Arum to push through with April card without Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum’s planned Las Vegas boxing card will go on in April next year with or without Manny Pacquiao in the main event.

Arum made the statement as Pacquiao has delayed the announcement of his next opponent, which could either be Timothy Bradley or Terence Crawford.

Pacquiao was supposed to name his next foe for his scheduled April 9 fight – the last of his career – but for some reason, he postponed it.

The Filipino icon has left everyone, including Arum himself, waiting – and it’s something Arum said Pacquiao is entitled to.

“But again, it's his career, it's his life and the announcement will come when it will come. So I'm not there (with Manny), (Pacquiao’s adviser) Mike (Koncz) is there. Mike is doing what he can and hopefully it will be made shortly,” the veteran promoter told Steve Kim of boxingscene.com.

Regardless of Pacquiao’s decision, Arum said the April 9 date for the Top Rank card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is already set in stone.

“That is my concrete plan, April 9th. I'm going with a show in Las Vegas, hopefully headed by Manny Pacquiao. If not we'll find talent to go on. But April 9th we're definitely going ahead at the MGM Grand Arena,” said Arum. – Dino Maragay