Horn Wants Pacquiao Rematch In Australia

A year following their first clash in Brisbane, now former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, wants his rematch with Manny Pacquiao.

Horn’s trainer and manager Glenn Rushton, claims they are “very open” to a rematch with Pacquiao, who is set to face Lucas Matthysse on July 14th for Matthysse’s WBA welterweight title.

“Who knows?,” Rushton said when asked about a rematch with Pacquiao. “That’s up to Manny Pacquiao. He’s gotta get past Matthysse first, of course, in July. We’re very open to that fight. We would certainly do that fight any day of the week. There would be no issues whatsoever with that.”

Horn called for an immediate rematch against Pacquiao, following a controversial unanimous decision victory for Horn in his hometown.

Pacquiao was reluctant to return to Australia for a rematch, and cited his Senatorial schedule as one reason why he’d be unable to schedule one for late 2017.

“Pacquiao was a very big splash last year in Brisbane,” Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan said, “but you would like to think that if Pacquiao was to beat Matthysse, it would be a very realistic thing to try and put together. Maybe we could put some serious money on the table for him, because that’s what it takes to get Manny. If he was to lose to Matthysse, you would have to say, well, you would have to say not really because it hasn’t got quite the shine without a world title on it.

“One of the things we have to do is make sure when we have the wonderful support we get from Queensland state government and the Brisbane City Council, that we give them a good return on their investment, as you well know.”

Story: Boxing Scene