Manny Pacquiao’s responsibilities as a senator in the Philipines forced him to withdraw over the weekend from a scheduled November boxing rematch with Jeff Horn, who won a controversial unanimous decision over Pacquiao earlier this summer in his native Australia. For Australian politician Annastacia Palaszczuk, premier of Queensland, she isn’t buying Pacquiao’s explanation – which, to her, is an excuse. “Frankly, I think he’s a bit too scared to come and face Jeff Horn,” she told reporters in Brisbane, via news.com.au . “For Manny not to reappear, really says to me that he knows Jeff is the world champion.” Related Trading Shots: Has MMA returned to normal, or are we suffering from a 'Money Fight' hangover? And so the search is on for a replacement opponent, with Jesse Vargas as the leading candidate.
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