Reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao refused an offer for a rematch against Australian Jeff Horn.
Horn and his promoter Dean Lonergan reportedly expressed interest on a rematch with Pacquiao after the latter?s unanimous decision win against Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada last week. The Australian snatched the World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt from the Filipino ring icon via a controversial unanimous decision on July 1, 2017 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
?Unsettled business? I want a rematch when I lost to Horn but they refused. Now that I?ve won in my comeback fight in the US, they?re negotiating for a rematch,? Pacquiao told reporters in Filipino at the Senate on Wednesday. Pacquiao wanted the rematch to be held in the Philippines but Horn?s camp wanted it to be in Australia. The deal did not push through.
?They were taking advantage of me. They took advantage of me the first time but never again. They fooled me once,? added Pacquiao.
Horn (19-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockouts) lost the WBO belt to undefeated Terence Crawford via ninth round knockout in June 9 last year in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On the other hand, Pacquiao bounced back with a seventh round technical knockout win over Lucas Matthysse for the WBA belt in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 15 also last year. It was the first KO victory for Pacquiao in nine years.
Pacquiao (61-7-2 record with 39 knockouts) said he would likely fight again in May or July, also in the United States.
?I?ll fight anyone,? Pacquiao said when asked to reply on WBA super welterweight champion Keith Thurman?s challenge.
