ONLY mere formalities seperate Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao from confirming an eagerly anticipated rematch.

Representatives of both Horn, 29, and Pacquiao, 38, have been locked in discussions for weeks as the two teams look to secure a lucrative rematch for Horn’s WBO welterweight championship, which the Australian took from future Hall of Famer Pacquiao in July.

Given the success of their initial meeting, Brisbane is a clear front-runner to host a potential rematch, with the Queensland Government appearing to have enforced their contractual right to have the first bid on a second meeting between the two evenly matched welterweights.

A repeat at Suncorp Stadium looks likely with another record breaking crowd expected from the sports thirsty Brisbane public.

Dean Lonergan of Duco Events released an official statement yesterday amidst mounting speculation that an agreement had been reached the aforementioned Duco Events and their American affiliate Top Rank to stage the rematch between Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) and Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) for November 12th in Brisbane.

“Duco Events, Brisbane Marketing and Tourism Events Queensland are working together in good faith to ensure the rematch between WBO world welterweight champion Jeff Horn and former champion Manny Pacquiao is held at Suncorp Stadium in November or December this year,” said Lonergan in an official release.

“Until agreements have been officially reached among all parties, the fight details are not confirmed.”

Bob Arum, the long-serving face of Top Rank, has plans to pit the winner of Horn and Pacquiao with American dynamo Terence Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs), who became the first fighter since Kostya Tszyu to unify all four recognised world titles at light welterweight, after flattening Julius Indongo in three rounds last weekend.

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