Manny Pacquiao has asked the World Boxing Organisation to act on a request by Philippine sports officials for a review of his welterweight world title loss to Jeff Horn, saying he didn’t want to see the boxing industry “dying because of unfair decision and officiating”.
While Pacquiao has accepted his defeat to Horn, who was fighting in his first world title bout in Sunday’s so-called “Battle of Brisbane”, the Philippine senator on Wednesday said that as a leader and boxer he has “the moral obligation to uphold sportsmanship, truth and fairness in the eyes of the public”.
The 11-time world champion cited a request by the Philippines’ Games and Amusements Board to WBO president Francisco Valcarcel for a thorough review of the refereeing and judging.
Horn was declared the winner at Suncorp Stadium by a unanimous points decision. The three judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 in the Australian’s favour.
Rematch
Pacquiao accepted the judges’ decision at the time and said he was keen for a rematch as soon as possible. That is likely to happen before the end of the year, with Brisbane again the most likely venue.
Pacquiao’s seventh loss of his professional career triggered an immediate uproar from boxing fans, mostly based in the United States and Philippines, who believed Pacquiao should have been awarded the victory.
One judge in particular, New Yorker Waleska Roldan, has come in for scathing criticism over her 117-111 scorecard.
The WBO tweeted on Wednesday: “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.”
Recriminations
Meanwhile, the recriminations are continuing inside Pacquiao’s camp. His promoter, Top Rank boss Bob Arum, and adviser Michael Koncz have both attacked referee Mark Nelson for letting Horn get away with putting Pacquiao in headlocks and punching while holding him.
But Arum blamed Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach for not “yelling at the referee” between rounds to alert him to it. “The corner didn’t have a strategy. They were all amazed Jeff Horn was such a tough, rugged fighter and they didn’t adapt to it,” Koncz said.
“There’s a lot of blame to go around but the bottom line is the kid had a lot of heart and came to win and did everything he could to get it, and the referee let him do more than he should have.”
