The planned IBF Intercontinental super featherweight title fight of Bobby Pacquiao (28-13, 13KOs) in what could the first ever pro boxing card in the oil-rich Dubai has fizzled out.
This after Top Rank big boss Bob Arum announced that the younger brother of Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao has already been booked to see action in Las Vegas on March 13 against a still undisclosed opponent.
Arum said the non-title fight scheduled for 10 rounds will be on the opening televised bout on the VERSUS network.
The match is set just two days before Manny Pacquiao challenges WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a highly-rematch for the ages topbilling the “Unfinished Business” on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manny Pacquiao himself earlier disapproved of BobPac’s title match against Robert David Arrieta of Argentina slated on March 27 in Dubai for the same reason made official by Arum.
BobPac previously fought on November 23 last year at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spar in Cabazon, California, scoring a fine fourth round TKO victory over Mexico’s Fernando Trejo. — EBV