HINDI na kumontra si Top Rank big boss Bob Arum sa posibleng pagdedepensa ng korona ni WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao kay two-time world titlist Amir Khan sa Mayo sa United Arab Emirates.

Kinumpirma ni Arum na nakikipagnegosasyon sina Pacquiao at adviser nitong Canadian na si Michael Koncz sa isang grupo ng mga posibleng financier sa UAE at ginamit pa ang eksena sa Hollywood upang idiin na payag siya kung matutuloy ang laban.

“Like they said in Jerry Maguire,” sabi ni Arum kay boxing writer Mitch Abramsom ng RingTV.com. “Show me the money!”

Sa posibilidad na premyong $38 milyon, naagaw ang atensiyon ni Pacquiao kaya binalewala ang naikasa ni Arum na depensa niya kay WBO No. 2 contender Jeff Horn sa Abril 23 sa Brisbane, Australia sa halagang $5 milyon.

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“It’s not a question of moving on,” paliwanag ni Arum hinggil sa laban ng Pinoy boxer kay Horn. “If these people come up with $38 million, he’s going to that deal. I would recommend for him to go for that deal and I would go over and run the show. As far as Manny is concerned, he hopes that this is real. They’ve been after Manny for him to fight in the Mideast for years.”

Aminado si Arum na mas gusto ni Pacquiao na labanan ang dating sparring partner na si Khan na bukod sa matagal na siyang hinahamon ay may lahing Pakistani kaya papatok sa UAE particular sa Dubai.

“I think Michael is a little more skeptical and I’m way more skeptical. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to cooperate with Manny to see whether or not this is real,” giit ni Arum na mas gustong matuloy ang laban sa petsang Abril 22.

“I guess if it gets done this weekend (the negotiation), it will be April 22. But if it doesn’t and then we have to go an alternate date then it might be June or July,” dagdag ni Arum. “If the Khan fight doesn’t happen and we shift the date, he might end up fighting Horn in Australia. It’s all in a state of flux.” (Gilbert Espeña)