Arum eyes Abu Dhabi for bout

MANILA, Philippines - As long as Michael Koncz is in Abu Dhabi, there remains the chance that the oil-rich, cosmopolitan city may play host to Manny Pacquiao’s proposed fight against Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13.

Koncz has been in Abu Dhabi, the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates and home to the Royal Family, since last Sunday, and as of yesterday was asked to stay a couple more days.

Koncz had planned to stay in Abu Dhabi for just a day or two, but the fact that he’d stayed longer than expected only means two things: either a deal is being worked out or there’s problem working it out.

For the first time, according to Ronnie Nathanielsz, Top Rank chief Bob Arum got hold of Koncz by phone, and told the Filipino sportscaster that there’s nothing definite as of the moment.

“He (Koncz) surfaced and told me they had asked him to stay until Saturday although he doesn’t know whether that means they want to make a deal. He speculates that the fact that they asked him to stay over means that they are serious,” Arum said.

Nathanielsz reported that Koncz was meeting with officials of the UAE Sports Authority.

Arum sounded optimistic when he broke the news that Abu Dhabi is or was very serious in its bid to stage the next Pacquiao fight, and that it involved a lot of money, more than what Pacquiao would get if he fought elsewhere.

But the longer Koncz stays in Abu Dhabi could mean that there are problems in making the deal.

“It was prudent for him (Koncz) to go over there but I realistically didn’t believe that they are prepared to make any kind of deal. It’s not to be ridiculed. He is trying. It may be a long shot but who knows. If it happens, it’s great,” Arum said.

Aside from Abu Dhabi, which has never staged a boxing match of Pacquiao’s magnitude, other serious bidders are Monterrey in Mexico, the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, and Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world.

Arum was also quoted as saying that Dallas “is not the fallback, it’s the reality.”

Meanwhile, Arum said Juan Manuel Marquez should prove himself first in the higher divisions, and pass some serious tests before he even considers challenging Pacquiao to a third fight.

Just a few days ago Marquez defeated Juan Diaz for the WBO lightweight title, and while the Mexican counter-puncher dominated, it wasn’t as impressive as to set up a trilogy with the heavier Pacquiao.

The 31-year-old Pacquiao is the reigning WBO welterweight champion, and has seven world titles in seven diffferent weight classes inside the spacious trunk of his brand new Mercedes Benz sedan.

Pacquiao has fought a number of times as a welterweight, and has produced the same result, huge wins over Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, and may never fight at 140 again.

Marquez has fought over 145 lb only once, and proved no match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Now he wants Pacquiao at 140 or 142 lb but agains, Arum wants some proof that he can do well at that.

“Look, Marquez has been a pretty good fighter over his career, no doubt,” Arum told Michael Marley, who is always in touch, and just never runs out of things to write about the Filipino congressman.

“But all that’s been at lower weights than where Manny is right now. Manny is a fullfledged welterweight and Marquez is just a good lightweight,” said Arum.