As previously reported on krikya360.com, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk threw a few verbal shots at Manny Pacquaio for withdrawing from a rematch with WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn.

Ms Palaszczuk, whose government was supporting the planned November rematch said on Saturday she was disappointed by Pacquiao’s withdrawal. Pacquiao was looking to get revenge after Horn shocked him for the WBO title with a twelve round unanimous decision back in July.

“Frankly, I think he’s a bit too scared to come and face Jeff Horn,” she told reporters in Brisbane.

Palaszczuk said his refusal to take part in the prosed second bout showed the Filipino boxer knew he’d been beaten.

“For Manny not to reappear, really says to me that he knows Jeff is the world champion.”

The hunt is now on for a new opponent for Horn, with American Jesse Vargas touted as a contender but Ms Palaszczuk has another name in her sights: Conor McGregor.

Pacquiao had agreed to the rematch clause to fight Horn again at Suncorp Stadium on November 12, but in recent days began telling Filipino reporters he wanted the fight held in Manila.

Then on Friday the government trip to China unexpectedly came up as an excuse not to rematch Horn, leaving many pundits suspicious.

Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan though was accepting of the Filipino’s circumstances and said he hoped the much anticipated rematch could be made.

“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,” Lonergan said.

“I just don’t think the timing suited him so we will look at other options. 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.”