Dubai: Pound-for-pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will not be visiting Dubai to attend the Philippines vs. Rest of the World fight card.
It was earlier reported that Pacquiao will support his brother Bobby during the fight, but a confidant of Pacquiao revealed that the boxing icon told his brother not to fight anymore.
"Bobby was advised by Manny to no longer fight," Rex Wakee Salud, Bobby's promoter and one of Pacquiao's boxing advisers, told Gulf News in a phone interview.
"When the organisers extended their invitation to Bobby, we were still in Texas for the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. During that time we haven't decided yet. But after talking with Manny and Bobby, we decided not to let Bobby fight. Bobby is not really retired; he's doing some practice, but Manny doesn't want his brother to fight anymore."
Click here for a blow-by-blow account of the Pacquiao-Clottey bout
Click here to watch a video of UAE fans' reaction to Pacquiao's latest fight
Salud also clarified that it was not true that Manny dropped his plans to come to Dubai since they did not sign any contract with organisers in the first place.
Ramon Pizarras, co-organiser of the card, concurred in a phone interview with Gulf News: "Manny did not pull out from the event since we don't have any contract with him to appear in Dubai."
Salud also denied reports that Manny received a personal invitation from Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.
The claim was supposedly made by a representative of the organisers during a press conference in the Philippines.
"It is not true that Manny was invited, we have not received any letter or any form of invitation from the Shaikh's office," says Salud.
Arniel Josua Armamento of KO Promotions was quoted by different newspapers in the Philippines as saying that Pacquiao was invited by the scion of the royal family to visit Dubai, all expenses paid.
When contacted by Gulf News, Dubai Sports Council confirmed that they did not send an invitation to Pacquiao.
In a statement sent to Gulf News, the Sports Council stated that they have met with a representative of KO Promotions, while it was also revealed that the Crown Prince himself was unaware of the issue.
After the meeting, the Dubai Sports Council sought an apology letter from KO Promotions, which is co-promoting the event with Philippine-based ALA Promotions.
"We already sent an apology letter to Dubai Sports Council to correct the issue," said Pizarras.
The Philippines vs. Rest of the World, which features some of the top Filipino boxers, was earlier scheduled on April 9 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.
The card has been rescheduled to happen later this month and has been moved to another venue at the Lodge nightclub.
Some of Pacquiao's fans are still hoping that one day he will visit Dubai. The boxing icon is busy in the coming Philippine elections, where is trying to secure a seat in Congress. Click here to read special coverage of the Philippine elections
"Well, upon hearing the news that he will not be here, I'm quite sad. But I hope he can find time to visit us here in Dubai," said Jeffery Nabua, who considers himself a Pacquiao fanatic.
