BRISBANE, Australia – Manny Pacquiao may have lost his WBO welterweight title fight to Jeff Horn in the eyes of the judges at the Suncorp on Sunday, but the numbers tell a different story.
According to CompuBox, which tallies punches in boxing fights, Pacquiao was the more accurate hitter, landing 182 of the 573 total punches he threw for a connect rate of 32 percent.
While Horn was the busier fighter, he was less effective, with only 92 of his 625 punches finding their mark for a 15 percent rate.
That translates to Pacquiao hitting Horn with twice the number of punches the Australian landed on the Filipino icon during their 12-round duel.
Pacquiao was likewise the better jabber, with 59 of 193 jabs landing (31 percent), while Horn connecting on only 19 of 197 (10 percent).
READ: Punch stats: Pacquiao landed more blows
In the power punching department, Pacquiao again bested Horn, going 123-of-380 for a 32 percent rate. The Australian, for his part, landed only 73 of 438 power blows.
The discrepancy in punches definitely showed on Horn’s battle-scarred face.
But it did not matter as Pacquiao failed to get the nod of the three judges, who awarded the fight to Horn, 117-111 and 115-113 (twice).
For Horn, that’s all that matters, and the former school teacher—now world champion—stayed unbeaten with his 17th win in 18 fights (11 KOs, with 1 draw).
Pacquiao, for his part, can live with the result.
“That's the decision of the judges, I respect that,” he said in the ring after their fight.