Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thrown shade at Manny Pacquaio for withdrawing from a rematch with WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn, accusing the boxing legend of running scared.
Ms Palaszczuk, whose government was supporting the planned November rematch said on Saturday she was disappointed by Pacquiao's withdrawal.
"Frankly, I think he's a bit too scared to come and face Jeff Horn," she told reporters in Brisbane.
Pacquio's camp blamed judges and the referee for his shock loss to Horn at the famous "Battle of Brisbane" upset in July this year but Ms 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."
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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.
The Irish mixed martial arts champion is expected to walk away from his loss to Floyd Mayweather last Sunday with an estimated pay cheque of about $US100 million and the premier indicated she'd welcome the addition of his star power to the Horn bout.
"If we could get McGregor, that would be great."
