Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines reacts after his loss to Jeff Horn of Australia, during their WBO World Welterweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
GOLD COAST, Australia— After keeping his peace for a day, Manny Pacquiao finally let out his frustations Monday on board a chartered Air Asia jet.
Pacquiao thought he had comfortably beaten Jeff Horn in their Battle of Brisbane on Sunday.
“We’re ahead. By four to five rounds in my opinion,” said Pacquiao, who obliged for a joint media interview after waking up from a nap at the first class section.
The official scorecards saw Horn the winner by unanimous decision, 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, snatching Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization weterweight crown.
Pacquiao said the 115—113 decisions may be plausible, but 117-111, as given by New Yorker Walesa Roldan is defintely way off.
“It’s too much. I would believe the decision more if it was close, say 115—113,” said Pacquiao, who took a break from watching a chess match at the tailend of the 377-seater plane.
According to Pacquiao he was really going for the kill in the ninth round, but the referee (Mike Nelson) got in the way. “I nearly hit him.”
“Saved by the bell,” Pacquiao said. I was looking for the knockout punch every round.”
Pacquiao, whose face appeared less battered than that of Horn, also lamented the way Nelson handled the bout that lured a record of 51, 052, at Suncorp Stadium.
“The referee is not knowledgeable. Feeling ko tuloy na-set up ako,” said Pacquiao,
noting earlier that Nelson should have at least warned Horn after the headbutt that bloodied the left side of his head in the sixth round.
As it was, Horn also pushed, elbowed and headlocked Pacquiao on their bloody bout Sunday,
“He fights dirty, but that’s okay,” said Pacquiao. “Having such fighters can’t be avoided.”
With a rematch clause in place, Pacquiao said he’s willing to tangle with Horn again, be it in Brisbane or some place else.
Though he didn’t want to use it as an excuse, Pacquiao said the scorfcing heat generated by the spotlights above the ring, hampered his movements early on.
“It was too hot. Like an oven,” said Pacquiao, who, however, noted that his body cooled when he started perspiring from the fourth round.
Though it would appear that Horn was landing heavy blows on his sides whenever he goes to the ropes, Pacquiao said he was actually blocking most of them.
And, contrary to perceptions that Horn was unloading heavy bombs, Pacquiao said the Australian’s punches were just “average” for 147-lb fighters.
Pacquiao, who beat Horn, 182 to 92, on landed punches according to Compubox statistics, was certain he hit Horn even harder.
“They would hurt,” swore Pacquiao, whose head cuts on both sides, caused by a headbutt and a punch, required stitches that forced him to skip the post-fight conference.
Horn, on the other hand, also got sewed up and attended his post-fight celebrations with a virtually closed right eye.
Feeling hungry, Pacquiao ate boiled eggs and beef tapa, before returning to his seat beside wife Jinkee.
When the plane touched down, arrival honors were accorded the Fighting Senator, who said that he’ll stay at his mansion and spend time with his children.
“I’ll bring and fetch them to school,” said Pacquiao. “Relax muna.”