Boxing News: Arum assures Pacquiao of least $20M in April 2016 fight
Top Rank Promotions head Bob Arum is guaranteeing at least $20 million (AU $27.8M) for Manny Pacquiao for the latter’s comeback fight since a shoulder injury and the first bout since his disappointing loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May.
According to an ESPN report, Arum stated that Pacquiao, who is still undecided on whom to fight in April of 2016 but is reportedly nearing a decision, would be netting Arum’s guarantee—plus his share from the profits generated in what could be his final fight before retiring from the sport.
Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) lost to Mayweather Jr. via a 12-round unanimous decision but earned at least $150M (AU $208.5M) for the “Fight of the Century” which broke the all-time record for pay-per-view buys and sales as well as the live gate revenue.
Among the opponents reportedly under consideration as Pacquiao’s next opponent are American boxers Terence Crawford (27-0-0, 19 knockouts) and Timothy Bradley Jr. (33-1-1, 13 knockouts) and British pugilist Amir Khan (31-3-0, 19 knockouts).
Earlier in November, Arum said in an interview that they had sent tapes of Crawford to Pacquiao’s camp to help the Filipino decide on his next opponent.
Khan, who has been snubbed multiple times by Mayweather Jr. in the past, is still looking for a big money fight against a big name opponent and was actually considered a frontrunner for the Pacquiao sweepstakes about two months ago although a deal was never finalised.
Bradley, if he gets another date with Pacquiao, will be facing the Filipino for the third time in his career after a controversial split decision win in 2012 and a unanimous decision loss in 2014.
"I purposely kept myself out of it because at this point it doesn't matter who Manny picks," Arum said to ESPN. "Would I prefer it not to be Khan? Yes, but this is Manny's last fight. I have a duty to him to present him all of the options.
Arum admitted that he prefers Pacquiao not choosing Khan since he does not promote the British boxer. Both Crawford and Bradley Jr. are under contract with Top Rank Promotions.
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