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A stunner in Australia Sunday afternoon as world welterweight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao loses controversial decision to Brisbane Aussie Jeff Horn in an ESPN free televised gift
Verdict was as much of a surprise as a championship fight not being seen on pay-per-view as the 12-round bout went unanimously in favor of heavy underdog Horn
By Arnie Leshin Santa Fe Today
Television commentator Stephen A. Smith already made his decision before the bell rang for the first round.
With the rest of the universe ready to look in on a “freebee” for a world championship boxing match way down under in Brisbane, Aus., the outspoken Smith, as knowledgeable as can be in the world of sports, took a pre-fight glance at the opponents that challenger Jeff Horn’s had defeated in compiling an undefeated record.
“This is an out-and-out joke,” Smith said while looking at unknown names, ‘who are these guys that this guy beat’ because I never heard of any of them.”
But he sure had known that this title bout was being shown free on ESPN in these times of pay-per-view, expensive tickets, sometimes good and sometimes bad matches.
Well, this 12-rounder labeled the “Battle of Brisbane” before some 55,000 packed into Suncorp Stadium, was a good fight, it went the distance, and no one could complain, especially those who came to cheer on Brisbane’s own Horn, the “Hornet”.
Totally an underdog against the WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of Panama, Horn had other ideas, even wound up with the disputed unanimous decision.
Yes, it could have been considered a close fight, could have even brought a split decision from the three judges — two from the United States and one from Argentina.
But Smith had already made his mind before and after it was over. The three ringside TV commentators agreed, especially long-time boxing guru Jeff Atlas, but back in the USA Smith was able to say more.
“No way, just no way,” he said in disgust. “This was a true homer job. Yes, I admit that Horn defied the odds that said he wouldn’t last long, and fought well, But Manny threw more landing shots, had a much better percentage, 38 percent to 15 percent, and even won a round by points.
“This was a disgrace, I don’t know what those judges were watching. You’d think they were all Aussies, but none were, and two were from the USA,”
No comment here, not from one who was treated to three, yes three, world championships bouts for free, was able to feast for no price, and didn’t bother to score the fight.
But these judges did. And when it was announced 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, you might have thought it was the 38-year-old Pacquiao on top, but it wasn’t, not when the fight announcer said “new,” meaning the new champion, Jeff Horn.
The 11-time world champion Pacquiao had entered as a hot favorite, but he did get more than he bargained for against the 29-year-old former school teacher. Still, it couldn’t be ignored that he dominated the later rounds, just couldn’t put Horn away.
Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, Freddie Roach, predicted the fight would be short and sweet, but Horn, now unbeaten in 17 professional fights, applied pressure by winning some of the early rounds.
But he had a cut over one eye after he was hit by a barrage of jabs in the third round. And Pacquiao had to contend with a cut on the top of his head brought on by clashing heads and maybe even butts.
Referee Mark Nelson of the United States allowed Pacquiao to have treatment for this during the 6th and 7th rounds, and after the 8th and a further look at Horn’s bloody eye, he issued a warning that the challenger would have to do something or the bout would be stopped.
“It’s a bad cut,” Nelson said to Horn and his trainer, “and I’m here to protect you against it getting worse, so if you don’t come out and do something, I would have to stop it.”
Pacquiao, who had entered with a 59-6-2 with 38 knockouts, was defending the title he won on points over Jessie Vargas in November. Throughout his career, he had fought the best, even the legendary Floyd Mayweather, Jr., but he hadn’t won a fight via a knockout since 2009, and it showed. He just looked slower, did not have the punch he once had, and Horn would often tie him up when he would try to let loose.
When the verdict came, Pacquiao didn’t flinch. He smiled, shook Horn’s hand after it was raised, and in interviews shortly after, did not comment on the decision, only said it was the judges who decided and he would welcome a rematch, even in Brisbane.
Horn, on the other hand, looked both surprised and then ecstatic when the scores came. He immediately called out Mayweather from the ring, declaring himself, “no joke.” Superstar Mayweather was known to be back in the states, maybe even laughing at this.
Horn probably took the words intended for Mayweather by Pacquiao’s camp, with Roach saying earlier in the week he would welcome a rematch with Mayweather if his fighter got past Horn. He was hoping that Pacquiao would be able to avenge his loss on points to Mayweather in the 2015 mega fight.
But Roach also said that he’d think about advising Pocquiao to retire if he lost this bout, but that it would also depend on how he fought.
Well, he never went down, did not have any notable cuts other than the one on the top of his head, didn’t slow down or look frustrated, but on the negative side, he just couldn’t put Horn away in the manner he had displayed through the years.
“Age,” I’d say it was his age,” said Atlas, who worked with former five-time world champion Tim Bradley, Jr., as the TV commentators. “He landed many more punches than Horn, should have won, but if it was, say four-five years ago, Manny would have finished him off.”
Bradley, Jr., had fought Pacquiao three times and won once. He thought Manny had won this one, but that Horn’s effort was a big surprise.
To many, which included the world-wide freebie watchers, it was a stunning, unprecedented decision fought on Sunday afternoon. But to those in attendance, it was wonderful to see the hometown fighter become the new champion.
Was it good or bad for boxing? Well, it could be 50-50, but why blame the judges? It’s easy to do that, but not easy to judge a fight like this. Figure this, it was these three who handed in their scores, and not Stephen A. Smith or Jeff Atlas. And why blame Horn, he fought the fight and did not declare himself the winner.
But that’s boxing. There’s been controversial decisions for ages, and this is just another on the long list.
One of the unforgettable verdicts came in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics in South Korea when the local boxer, Park Si-Hun, was somehow given the decision in a light middleweight championship fight dominated by the remarkable Roy Jones, Jr., of the USA.
Jones had won every bout without a scratch, did not lose a single round, and was being declared one of the best amateurs in the world.
Consider this, he pummeled Park for three rounds, landing 86 punches to Park’s 32, knocked him down in the final round, (helped Park as he hung over the ring ropes), and lost a 3-2 decision to the surprise of everybody. Park, in fact, even apologized, the referee said he was dumbstruck by the verdict, and all three judges were later suspended.
Jones went on to become one of the greatest all-time boxers, winning world championships as a lightweight, welterweight and heavyweight. It was said that Park became one of his biggest fans, same as Horn said about Pacquiao after he won.
“I defeated a legend today,” Horn said, “and I’m ready to celebrate with my wife, family and friends.”
And no doubt he couldn’t care less about the remarks made by Smith and Atlas.
