The proposed November 11 rematch between WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao is off, but Pacquiao hopes to fight Horn again in 2018.

Pacquiao, who turns 39 in December, will be busy with Philippines government duties, namely a trip to China, during the period he would have been training for the fight.

Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KO) lost a highly controversial decision to Horn (17-0-1, 11 KO) on July 2 in Brisbane, Australia. Jessie Vargas (27-2, 10 KO) could face Horn late this year instead. Vargas is the former WBO titleholder, who lost the belt to Pacquiao last November.

It’s been said repeatedly that being a Senator in the Philippines would inevitably interfere with Pacquiao’s desire to continue his boxing career, and we’ve hit the first roadblock in that respect. The reality is Pacquiao has very few fights remaining in his career either way, most likely, and the more his government position takes priority, the less likely we are to see him fighting.