Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is on the verge of confirming a rematch with Jeff Horn in Australia with his legendary promoter, Bob Arum, revealing Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman has urged him to stage the fight in Sydney.

There has been rampant speculation about whether Pacquiao, 38, would fight Horn again or even retire following his controversial unanimous points loss to the Brisbane schoolteacher in their WBO welterweight fight at Suncorp Stadium in early July.

Arum was set to fly to Manila next week to nail down the 11-time world champion on his future but told Fairfax Media from the US on Thursday a rematch by the end of the year could be confirmed in a matter of days.

“I don’t think I’m going to have to go to Manila because I’ve been talking to Manny and his various representatives and Manny wants the rematch,” Arum said. “What’s holding everything up is that there is martial law in the Philippines. We have to get some firm information as to when the Senate will be in recess.”

Pacquiao is a federal senator in his home country and his boxing schedule is dictated by those commitments