MANILA – Will Manny Pacquiao take the challenge?
Australian Jeff Horn did not pull punches when he asked the newly crowned world welterweight champion for another slugfest between them.
Pacquiao defeated Lucas Matthysse of Argentina via a Round 7 technical knockout to clinch the WBA title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.
“Congratulations Manny Pacquiao,” Horn posted on Instagram on Sunday night. “Rematch?”
Horn recently lost the WBO welterweight belt to American Terence Crawford.
Pacquiao wanted to get into another bout and put the WBA belt at stake.
The Australian – who defeated Pacquiao last year via unanimous decision – along with Crawford, and Amir Khan and Vasyl Lomachenko (the Filipino’s former sparring mates) were among possible opponents.
“My next fight, I want to defend my title, my belt, and give a good show and do my best inside the ring,” Pacquiao said. “But I still I don’t know who my next opponent will be. Right now, I’m just so happy.”
He added: “I am addicted to boxing. I really love to fight and bring honor to my country. That’s my heart’s desire.”
Horn scored 115-113, 115-113, 117-111 over Pacquiao in their first encounter on July 2 last year.
At the time the Aussie fighter used dirty tricks, including head-locking, elbowing, head-butting, and clinching to gain leverage.
After a protest from the camp of Pacquiao, the WBO created a five-man panel that reviewed the match.
Three of the five judges ruled that Horn won (115-113, 114-113, 114-113), one scored it for Pacquiao (114-113) and the other saw it as 114-all.
A rematch between Pacquiao and Horn was initially scheduled late last year but the Filipino fighter pulled the plug, citing his duties as senator./PN
after what they did to manny well its a YES And I Agree.IF the prize is right and it will in the philipinnes .