquiao has not posted anything yet regarding his final choice even as word had leaked that Thurman, undefeated in 29 fights, now has the inside track.