Jeff Horn, left, 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)
After calls for a review of the world welterweight title bout between Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao, World Boxing Organization said that the controversial ending couldn’t be reversed.
The sanctioning body said that a reversal is only possible if there was violation of any law or if fraud was evident in the fight. Both instances, though, weren’t found in the 12-round fight that Horn won via unanimous decision in Brisbane, Australia.
READ: Pacquiao demands ‘closure’ from WBO on controversial ‘Battle of Brisbane’
“The discretion of a referee or judge cannot be reversed, except in a case of fraud or violation of laws, which is not the case in Pac vs Horn,” WBO body tweeted.
Games and Amusement Board asked WBO for a thorough review of the fight due to “possible miscalls of the referee [Mark Nelson] where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions in their objectivity.”
GAB is asking for possible sanctions for the referee and the judges if warranted.
READ: NBA players, US celebrities upset over Horn win
Pacquiao backed GABs request, saying he doesn’t want to see the sport die “because of unfair decision and officiating.”
Horn won the fight through the judges’ scorecards, 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, despite hitting less punches than Pacquiao, 182-92.
There were also visible accidental headbutts from Horn, causing cuts to open on Pacquiao’s head, but only the WBC reprimands a one-point deduction for such actions, not the WBO.