From former school teacher to world champion, Horn fulfills dream

Jeff Horn, top, of Australia and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines fight during their WBO World welterweight title bout in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017. Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in the Sunday afternoon bout billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 50,000 people. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Australian pugilist Jeff Horn is a 29-year-old former school teacher, former Olympian, and on Sunday he can finally put “world champion” in his resume.

Horn shocked the sporting world when he escaped with a unanimous decision win over the legendary Manny Pacquiao and laid claim to the WBO world welterweight championship in the “Battle of Brisbane” at Suncorp Stadium.

READ: Horn stuns Pacquiao for unanimous decision win

Before fighting Pacquiao for the strap, Horn held the WBO and IBF inter-continental welterweight titles, but it was the world title that tugged the Aussie’s heartstrings.

“This is an absolute dream come true,” said Horn while the maroon and gold belt sparkled over his left shoulder. “I guess the crowd was behind me.” 

Horn is Brisbane’s own son and fighting in front of thousands of adoring fans made his stunning victory sweeter. 

Pacquiao, despite outpunching Horn 182-92, was a pure class act and he didn’t mind the judges’ scoring of the match. 

READ: Pacquiao ‘definitely’ open to Horn rematch

Waleska Roldan scored the bout 117-111, while the other two, Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan, both scored it, 115-113.

“He deserves it,” said Pacquiao. “I’ve got no complaints about it.”

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