Manny Pacquiao’s promoter said Friday the Filipino superstar may never again fight in the U.S.
Bob Arum’s revelation emerged as he was asked about Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s bold decision to take on Mexico’s star unbeaten world super-welterweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas.
Does that stroke by the 36-year-old Mayweather indicate he’s never felt so confident in his abilities? Meaning the long-awaited Pacquiao super-fight could be back on the table next year after Pacquiao fights Oxnard’s former world lightweight champion Brandon Rios on Nov. 23 in Macau, China?
“Let’s not even go there,” said Arum, who has failed repeatedly in attempts with Mayweather Jr. and the boxer’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, to stage the super-fight.
“By fighting outside the country, as he’s doing in this Rios fight, Manny doesn’t have to pay U.S. taxes anymore – at a rate of 40% for a foreign athlete.
“If this pay-per-view and other things take off like we think they may, I can’t imagine Pacquiao will ever again fight in the U.S.”
Arum said in addition to holding the fight on the morning of Nov. 24 on the gambling resort locale so the pay-per-view will air live on a Saturday night in the U.S., he’s struck a deal to allow Chinese consumers to purchase Pacquiao-Rios for what equates to $5 to view the bout on their tablets or cellphones.
“We could do as many as $10 million to $20 million in sales with this. It changes everything. Will it work? We’ll see in November.”
Arum has also negotiated with resorts in Singapore for a possible future Pacquiao bout.
— Lance Pugmire
