Tuesday 11 July 2017 06:52, UK
Jeff Horn's welterweight world title victory over Manny Pacquiao has been confirmed after an independent review of the scoring.
A Philippines government department asked the World Boxing Organisation to reassess the refereeing and judging of the 'Battle of Brisbane' in Australia on July 2 after Horn won a unanimous points decision against the 11-time world champion.
In a statement released on Monday, the WBO said three of the five independent judges who reviewed the bout awarded it to the Australian school teacher, one awarded it to Pacquiao and one scored a draw.
WBO president Francisco Valcarcel asked the judges, who came from different countries and remained anonymous, to assign their own scores to rounds, saying the results would be tabulated to determine who won the rounds using an average scale based on 100, 80 and 60 per cent.
Based on the analysis, the WBO said Pacquiao won the third, eighth and ninth round by 100 per cent, the fifth round by 80 per cent and the 11th by 60 per cent.
Horn was given the first, sixth and 12th rounds by 100 per cent, the second, fourth and seventh by 80 per cent and the 10th by 60 per cent.
"From the results, it can be established that Pacquiao won five rounds, while Horn won seven rounds," the WBO statement said.
A further step of combining the independent judge's scores for each round with the bout judges' scores for each round also confirmed a win for Horn, the WBO said.
The Philippines Games and Amusements Board (GAB) last week urged a review, saying it wanted to protect the integrity of the sport.
The fight, in front of more than 51,000 people at a rugby stadium in Brisbane, was scored 117-111 by Waleksa Roldan and 115-113 each by Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan Roldan.
Pacquiao had Horn wobbling and in trouble in the ninth round, but couldn't finish him off. Horn rallied late to hold on for a points decision and remain unbeaten in 18 professional fights.
"It gives me evidence behind me that I can just use now. Instead of saying 'I think I won the fight,' now a heap of other people professionally think I won the fight," Horn said.
"It's definitely nice to have it finally put on paper. Now just to have it clear in front of us is good."
Pacquiao had a rematch clause in his contract for the fight, and speculation is mounting about another showdown in Australia in November.
