This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Jeff Horn’s management team are confident a Brisbane fight with Manny Pacquiao will go ahead despite claims the Filipino’s next bout will be in the UAE.



The Queensland fighter’s camp received assurances from Pacquiao’s promoters that an Australian location remained the first option.



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Duco Events, in charge of promoting the fight, said they were aware of social media posts and comments from Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz that the Filipino would next defend his WBO welterweight title in the UAE.



But they were continuing to press forward with plans for the Suncorp Stadium battle, after speaking with Pacquiao’s exclusive worldwide promoters, Top Rank, on Tuesday morning.



“Michael Koncz has looked at other options, and he is well within his rights to do so,” Duco founder Dean Lonergan said. “But Top Rank will still make the final call in consultation with Manny.”

The news comes after the Pacquiao placed the bout in even further doubt on Monday, when he started a Twitter poll on Monday asking who he should fight next out of Horn, Amir Khan, Terence Crawford and Kell Brook.



Horn was a clear last on 7% after more than 44,000 votes with Amir Khan (48%) ahead of Brook (24%) and Crawford (21%).

Pacquiao’s post also came after Koncz apologised to the Australian public on Saturday, claiming the UAE had always been the first preference for the bout, and that Brisbane was only a “back-up plan” for Pacquiao.



But regardless, Lonergan said he expected to have the details for the fight finalised within the next seven days. “The battle of Brisbane has begun long before a punch has been thrown,” he said.