Koncz: Pacquiao will fight in April, Asian venues considered

Nick Giongco

Manny Pacquiao is fighting in April and his camp is looking at three possible sites: Singapore, Macau or Dubai.

Owing to the lure of paying a lower tax rate, Pacquiao is intent in bringing his act elsewhere other than the US.

Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said Top Rank chief Bob Arum will be heavily involved in staging Pacquiao’s rare fight outside the US and the fact that his stepson, Top Rank president Todd Duboef is meeting contacts in Asia is proof that plans are afoot for the Filipino to fight there.

“We’re fighting in April and we already have an opponent in mind,” said Koncz.

Franklin Gacal, who is Pacquiao’s lawyer, said fighting in Asia has been in their program even before the fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez last year.

“It’s for tax purposes,” said Gacal, noting that Pacquiao’s purse won’t be heavily taxed if he fights in Asia.

Pacquiao just got back from his vacation in Hong Kong and Israel and has expressed his desire to get back into the ring even after suffering a stunning sixth-round knockout loss to Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Arum had floated the idea of featuring Pacquiao and Marquez in a double-header but Koncz said there is no sense putting them on the same night.

“Extra expenses,” said Koncz, stressing that Pacquiao can stand on his own as he remains a top attraction.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao publicist Fred Sternburg relayed an interesting bit of information yesterday about Pacquiao’s suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The Nevada commission had earlier came out with an order that Pacquiao will not be allowed to fight until the first week of April and should not engage in any contact (sparring) until the first week of March.

But Sternburg obtained a document saying the suspension is only up until March 9, 2013 and that he can’t engage in sparring until Feb. 7, 2013.

Pacquiao, 34, appears to be in high spirits despite a recent “diagnosis” that was made by a Filipino doctor as he had passed a CT Scan moments after the Marquez defeat and his MRI less than a week after the fight didn’t show troubling signs.

Marquez, who turns 40 in August, is also being eyed to do one more fight in preparation for a fifth clash with Pacquiao during the Mexican Independence Day celebrations in September.

Article courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin