Manny
Pacquiao asked the WBO to act on a request by Philippine sports officials for a
review of his welterweight world title loss to Jeff Horn, saying he didn't want
to see the
boxing industry "dying because of unfair decision and
officiating."
While
Pacquiao has accepted his defeat to Horn, who fought in his first world title
bout in Sunday's so-called "Battle of Brisbane," the Philippine
senator said in a statement Wednesday he had a "moral obligation to uphold
sportsmanship, truth and fairness."
The 11-time
world champion cited a request by the Philippines' Games and Amusements Board,
or GAB, to World Boxing Organization President Francisco Valcarcel for a
thorough review of the refereeing and judging of the bout, which was staged
outdoors in front of more than 51,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
The WBO
should take action on the Philippine request "so as not to erode the
people's interest in boxing," Pacquiao said. "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."
"I love
boxing and I don't want to see it dying because of unfair decision and
officiating," he said.
In their
July 3 letter to Valcarcel, GAB chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra and two other
officials expressed concerns about " the possible errors of the referee
and the three judges who officiated the subject fight."
"We ...
request for a thorough review by the WBO for possible miscalls of the referee
where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that
have caused varying opinions on their objectivity," the statement said.
Pacquiao's
trainers were critical of the referee for not doing more to stop or penalize
head clashes and neck holds. They highlighted statistics that showed Pacquiao,
who needed stitches to two cuts in his hairline that resulted from head
clashes, landed twice as many punches.
Commentators
from ESPN, which broadcast the fight live in the U.S., were among the most
vocal critics of the outcome.
All three
judges awarded it to Horn, with American Waleska Roldan's 117-111 score
attracting most of the criticism. U.S. judge Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan of
Argentina each scored it much closer at 115-113.
Top Rank
promotor Bob Arum said it was a "close fight. It could have gone either
way."
Pacquiao had
a rematch clause in the contract, meaning the 38-year-old Filipino could
negotiate to fight Horn again before the end of the year.
Horn won the
majority of the early rounds on all judge's cards, but Pacquaio rallied and had
opportunities to end the fight in the 9th when he had the Australian
schoolteacher wobbling and on the ropes. Horn recovered and won the next round,
setting up a battle of attrition in the two closing rounds.
The WBO
published a photo of the judge's cards on its Twitter account on Sunday night,
and followed up on the GAB request for an inquest with another post on
Wednesday that said: "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."
Pacquiao
entered the fight with a record of 59-6-2, but the last of his 38 wins by
knockout was in 2009. Horn hadn't lost any of his previous 17 professional
fights, but had never encountered anybody with Pacquiao's credentials.
Philippine
officials organized a free public viewing of the bout in southern Marawi city,
to give thousands of displaced residents, troops and police a respite from a
disastrous siege by Islamic militants that has turned parts of the city into a
smoldering war zone.
The
Filipinos cheered for their boxing hero, but fell silent when the decision was
announced. Marawi crisis committee spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong said then that
many could not accept the outcome but he added that the momentary entertainment
was a relief and that Pacquiao provided a crucial message of courage and
resiliency to the war-weary residents and troops.
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