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Agence France-Presse

Philippine world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is to fight undefeated Jeff Horn on his home turf in Australia, the Filipino star’s camp said Wednesday.
The announcement of the July bout ends months of speculation on who the 38-year-old Filipino dubbed “Pac-Man” would face next as he seeks to prolong a stellar career that saw him win world titles in eight different weight classes.
“We signed the Jeff Horn contract this morning. Fight is July 2 in Brisbane, Australia,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said.
Koncz said Pacquiao would be staking his World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown against Horn, 29, but he declined to say what the prize money would be.

Pacquiao’s American promoter Bob Arum had been originally pushing for the Filipino to face Horn in Australia, but in a surprise development, Pacquiao and British boxer Amir Khan announced separately in February that they would fight on April 23.
But the deal spectacularly fell through with Arum describing the reported US$38 million United Arab Emirates fight to the Los Angeles Times as “pie in the sky”.
Now Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan WON’T be fighting as promoter says it was ‘pie in the sky’
After Horn, Koncz said he was still hoping to set up a Pacquiao fight with Khan in either the Middle East or the Philippines in October or November.
Pacquiao, who has been hailed as a virtual national hero in his home country, briefly retired early last year and then ran and won a seat in the Philippine senate.

But the retirement was short-lived as Pacquiao, who said he missed the ring, made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November.


Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao to fight Australia’s Jeff Horn on July 2 in Brisbane

Philippine boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao arriving for a senate session in Manila. Photo: AFP

Australia's welterweight boxer Jeff Horn.(Handout)

Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines punches WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas of Las Vegas during their title fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., November 5, 2016. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan finally confirm they will fight in April

Manny Pacquiao says the Amir Khan bout is the one fans demanded. Photo: AP

Filipino boxer and Sen. Manny Pacquiao talks to reporters as he arrives for a session of the Philippine Senate Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila, Philippines, amid reports that his next WBO welterweight boxing title match will be held in Abu Dhabi or Dubai in April. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Manny Pacquiao asks fans to vote on who he should fight next, with Amir Khan the favourite

Manny Pacquiao holding up his welterweight title belt upon his arrival at the airport in Manila in November 2016. Photo: AFP

Manny Pacquiao return to the ring in April against Australian Jeff Horn

In this November 2016 file photo, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao raises his WBO welterweight championship belt during a news conference upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay city, southeast of Manila, Philippines. Pacquiao, 38, will add another fight to his long resume when he takes on Australian welterweight Jeff Horn on April 23 at a venue to be decided. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 06, 2016 shows Boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrating after beating Jessie Vargas with a unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight championship at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. WBO welterweight world champion Pacquiao said November 22 he felt like a young man in his twenties and would relish another crack at Floyd Mayweather. The Filipino icon, 37, made a winning comeback from his brief retirement earlier this month and said he was in great shape to try to avenge his defeat to Mayweather last year in the richest fight in boxing history. / AFP PHOTO / John GURZINSKI

Manny Pacquiao

Sport

Boxing

World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown will be on the line after deal with British boxer Amir Khan fell through


Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao to fight Australia’s Jeff Horn on July 2 in Brisbane

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown will be on the line after deal with British boxer Amir Khan fell through

World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown will be on the line after deal with British boxer Amir Khan fell through