MANNY Pacquiao’s sudden withdrawal from the rematch against Jeff Horn on Friday leaves the Australian potentially facing a title defence against an American in the United States.

Jessie Vargas and Terrence Crawford are leading candidates to fight Horn for his WBO welterweight belt in November or December after Pacquiao pulled out because he’ll be visiting China on official senatorial duties during what was supposed to be his training camp.

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.

media_camera Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn are unlikely to go toe-to-toe again in 2017. Picture: AFP

Pacquiao was unhappy with the scoring of his shock defeat to Horn in July and struggled against the aggressive Australia’s awkward go-forward style.

But Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan is confident the rematch will be held in 2018 when Pacquiao has less on his plate as a senator.

The Philippines is in a period of instability at present and there was always a chance Pacquiao would not have time to dedicate to fight preparation while trying to help run the country.

“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.

media_camera Pacquiao lands a shot on Jessie Vargas.

“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.”

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has a two-fight option over Horn, which means he’s likely to pit another one of his Top Rank fighters against the Australian.

While Lonergan is keen to have Horn’s first defence in Brisbane, Arum may be keen to build the fighter’s profile in the States.

Vargas (27-2, 10KO) lost his last bout to Pacquiao in November 2016, with his only other defeat coming at the hands of Tim Bradley.

He is ranked ninth on the WBO list and would make a challenging first up defence for Horn.

The undefeated Crawford, on the other hand, would be far tougher challenge.

He became the first man in 15 years to unify an entire division when he claimed the four major belts of the light-welterweight division with a knockout of Julius Indongo a fortnight ago.

But Crawford (32-0, 23KO) looks set to move up a weight class and he would see Horn as a pathway to setting up a big-money fight against Pacquiao himself.

Horn (17-0-1, 11KO) had hoped to fight the rematch against Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium, but even if he secures a title defence in Brisbane the fight will be moved to a smaller venue as no other name is as big a drawcard as Pacquiao.

“We have a wonderful partnership with Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government and we’d love to have Jeff’s title defence there, but we will talk through every detail with Bob Arum,” Lonergan said.

WBO WELTERWEIGHT (66.68 KGS) RANKINGS

CHAMPION: JEFF HORN

1. Manny Pacquiao (PHI)

2. Lucas Matthysse (ARG)

3. Bradley Skeete (UK)

4. Egidijus Kavaliauskas (LIT)

5. Konstantin Ponomarev (RUS)

6. Taras Shelestyuk (UKR)

7. Giovanni Santillan (USA)

8. Adrian Luciano Veron (ARG)

9. Jessie Vargas (USA)

10. Ray Robinson (USA)

11. Gary Corcoran (UK)

12. Stephen Danyo (NED)

13. Carlos Ocampo (MEX)

14. Qudratillo Abduguharov (UZB)

15. Custio Clayton (CAN)

WBA champion: KEITH THURMAN

WBC champion: KEITH THURMAN

IBF champion: ERROL SPENCE, JR.