The eight-division world champion was initially thought to be travelling to Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium on April 23 to take on the Australian.
However, according to his Canadian adviser, Michael Koncz, the pair will now clash in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai with Pacquiao’s official social media channels posting a message today saying: “See you in UAE for my next fight”.
Speaking to Gulf News in Abu Dhabi, Koncz said: “It took us a while to get this deal together. There was a lot of confusion whether this is going to happen here in the UAE.
“I’m here with full authority and power. I have been the marriage counsellor for Manny and we have developed a relationship.
“I’m involved in all aspects of what he does. We have executed the agreement in the morning and 100 per cent the fight will be here in the UAE.”
There was some confusion though with Horn’s camp later claiming they still expect the bout to be held in Brisbane.
Pacquaio’s Top Rank promoter Bob Arum suggested a deal with Horn’s promoter, Duco Events, had been struck to see the 38-year-old take on the unbeaten Australian in front of an expected crowd of 50,000.
“Manny Pacquiao’s exclusive promoter is (Las Vegas-based) Bob Arum and we have been working together for many weeks to have the fight at Suncorp Stadium,’’ said Duco’s Dean Lonergan in a report on the Courier Mail.
“The only person authorised to promote Manny Pacquiao is Bob Arum. Until Bob Arum tells me differently we are continuing with that aim of having the fight at Suncorp Stadium on April 23.”
See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao pic.twitter.com/AioncFnlrV
— Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) February 12, 2017
According to the Courier Mail, Horn leaves on Monday for a three-day tour of North Queensland to promote the Suncorp fight and the 29-year-old added that he would take on Pacquiao in “Antarctica” if he had to but hoped the fight would be “a huge event” in Brisbane.
Koncz, though, apologised to the Australian government and fans for the last-minute change in plans, saying: “I was aware Bob was talking in Australia about hosting the fight there, but it is fine with us.
“I told Bob to go ahead but don’t close it. When Bob said it will happen there I asked him ‘what are you talking about?’ A promoter works for the boxer but the boxer doesn’t work for the promoter.
“We have had a successful bond with him, but Manny is the boss. I told him ‘why are you speaking to the media when it is just a backup plan?
“I don’t have control over what Bob says, he talks a lot of stuff and I apologise to the people of Australia, their government there for all the confusion and also the fans here in the UAE.”
Pacquiao made a successful return to the ring last November after a brief stay in retirement to focus on his duties as a senator in the Philippines House of Representatives. He earned a unanimous decision win over Jessie Vargas to begin his third reign as WBO welterweight champ while Horn is unbeaten in 17 fights.
Business as usual as Jeff Horn still planning to fight Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp April 23. Bob Arum is Pacquiao's promoter not Michael Koncz
— Grantlee Kieza (@Kieza_cmail) February 12, 2017
