Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn rematch off for 2017

Manny Pacquiao won't fight Jeff Horn in a rematch of their WBO world welterweight title fight this year.

Pacquiao is unavailable for the proposed fight on November 12 in Australia because the Filipino senator will be busy on a government delegation to China.

Horn beat Pacquiao in a contentious unanimous decision in Brisbane on July 2 and at the time Pacquiao said he wanted a rematch.

"On behalf of the Philippines government, he (Pacquiao) will be part of a delegation that will visit China in the middle of his proposed preparation period for the fight," local promoter Dean Lonergan said.

"Pacquiao is committed to fighting again in 2018 and a rematch with Jeff Horn for the WBO world welterweight title."

According to the promoters American contender Jesse Vargas, a former world title holder, could possibly take Pacquiao's place for a fight later this year. Pacquiao beat Vargas in a unanimous decision last November in Las Vegas.

A week after his loss to former schoolteacher Horn, Pacquiao said he still disagreed with the unanimous decision that resulted in him losing the welterweight title, despite an independent re-scoring of the fight confirming the unheralded Australian's win.

The WBO said in a statement then that three of the five independent judges who scrutinized the bout awarded it to Horn, one awarded it to Pacquiao and one scored it a draw.

The review concluded that Horn won seven rounds to Pacquiao's five. The fight took place in front of 51,000 fans at an outdoor stadium in Brisbane.