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Manny Pacquiao

MILAN. – Former world welterweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has urged the World Boxing Organisation to review an “unfair decision and officiating” in his controversial defeat by Jeff Horn. Pacquiao was unanimously outpointed in Brisbane on Sunday as 29-year-old Horn won his first world title.

And Pacquiao has backed a call asking the to review the controversial points decision that saw Australia’s Horn capture the Filipino great’s welterweight world title in Brisbane on Sunday. Horn improved his unbeaten record to 17-0-1 after the judges scored the bout 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 in the 29-year-old’s favour but many observers questioned the outcome, saying the officials had made a “hometown decision”.

While Horn dismissed criticism of his win, the regulatory body of professional sport in the Philippines, the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), requested a “thorough review” of the fight on Monday and Pacquiao has backed their demand.

“WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) so as not to erode the people’s interest in boxing,” eight-division world champion Pacquiao said in a statement yesterday.

“On my part, 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 wanna see it dying because of (an) unfair decision and officiating.”- BBC Sport.