Manny Pacquiao Asks WBO To Review ‘Unfair’ Title Loss To Jeff Horn

by Pablo MenaJuly 5, 2017, 3:08 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

Manny Pacquiao has demanded the World Boxing Organization review his welterweight world title defeat to Australian Jeff Horn on Sunday, claiming the loss came due to unfair officiating.

Pacquiao lost his welterweight world title to Jeff Horn via 12-round unanimous decision

The 38-year-old Filipino supported a formal call for the Philippines’ Games and Amusement Board for the WBO to review the result of Sunday’s bout in Brisbane, Australia.

“I love boxing and I don’t wanna see it dying because of unfair decision and officiating,” said Pacquiao, an 11-time world champion. “I had already accepted the decision but as a leader and, at the same time, fighter I have the moral obligation to uphold sportsmanship, truth and fairness in the eyes of the public.”

Horn, 29, defeated Pacquiao in a unanimous 12-round decision after judges scored him 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 in his favor.

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Many prominent figures from the boxing world — including former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis — questioned the outcome of the fight on social media:

Sunday’s bout was held outdoors before more than 51,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Pacquiao is approaching the end of a 22-year pro boxing career that has seen him capture world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions. He had initially called for a rematch, but later said he would also “think hard” about retiring.

“WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the Games and Amusement Board so as not to erode the people’s interest in boxing,” Pacquiao said in a statement as a response to a letter the Phillipines’ sports regulatory body wrote to the WBO to request the review of his fight.

The WBO responded via Twitter on Tuesday: “The discretion of a referee or judge cannot be reversed, except in a case of fraud or violation of laws which is not the case in Pac vs Horn,” the organization said. “The contract for Pac vs Horn provides a rematch clause, which the WBO is in accordance (with) if the promoters decide to move forward.”

Pacquiao’s trainers criticized referees of the fight by alleging they allowed Horn to get away with a series of illegal tactics, including head clashes and neck holds. The Filipino’s team emphasized that, due to the officials’ lack of penalization for these supposedly forbidden moves, Pacquiao had to receive stitches to two cuts in his hairline.

Of the three judges, American Waleska Roldan — who scored the match 117-111 — drew most of the criticism.

After posting photos of all three judges’ score cards on Twitter, the WBO also explained in another statement: “The discretion of a referee or judge cannot be reversed, except in a case of fraud or violation of laws which is not the case in Pac vs Horn.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said it was a “close fight. It could have gone either way.”

Pacquiao had a rematch clause in his contract, which means he could negotiate to face Horn again later this year regardless of the WBO’s final decision. The Filipino entered the fight with a record of 59-6-2. However, the last of his 38 knockouts came in 2009.

Horn, meanwhile, won his 17 previous professional fights before Pacquiao. Sunday’s victory marked his first career world championship title.

Pacquiao ultimately said he respected the final result of the bout, although he stood by his criticism of the referee and attacked Horn as well.

“He’s not really good but he’s really strong,” Pacquiao said of Horn on Monday, while the Filipino’s camp criticised the referee for supposedly allowing the undefeated Australian to get away with a host of illegal tactics.

“The problem here is that the referee, I don’t know if he did it deliberately or he just did not have experience, he just allowed it and did not even give any warning for how many times,” Pacquiao said.

“It’s as if the referee wanted to help my opponent.”

Philippine officials organized a free public viewing of the fight in Southern Marawi City. The event gave thousands of displaced residents, troops and police an opportunity to take a break from the siege of Islamic militants, who have transformed parts of the city into a disastrous war zone.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Jeff Horn of Australia exchange punches during the WBO World Welterweight Title Fight at Suncorp Stadium on July 2, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)