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Manny Pacquiao asked the World Boxing Organization to review his welterweight world title loss after judges awarded a unanimous points decision to Australian Jeff Horn. The 38-year-old Pacquiao, who has won titles in eight different weight classes during his 22-year boxing career, backs a formal call by the Philippines' Games and Amusement Board for the WBO to review the outcome of Sunday's fight in Brisbane, Australia.
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"I love boxing and I don't wanna see it dying because of unfair decision and officiating," Pacquiao, also a Philippines senator, said in a statement issued by his office Wednesday. "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.
"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."
Horn, 29, shocked the 11-time world champion in winning a 12-round decision.
Pacquiao's trainers were critical of the referee for not penalizing Horn for head clashes and neck holds. Pacquiao needed stitches to two cuts in his hairline that resulted from head clashes.
All three judges awarded the fight to Horn -- American Waleska Roldan scored it 117-111, with U.S. judge Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan of Argentina each seeing the fight much closer at 115-113.
According to CompuBox, Pacquiao landed 182 punches to Horn's 92. Horn threw more punches but landed just 15 percent of them compared with 32 percent for his opponent. In the end, it wasn't enough for Pacquiao to win the bloody battle.
Pacquiao now has a record of record of 59-7-2, and the last of his 38 wins by knockout was in 2009.
The Philippines' sports regulatory body wrote the WBO the day after the fight, calling for a "thorough review" on the decisions American referee Mark Nelson and the judges.
"We are making this request for a review, which may call for sanctions on the referee and judges if so warranted, in furtherance of our mutual goal of protecting the integrity of the sport," the board wrote in its statement.
The WBO on Tuesday responded to the controversy on its Twitter account: "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 contract for Pac vs Horn provides a rematch clause, which the WBO is in accordance (with) if the promoters decide to move forward."
Pacquiao was expected to make $10 million while Horn's take was $500,000. Pacquiao had a rematch clause in the contract.
Horn, now unbeaten in his 18 bouts since turning professional in 2013, pushed back against the criticism of the outcome.
"There will always be a backlash where people say I got lucky, or whatever. There will always be the naysayers saying I didn't win the fight, but I felt like I won the fight," Horn said Monday. Everyone has a right to their opinion. I'm sure I've (gained) a lot more fans over there than I've lost."
