SPORTS: BOXING
Australia's biggest show came to town with boxing's brightest star defending his world title against
Queensland new wonder-kid on the block at Suncorp Stadium. AK NewsMagazine reporter MARCO
SELORIO was there for a coverage, and here is his take on the fight:
PACMAN WUZ ROBBED
Jeff Horn crowned WBO world welterweight boxing champion
Manny Pacquiao after the fight, faint signs of blood on
his forehead and cheeks, accepts the judges' decision
and thanks the Filipino community and all who came to
watch the fight. Photo by MARCO ANDRE SELORIO
20
JULY 2017
|
THE boxing world turned
upside down with a
controversial decision
that crowned underdog
Australian challenger
Jeff Horn with the WBO
welterweight crown at
the expense of global
boxing icon Manny
‘PacMan’ Pacquiao in the
“Battle of Brisbane” last
Sunday, July 2.
Both fighters went the distance, but
the three judges unanimously picked
Horn the victor.
Judges Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan
AK NewsMagazine, Vol 7 No 10
both had it at 115-113 for Horn. the third
judge Waleska Roldan scored it 117-111.
It was a hometown decision that did
not sit well with the Pacquiao camp.
A rematch is mandatory, but promoter
Bob Arum said that was all up to Pacquiao
if he wanted to fight again.
Horn, on the other hand, said he was
willing to fight Pacquiao in the Philippines
if was up for it.
The punch statistics showed that
Pacquiao connected significantly more
punches, as the Filipino landed 32%
(182/573 punches), while Horn hit 15%
(92/625 punches).
After the fight, Horn was visibly
bruised and battered with a big cut above
his right eye, while Pacquiao was left with
only a few cuts on his forehead as a result
of head-butts.
There was an international outcry on
social media that had many pundits and
analysts in disbelief.
Both boxers had the crowd on their
toes from start to finish.
The bigger and younger Horn threw
everything he had from the get-go,
including a couple of head butts and a low
blow that clearly threw off Pacquiao.
Even at 38 years of age, Pacquiao
showed strength and speed, but he was
not the same fighter that destroyed
opponents in the past.
Despite the slow start, Pacquiao
heated up and delivered a barrage of
combinations that had Horn on the ropes
and fighting for survival at the 9th round.
Referee Mark Nelson should have
stopped the fight but somehow allowed
Horn to finish the round.
A record-breaking crowd of 51,025
» » page 19
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