Horn unfazed by critics of win over Pacquiao

AUSTRALIA’S Jeff Horn has brushed aside the outcry against his shock victory over Manny Pacquiao and says he hopes taking the Filipino’s WBO welterweight title will help to reinvigorate boxing down under.

The 29-year-old former schoolteacher was awarded a unanimous 12-round decision over the eight-division world champion after a bloody battle in front of more than 51 000 fans at Brisbane’s Lang Park on Sunday.

Not everybody was happy with the victory, awarded with scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 by the three judges.

Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was among those who disputed whether Horn should have won.

“There’s always going to be the backlash where people are going to say I was lucky, or whatever,” Horn, his right eye swollen shut, said in Brisbane yesterday.

“There are always naysayers saying I didn’t win the fight.

“I think I won the fight, a lot of Queenslanders think I won the fight and people around the world.”

The critics of the decision pointed to the 182 to 92 punch count in favour of Pacquiao, with some suggesting Horn was awarded the victory for effort.

“This is what’s wrong with boxing,” Lewis tweeted.

“Horn was a very game but I’m hard pressed to see how he could have won that fight by any stretch!”