ni Gilbert Espeña

Kinantiyawan ni Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk si eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao na duwag sa pag-atras sa rematch kay WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn sa Brisbane, Australia.

“Frankly, I think he’s a bit too scared to come and face Jeff Horn,” sabi niya sa mga reporter sa Brisbane sabay sabing sa pag-atras ay batid ng Pinoy boxer na natalo siya ni Horn. “For Manny not to reappear, really says to me that he knows Jeff is the world champion.”

Maghahanap ngayon ng bagong kalaban si Top Rank big boss Arum at kaagad pinili ang inagawan ni Pacquiao ng korona na Amerikanong si Jessie Vargas.

Ngunit, para kay Palaszczuk, mas malaki ang laban kung isasabak si Horn kay UFC superstar Conor McGregor na natalo kamakailan kay dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pumayag si Pacquiao sa rematch clause para muling labanan si Horn sa Suncorp Stadium sa Nobyembre 12 pero nagbago siya ng isip at umatras sa sagupaan.

Tinuligsa rin si Pacquiao ng promoter ni Horn na si Dean Lonergan matapos ikatwiran ng Pilipino ang biyahe sa China bilang delegado ng Pilipinas.

“I don’t think for one second Manny Pacquiao is running scared of Jeff Horn, he has been in the ring with the greatest boxers of our generation, he’s not going to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame for ducking fights,” sabi ni Lonergan sa BoxingScene.com.

“I just don’t think the timing suited him so we will look at other options,” dagdag ni Lonergan. “Manny Pacquiao has decided that he will not be competing in a rematch with Jeff Horn in 2017. On behalf of the Philippines government he will be part of a delegation that will visit China in the middle of his proposed preparation period for the fight. Pacquiao is committed to fighting again in 2018, and a rematch with Jeff Horn for the WBO world welterweight title.”