WBO rejects review of Pacman-Horn fight

MANILA, Philippines -  The best and only way for Manny Pacquiao to settle the score against Australian Jeff Horn is through a rematch, according to the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

The WBO has turned down a request from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the body that regulates all professional sports and athletes in the Philippines, for the international boxing body to review the recent fight.

Horn pulled off a stunning and controversial unanimous decision victory over Pacquiao last Sunday in Brisbane and took the Filipino icon’s WBO welterweight belt.

The decision drew criticisms from ring experts, fight fans and Pacquiao himself, and the GAB under chairman Abraham Mitra called on the WBO to review the fight.

The GAB, however, stressed that it was not after a reversal of the decision.

Still, the WBO, headed by Paco
Valcarcel, announced in its official Twitter account that the result of the fight, watched by a live audience of 51,502 and millions around the world, did not merit a review.

“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 (here),” said the WBO.

“The contract for Pac vs Horn provides a rematch clause, which the WBO is in accordance with if the promoters decide to move forward,” it added.

The day after the fight, Pacquiao said he was willing to face Horn in a rematch, even if he had to do it in Brisbane, later this year.

“Bring it on,” said Horn.

Pacquiao felt he was robbed of a victory in Brisbane, and while he said he’s not asking the WBO to reverse the decision, he raised issues against the referee and the judges.

The WBO decision to turn down a request for a review of the fight came despite a letter the GAB received from WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo.

“I have acknowledged your email as well as your letter. It will be handled through our WBO grievance committee,” said Panoncillo.

“And the (WBO) president will get back to you as soon as it is sorted out,” added Panoncillo in his letter to the GAB chairman.

Experts believe that while the Aussie challenger fought hard at the Suncorp Stadium, he did not do enough to deserve a unanimous decision.

Pacquiao, who landed more punches based on the official stats, battled Horn through 12 bloody rounds. There were close rounds that should have been awarded to the champion.

There were no knockdowns and yet one judged scored it 117-111 in favor of Horn. With that score, that judge awarded Horn nine rounds and Pacquiao only three.

The two other judges had it 115-113 for Horn. Fight promoter Bob Arum felt that was the more accurate call, because another round for Pacquiao would have led to a draw in those two sheets.

Pacquiao said he thought he won the rounds, 8-4.

Boxing experts from around the globe had Pacquiao winning the fight despite the fact that the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer was far from his old, deadly self inside the ring.

The eight-division champion said the referee should have deducted a point on Horn for the headbutts that caused severe cuts on the Filipino boxer in the sixth and seventh rounds.

“I’ve been in boxing for so long. The rule is for an accidental headbutt that caused a cut on one fighter can lead to a one-point deduction and for an intentional headbutt a two-point deduction. I suffered two cuts in two separate rounds and there was no deduction,” he said.

“The referee allowed my challenger to use his elbows on me and a lot of headlocks. Pinabayaan niya (He let it go). When I pressed my attack, the referee also blocked my path that I thought I would hit him with a punch. Humaharang siya,” said Pacquiao.

The 38-year-old senator said the judges erred in their scoring, and felt he won the fight by at least four rounds.

“Just look at the stats. We landed more punches,” said Pacquiao.