Jeff Horn shocks Manny Pacquiao to capture welterweight title

Given no chance by most observers, the 29-year-old Horn’s ultra-aggressive style proved too much for Pacquiao, with the three judges scoring the fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 to the Australian after 12 rounds.

While Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao faces Jeff Horn tonight, July 1, in the latter’s home court, Brisbane, Australia, Americans will still get to see the fight real-time in the comfort of their homes as ESPN will broadcast the event live.

While Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with unheralded Australian Jeff Horn is a world away from his blockbuster bouts against Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Oscar De La Hoya, the “Battle of Brisbane” may help return the Filipino to pay-per-view royalty.

Pacquiao was knocked off his stride by the aggression of the taller and heavier Australian in the early rounds but looked to have weathered the storm as the fight wore on and Horn exhausted. Horn threw 625 punches, Pacquiao threw 573.

Calling Mayweather out, Horn wasted little time declaring his intentions that he wants the biggest name in world boxing.

Horn was a +450 underdog entering the fight according to sportsbooks.

He had to survive a savage Pacquiao counterattack in the ninth round and needed the bell badly.

“Very tough. I didn’t expect that tough”, Pacquiao said.

“That’s the decision of the judges”, he said.

Boxer Timothy Bradley, who was calling the fight with Atlas, also said he thought Pacquiao won the fight.

It was a notion Horn, who worked as a substitute teacher in the early stages of his professional career, was keen to disprove as he showed his aggression early on. A cut appeared to open up around the right eye of Horn from a possible clash of heads.

Horn came out in the twelfth by going after Pacquiao and looking to land a big shot.

Horn went to the London Olympics as an amateur and was one fight away from winning Australia’s first Olympic boxing medal since 1988. Pacquiao landed 32 percent of his punches, Horn landed 15 percent.