Arum: Pacquiao will do rematch with Jeff Horn

If there was any doubt before, it doesn’t sound like there is now. Bob Arum tells ESPN that Manny Pacquiao actively wants his contractually obligated rematch with Jeff Horn, and that the fight will likely happen toward the end of this year.

"Manny doesn't want to retire. He wants the rematch, so we are going to do the rematch. Manny told me he wants to do the rematch, but now we are looking for the window that satisfies the Senate. We need to see when they have a recess that will allow Manny the time he needs to train and have the fight."

... “The problem is we can't have it outdoors again because of the weather. November is the summer there, and it's brutal to do it outdoors. We can't do it. Even in July, which is their winter, it was pretty hot outdoors.”

Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KO) turns 39 on December 17, and looked every day of 38 in the first fight with Horn (17-0-1, 11 KO). Even those who felt Pacquiao deserved the decision seemed to concede that he was far from the Pacquiao of even a couple of years ago, let alone his prime.

There was also some question about his focus and how seriously he took Horn, a big underdog, the first time around. If/when the rematch happens, do you expect Pacquiao to perform better?