MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight championship against unheralded Australian Jeff Horn on April 22, Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum told ESPN.
ESPN's Dan Rafael reported Wednesday morning that Arum has reached an agreement with Duco Events, who handles Horn, for a bout on April 22 when the Philippine Senate is in recess.
However, the site of the bout has not been finalized. In previous interviews, Horn has expressed his desire to fight Pacquiao at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, which has a 50,000-person capacity.
The fight will take place either in Australia or in the United Arab Emirates, Arum said.
Pacquiao (59-6-2) regained the WBO belt last November 2016 by cruising past Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas. It was his "return fight" after a very brief retirement.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Horn is the No. 2 ranked contender by the WBO, but is largely unknown outside of his home country. He has a 16-0-1 record, and is coming off a stoppage victory over Ali Funeka last December in Auckland.
"I thought he was a really rugged guy," Arum said of Horn. "He's a good fighter."
"Does he beat Manny? Probably not," the promoter readily admitted. "But he's going to give him a good fight. He has a very pleasing personality."
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