Manny Pacquiao to fight in Dubai? Boxer could appear in UAE

Manila: Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao plans to fight again in September, with Dubai a possible venue for the bout, a spokeswoman for the fighter has said.

Rose Tamayo said Pacquaio wanted to fight outside the United States to avoid high taxes, with Singapore, Macau and Dubai under consideration for any bout.

Negotiations are ongoing for a rematch with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked Pacquiao out in his last fight in December, although the opponent and the venue are yet to be finalised, Tamayo told AFP.

“The fight is definitely in September. We will talk about the opponent and the place after the May 13 elections,” Tamayo said, citing comments Pacquiao made to her on Wednesday.

Pacquiao, 34, is running for re-election as a congressman in next month’s Philippine mid-term elections, and he is currently on the campaign trail.

Tamayo said Pacquiao wanted his next fight to be outside the United States, where he has traditionally fought in front of huge crowds and for enormous pay-per-view television revenues, to avoid high taxes.

“Manny wants to fight outside the United States because of the taxes... Singapore is one of the top places for consideration. There is also Macau and Dubai,” Tamayo told AFP.

Dubai has been cited as a possible venue for a Pacquiao fight several times in the last year, with boxing legends Evander Holyfield and “Marvellous” Marvin Hagler both endorsing the emirate’s credentials in interviews with Gulf News.

Hagler downplayed the potential problem of a time-zone difference between the UAE and the US’ prime time pay-per-view market when speaking about a possible fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“A fight of this nature would be a great deal because the world would be watching no matter what time it is,” he told Gulf News in January 2012.

“I can’t say if money or the time zone factor will count Dubai out of the equation but regardless I would have thought Dubai has a good chance. You know the name of the game, whoever has the money can host the fight. So ultimately it depends on who can financially host it,” he added

Pacquiao has won an unprecedented eight world titles in different weight divisions, and was until recently regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer.

But Pacquiao lost his World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown in June last year in a controversial points decision to US fighter Timothy Bradley, then suffered his shock knockout defeat to Marquez.

His losses prompted calls for him to retire, but Pacquiao has consistently signalled his intention to keep on fighting.

Pacquiao’s sporting achievements lifted him and his family out of deep poverty, as he became one of the highest paid sportsmen in the world and an endorser of a myriad of products in the Philippines.

He translated his boxing success into the political ring, winning a seat in the nation’s lower house of parliament in 2010.

Pacquiao is running for re-election unopposed in the May polls, while seeking to build a power base for his family. Pacquiao’s wife and brother are also running for political posts in the May elections.

Many Filipino politicians draft in relatives to stand for other elective positions to spread their influence and strengthen their power networks.