WBO Will Re-score Pacquiao-Horn Fight

Photo: AFP www.theaustralian.com.au

The Philippine government's Games and Amusement Board (GAB) asked the World Boxing Organization (WOB) to re-score the recent  fight between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn through a  letter dated July 3, 2017. The letter came after Pacquiao lost to Horn in a unanimous point decision. The Philippine department's request  “…a thorough review by the WBO for possible miscalls of the referee where some deductions were not made and of the judges in their judging that have caused varying opinions on their objectivity. We are making this request for a review, which may call for sanctions on the referee and judges if so warranted, in furtherance of our mutual goal of protecting the integrity of the sport and even more improving the boxing industry that we all love.”

Pacquiao also urged the WBO to act on the Games and Amusement Board’s (GAB) request to review the decision of his welterweight match with Australian Jeff Horn. He said, “WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the Games and Amusement Board so as not to erode the people’s interest in boxing.”

On July 6, 2017, the WBO responded, through its President  Francisco Valcarcel, that the organization will re-score the fight. However, Valcarcel was clear that there will be no reversal of the PacHorn decision. In Valcarcel's letter,  he made it clear that a Judge  or Referee's decision is irrevocable unless fraud or violations of the law occured. Valcarcel added that he would be  "very grateful if the Philippines Games and Amusement Board (GAB) can provide any evidence indicating fraud or violation of Law" and that such evidence should be forwarded to the Australian National Boxing Federation.

Valcarcel emphasized that if there would be any reversal at all, it is Australian National Boxing Federation who has jurisdiction in the first instance to revoke the decision, if ever.

The re-scoring was described by Valcarcel in his letter, " Although this is the situation, as I previously publicly stated, we will appoint five (5) anonymous competent Judges from different countries to watch the bout without sound distraction.  Then, we will tabulate the results to ascertain clearly which rounds each fighter won using an average scale based on 60, 80 and 100 per cent.  This means that 3 of the 5 officials have to agree to determine which fighter won the round."

GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra welcomed WBO's decision to carry out a review. He said that it sends out a strong signal that any sign of leniency or wrongdoing will not be tolerated. He added that being quiet may lead to abuse and that such will prevent any instance that the same will happen to any other Filipino boxer in the future. 

The WBO World welterweight title fight or Battle of Brisbane where Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight world title to Horn was scored 117 to 111 and 115-113 each by Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan. It was Roldan's score which garnered the most criticism. The fight was held in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, July 2, 2017.

The loss of Pacquao was not received well and social media is a-buzz with reactions of this nature from many celebrities, politicians and other prominent people.