CAGAYAN DE ORO fans of Manny Pacquiao were shocked after he lost via unanimous decision to newly-crowned WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn on Sunday, July 2, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia
All three judges gave their nods to the unheralded Australian boxer.
Judge Waleska Roldan scored 117-111, while Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan had a similar 115-113 all in Horn’s favor.
Majority of the local fans watching the free live viewing of the match inside Barangay Nazareth gym expressed their disappointment over the decision.
In fact, others stayed for a while hoping that ring announcer Michael Buffer made a mistake and would correct his announcement like Steve Harvey did in the Miss Universe 2016.
“Dili ko motuo sa resulta. Klaro kaayo nga daug si Pacquiao ato nga dagan (I can’t believe with the results. Pacquiao clearly won the bout),” one motorela driver, who dropped by to watch along the sizable crowd watching inside the gym.
ESPN had its own score cards otherwise in favor of the peoples’ champ, giving it 117-111 for the eight-division champion. Even the ESPN’s ringside analyst Teddy Atlas had it 116-111 for the Filipino boxer.
Fans watching inside Misamis Oriental’s Provincial Capitol shared the same sentiments, some of them putting the blame on the referee for tolerating Horn’s “dirty tactics” in many instances.
Horn now has a 17-0-1 win-loss-draw record with 11 knockouts, while Pacquiao has 59-7-2 with 38 knockouts (KOs).
After the fight, Pacquiao invoked a rematch as being stipulated in the contract clause of the Battle of Brisbane.
One angry fan, Iriel Ansay, has categorically cited that what transpired is purely “boxing business” rearing its ugly head anew.
“It all boils down to money soon, but Horn should be ready in the rematch because for sure the Australian is going to face a very vengeful and fierce Pacquiao,” he said.
In ESPN’s boxing statistics, Pacquiao landed 182 or 32 percent of 573 punches he threw. Horn, on the other hand, had 92 or 15 percent of 623 he threw.
Some level-headed Oro boxing fans, however, saw it otherwise.
“MMA (Mixed martial arts) style like elbow, head butt, tukod and the likes were effective strategy to beat Pacquiao,” said Anton from the karatedo and basketball great Pabillore family.
“Yes, Horn camp’s strategy worked well against Manny. Putting arms around him after a flurry did neutralize Pacman’s intent to counterpunch, though the Hornet was all aggressive right from the go,” said Green Cagayan de Oro Eagles Club president, Engineer Arnel Baba, adding “Retirement might be considered for the fighting senator, but we can salute Pacquiao for putting up a brave stand. He fought ‘till the last drop of his blood that truly made him an icon.”