Pacquiao loses WBO welterweight title on points to Horn

Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Jeff Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision Sunday in a contest billed as the Battle of Brisbane and an outcome that had his backers asking questions.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, left, clinches with Jeff Horn of Australia, during their WBO World Welterweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017. [Photo: AP/Tertius Pickard]

The 11-time world champion entered the fight at Suncorp Stadium as a hot favorite but got more than he bargained for against the 29-year-old former schoolteacher, who had most of the 51,000 fans on his side and won at least three of the first five rounds on all three of the judge's scorecards.

Still, Pacquiao appeared to dominate most of the rounds from the eighth. Pacquiao was close to finishing it in the 9th when he pounded Horn and had him wobbling — to the point where referee Mark Nelson asked the 29-year-old Australian's camp before the 10th if he could continue — and could also have come out with the win.

"I felt buzzed for sure, but I'm the Hornet — I've got to come back," Horn said of that round. "I'm not a quitter. Australians aren't quitters to start with. We've showed we're winners.

"It was the battle of Brisbane, that's for sure," Horn said. "Absolutely unbelievable."

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. [Photo: AP/Tertius Pickard]

Pacquiao thought so, too, and he's at least considering a rematch.

"That's the decision of the judges. I respect that," Pacquiao was quoted as saying by broadcaster ESPN immediately after the fight. "We have a rematch clause, so no problem."

All three judges awarded it to Horn, with Waleska Roldan scoring it 117-111 and both Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan scoring it 115-113.

Jeff Horn of Australia celebrates after beating Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines during their WBO World Welterweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017. [Photo: AP/Tertius Pickard]