The bout took place about three weeks ago.
Yet, it remains unclear where the boxing ring and equipment of the July 15 Fight of Champions between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse are kept.
Insiders said the promoters have got the equipment stored in a “warehouse” and that they have “just written to the ministry” regarding the donation.
Pacquiao, during his post-fight press conference, pledged to donate the training camp equipment and boxing ring set up at the Axiata Arena to “promote and support the growth of boxing in Malaysia”.
“The concerned party has just written to the (Youth and Sports) ministry. The equipment IS placed in a warehouse.”
“By right, the equipment could have been given to the ministry or any other preferred stakeholder immediately after the fight ended,” said an insider.
The bout was considered the biggest boxing event in Malaysia after the Muhammad Ali-Joe Bugner fight at Merdeka Stadium in 1975.
Foul! had on Aug 2, reported Tunku Ismail Ibrahim opted out of the event following a “disagreement of certain terms” – Pacquiao visiting the Johor Crown Prince in Johor Baru twice late last year.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu were among the VIPs who watched the fight.
Following his knock-out defeat, Matthysse had on Aug 2 announced his decision to quit boxing.
Meanwhile, equipment used at last year’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games have also been kept in a store in Balakong, Selangor and it remains unclear if they will be handed to associations, be placed in schools or clubs or be used by the organiser of next month’s Malaysia Games in Perak.
