Loss has Pacquiao thinking rematch

BRISBANE, Australia — It went all the way and ended in a contentiously bitter loss, the opposite of what Manny Pacquiao’s handlers predicted for his WBO welterweight world title fight against Jeff Horn.

Pacquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach tipped a “short and sweet” knockout win for the 11time world champion in Sunday’s so-called Battle of Brisbane, but Horn got a unanimous points decision in his first world title fight — delighting the 51,052-strong crowd.

The 38-year-old Philippines senator arrived in Brisbane a week ahead of the fight with a chartered plane carrying more than a hundred supporters and as the favorite to beat Horn. He leaves without the WBO belt.

All three judges awarded it to Horn, with Waleska Roldan scoring it 117-111 and Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan scoring it 115113.

Some critics slammed it as a hometown decision, saying the statistics had Pacquiao landing twice the number of power punches as Horn.

“That’s the decision of the judges. I respect that,” Pacquiao was quoted as saying by broadcaster ESPN. “We have a rematch clause, so no problem.”

But Pacquiao’s conditioning trainer, the Los Angeles-based former Australian heavyweight Justin Fortune, was critical of the referee and the judging.

“Manny lost the fight, but Jeff Horn looks like a pumpkin. Those scores, that card?” he said, “It should be the other way.”

Fortune said Pacquiao should have taken any risk out of the equation.

“When you come into someone’s backyard, you need to really do a number on them or knock them out,” he said.

Roach had said earlier in the week that he’d think about advising Pacquiao to retire if he lost the fight, but they’re considering a rematch.

Horn can’t see Pacquiao retiring any time soon.

“I’m sure he’ll want to come back. It was a close decision and I’m sure he’ll want to come back and prove himself,” he said.