In a ‘Rocky’ tale, Aussie Horn tops Pacquiao for title
BRISBANE, Australia — Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Jeff Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in a bloody bout this afternoon billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 51,000 people.
The 11-time world champion entered the fight at Suncorp Stadium as a hot favorite but got more than he bargained for against the 29-year-old former schoolteacher.
Still, Pacquiao landed more punches and dominated the later rounds, and he had Horn wobbling at the end of the ninth.
“I felt buzzed for sure, but I’m the Hornet — I’ve got to come back,” Horn said of that round. “Australians aren’t quitters to start with. We’ve showed we’re winners.”
Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach predicted the fight would be short, but Horn — unbeaten in his 17 previous professional fights — applied pressure by winning some of the early rounds and Pacquiao needed treatment during the sixth and seventh rounds for a cut on the top of his head that resulted from a clash of heads.
The judges scored the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113, and Horn declared himself “no joke.”
Roach had said earlier in the week that he’d think about advising Pacquiao to retire if he lost the fight, but that would depend on how he fought.
Top Rank promotor Bob Arum said there was a clause for a rematch, but he’d wait before talking to Pacquiao about it.
“I know Jeff would welcome the rematch, but I don’t know Manny’s future position,” Arum said. “Is he going to stay in politics and not continue in boxing? I don’t know, and he doesn’t know now.”
Pacquiao, who entered the fight with a record of 59-6-2 and 38 knockouts, was defending the WBO title he won on points against Jessie Vargas in November.
In one of the undercard fights, Jerwin Ancajas stopped Teiru Kinoshita in the seventh round to win the IBF junior bantamweight title.
Ancajas, a Filipino who fights out of Pacquiao’s promotions company, entered the bout with 13 straight wins since his only professional loss in 2012.
Kinoshita was bleeding from a cut above his right eye, and the referee stopped the fight when Ancajas ripped a right into his stomach and sent the Japanese boxer to the canvas.