Jeff horn.

[Master]

MANNY Pacquiao must decide this week whether he will fight Jeff Horn at Suncorp Stadium on July 2 or the deal will collapse according to his promoter Bob Arum.

While Horn continues to train for the fight in 12 weeks he is waiting anxiously for Pacquiao to finally put pen to paper after the cancellation of their proposed April 23 fight at the same venue.

The pair appeared set to clash in the most expensive Australian bout ever before the Filipino world champ went hunting instead for a fanciful $49 million purse apparently offered by promoters in the United Arab Emirates.



That deal quickly collapsed and Horn said he was “extremely frustrated’’ by the drawn-out process.

“I just want the fight to happen,’’ he said.

“I’m training for it but not training super hard yet because Manny still hasn’t signed.

“It’s a waiting game and it’s taking a lot longer than I thought.’’

Arum said this week that Pacquiao must decide in the next few days to take the fight and a rumoured purse in excess of $10 million.

The promoter told reporter Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin that he is in constant touch with Pacquiao, through the world welterweight champ’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz.

Arum said he wants Pacquiao to make his decision, stressing that the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, who are backing the event, won’t keep their money on the table forever.

As Arum predicted, Pacquiao’s proposed UAE fight with England’s Amir Khan fell apart when backers could not produce a guarantee for the massive purse.

Arum has wanted Pacquiao to fight in Brisbane since the fight was first mooted in December but Pacquiao appears reluctant to travel to enemy territory to tackle the rugged schoolteacher who is the No. 2 contender for his WBO title.

Arum told Giongco: “If we can’t get a fight for (Pacquiao) this July, we’ll look at November.

There are offers for Pacquiao to fight in November in Qatar and South Africa — against the No. 13 contender, Chris Van Heerden.

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[Spicoli]

3 year pro who's never gone 12 and biggest wins were over two forty year olds. Seems to have good attitude and drive though. It really is a golden opportunity for him very little to lose. Manny on the other hand has to look 100 percent and I don't think Arum has any intention of taking on "real" threat. He's scrapping the marrow from Manny.