Independent judges confirm scoring of Manny Pacquiao's loss to Australian boxer Jeff Horn

An independent review of the scoring in Manny Pacquiao's World Boxing Organization welterweight title loss to Australian Jeff Horn confirmed Monday the controversial unanimous decision for Horn by judges in the July 1 fight.

The Philippines government, of which Pacquiao is a senator, requested the WBO review the judging of the so-called "Battle of Brisbane" in Australia after Horn won a unanimous points decision against Pacquiao,

Horn fought for his first world title, while Pacquiao is an 11-time world champion.

In a statement late Monday, the WBO said three of the five independent judges who reviewed the bout awarded it to Horn, one awarded it to Pacquiao and one scored it a draw.

WBO president Francisco Valcarcel asked the anonymous judges from different parts of the world to assign their own scores to rounds.

The WBO said Pacquiao won the third, eighth and ninth rounds by 100 percent of the scoring, the fifth round by 80 percent and the 11th by 60 percent. Horn was given the first, sixth and 12th rounds by 100 percent, the second, fourth and seventh by 80 percent and the 10th by 60 percent.

"From the results, it can be established that Pacquiao won five rounds while Horn won seven rounds," the WBO statement said.

The Philippines Games and Amusements Board (GAB) last week urged a review, saying it wanted to protect the integrity of the sport. Pacquiao, 38, backed that call by the GAB for the WBO to review the outcome.

"I love boxing and I don't wanna see it dying because of unfair decision and officiating," Pacquiao said in a statement issued by his office last week. "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."

The fight, in front of more than 51,000 people at a rugby stadium in Brisbane, was scored 117-111 by Waleska Roldan and 115-113 each by Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan. Horn remained unbeaten in 18 professional fights.

"It gives me evidence behind me that I can just use now," Horn said in Brisbane after the independent assessment was announced. "Instead of saying, 'I think I won the fight,' now a heap of other people -- professionally -- think I won the fight. It's definitely nice to have it finally put on paper.

"Now just to have it clear in front of us is good."