The Boxing world has expressed shock over the declaration of greenhorn Australian boxer, Jeff Horn, as the winner of the welterweight championship fight against Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
The fight at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, was styled the Battle of Brisbane.
Although the local fighter Horn was very aggressive in the early rounds, using his reach and size advantage to pressure the Filipino champion, as the match went on, the masterful skill of Manny Pacquiao became more predominant.
The Filipino southpaw began to find his range against the taller opponent, Xinhua news agency reported.
In the ninth round, Horn appeared fatigued and the fight was in danger of being stopped, but the home crowd of 50,000 fans rallied behind the Aussie, to see him finish the stronger of the two.
Judges scored the 12-round contest 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, for a unanimous decision victory to Jeff Horn, who is the new WBO welterweight champion of the world.
But the judges’ verdict has opened a floodgate of criticisms as the match statistics really showed that it was Pacquiao who ought to have been declared the winner.
One commentator said boxing should henceforth be declared a business, rather than a sport.
Here are some of the comments ignited by the fight.
https://twitter.com/jiminiewifeuxx/status/881385235744604160
Based on #PacquiaoHorn logic, all my classes should be graded on student effort and not test scores 🤔
— LA Winter-telo (@Kinda_Ineffable) July 2, 2017
Now tell me who really wins. 💪😑💪 #PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/JlvQ2RmMf9
— 𝕻𝖆𝖚𝖑 (@Iam_paul05) July 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/paulalsd/status/881391004615454720
That's why many people stopped watching boxing in the first place. It's only getting worse. #PacquiaoHorn
— Rosen Iliev (@r0ssen333) July 2, 2017
WATCH: Governor Yahaya Bello's Roadmap to Hope 2023
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
TEXT AD: Why women cheat: what every Nigerian man should know