By Adrian Stewart Co

World Boxing Association welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao rejected an offer for a rematch with Australian boxer Jeff Horn, whom the former lost to in 2017 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. In an interview with the media, the senator said a rematch offer was already made immediately after their fight.

“I kept asking him for a rematch to no avail – they avoided me,” Pacquiao said. “[After] I won a belt and he lost, he’s challenging me again; but when I challenged him right after I lost to him in 2017 – nothing.”

After rejecting the initial rematch offer, Horn fought American boxer Terrence Crawford and lost, relinquishing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title he won from the Filipino fighter.

“Given [Pacquiao’s] last two fights, a destruction of Matthysse and an easy win over Broner, Manny has shown he has plenty of gas left in the tank,” said Duco Events promoter Dean Lonergan. “It also shows that Jeff Horn didn’t beat an old Manny Pacquiao.”

Horn beat Pacquaio via unanimous decision in a fight marred by allegations of “dirty tricks” committed by the Australian.

A subsequent review was conducted by the WBO with three judges of a five-member panel affirming Horn’s win./ASC, WDJ