HBO not covering Pacquiao-Injin bout

Cable network HBO has pulled the plug on Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, tentatively scheduled April 28 against Korean Injin Chi in Macau.

According to doghouseboxing,com, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said that, with HBO out of the picture, negotiations are going on with a Philippine network.

Many had hoped that the coming fight would be aired by HBO which has covered most of Pacquiao’s sensational fights in the US.

"The fight is going to go on April 28. We never said it would definitely be on HBO," Arum was quoted as telling doghouseboxing.com.

"We’re now talking with the Philippine network and we have reserved the 27th and 28th on pay-per-view with InDemand, etc," the Top Rank big boss said.

Arum said HBO pulling the plug on Pacquiao’s next fight was a direct result of a legal letter sent by Golden Boy Promotions to HBO.

Golden Boy, owned by Oscar dela Hoya, is in a legal tug-of-war with Top Rank over the promotional rights on the Filipino superstar.

"Golden Boy sent a legal letter to HBO and they may not want to be involved in the lawsuit," said Arum, who’s been waiting for Pacquiao to fly to the US to finalize the fight details.

Pacquiao was supposed to be in Los Angeles this week, but said he’s not going until the first week of February. The earlier he goes to Los Angeles, the better.

Arum, in a separate interview, said it’s better for Pacquiao to come to the US as soon as possible, begin his training, and avoid all the distractions back home.

"I agree with (Freddie) Roach. Manny is going to have to stop all the stuff and stop playing around. Time for play is over and the time for real work is here. I absolutely agree with Roach on this," Arum said.

Roach, who looms as dela Hoya’s new trainer, said it would be better for Pacquiao to begin his eight-week training in Los Angeles, and move to Manila in the final phase of the preparations before flying to Macau.