Taking into account Manny Pacquiao’s Senate schedule, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has penciled Nov. 12 as the date of the fighting Filipino lawmaker’s rematch with Australian banger Jeff Horn.
The likely venue: Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
A canopy that can provide protection to the ring and the first ten rows of ringside from the late-morning or early-afternoon sun or rain can be installed at the 55,000-capacity arena, said Arum.
Though no deal is in place, Arum said all signs point to that date and a return to Brisbane as Queensland State is determined to stage it again following the success of last July’s match that Horn won on a unanimous but controversial decision.
“I still have to talk with Manny,” said the 85-year-old Top Rank chief from his Las Vegas home yesterday.
The Senate will have a break from Oct. 14 to Nov. 12 and this will give Pacquiao the opportunity to focus in his training in the last four weeks leading up to the fight, a luxury the 38-year-old lefty didn’t have while getting ready for the 29-year-old Horn.
Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s chief cities, are also bidding to bring the rematch on their own backyard alongside Gold Coast.
But it appears that Queensland doesn’t have any plans of seeing Horn, a local boy, fight elsewhere.
