Monday 3 July 2017 08:58, UK
Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, will advise the Filipino to quit boxing after defeat to former schoolteacher Jeff Horn.
Before Pacquiao faced the largely unknown Horn, Roach had talked of the 38-year-old, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions during his long career, lining up a rematch against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
But after Horn stunned Pacquiao to claim the WBO welterweight title in front of his home support at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, Roach has admitted he may have to tell his man his time is up.
"I'm going to talk to Manny about maybe calling it a day. Maybe this is it," Roach said.
Pacquiao (59-7-2), who insisted on a Brisbane rematch as a clause in his contract for the fight, declared however that he would "absolutely" return for another fight.
I'm going to talk to Manny about maybe calling it a day. Maybe this is it.
"We have a clause for a rematch. No problem," Pacquiao said in the ring after the judges' decision.
Given no chance by most observers, the 29-year-old Horn's ultra-aggressive style rocked Pacquiao, with the three judges scoring the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 to the Australian in front of 51,000 fans.
Roach did call for an investigation into the scoring of American judge Waleska Roldan, who had the bout 117-111 to Horn, giving Pacquiao only three of the 12 rounds, despite Horn finishing the fight badly bruised and with a shut right eye.
According to CompuBox statistics, Pacquiao landed almost twice as many punches as Horn - 182 to 92. Judges American Chris Flores and Argentine Ramon Cerdan both thought it was closer, but Horn had edged the fight 115-113.
"I respect the judges' decision," Pacquiao said. "He was much tougher than I expected. Much, much tougher."
Pacquiao also told Philippines television: "We thought that we won this fight."
Horn's father, Jeff Snr, revealed after the fight that he had been ready to throw in the towel after the brutal ninth round. His son had been battered by Pacquiao and blood was streaming from a nasty cut over Horn's right eye.
As American referee Mark Nelson made his way to Horn's corner to ask them whether they wanted to stop the fight, Jeff Snr feared the worst.
"He was dead in the water in round nine, he was gone," Jeff Snr said. "I was very worried. If I had a towel, I may have thrown it myself in the ninth. I looked at his eyes and I thought he was out on his feet. I really thought he was in danger of getting hurt in round nine.
"I didn't expect him to come back like he did in round 10."
