MANNY Pacquiao has endorsed the move of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) asking the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to review his disputed loss to Jeff Horn.
Pacquiao, 38, said he respects the decision of the three judges who scored the 12-round bout in favor of Horn via unanimous decision t Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
But since a lot of people have questioned the outcome of the fight held a, the Philippine senator said it's imperative for the boxing body which sanctioned the bout to come out with an explanation on the matter.
Through chairman Abraham Mitra, the GAB sent a letter to WBO president Francisco Varcarcel calling for a review of the biggest fight in Australian boxing history.
"WBO should take appropriate action on the letter sent by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) so as not to erode the people's interest in boxing," said Pacquiao in an official statement on Wednesday.
In 2012, the WBO also reviewed Pacquiao's controversial split decision loss to Tim Bradley Jr. a the MGM Grand by having a five-man panel watch the entire fight without audio.
The Filipino great won in all the scoresheets of the judges during the WBO review, although the result of the fight was not overturned.
Pacquiao expects the WBO to stand by the decision, but maintains an investigation would be a welcome move in order to prevent the same issue from happening again.
"I love boxing and I don't wanna see it dying because of unfair decisions and officiating," he said.
The bone of contention by the Pacquiao camp was actually the 117-111 tally by one of the judges in the scoresheet and too much leeway given by referee Mark Nelaon to Horn to do his thing against the champion.
"I had already accepted the decision, but as a leader and, at the same time, a fighter, I have the moral obligation to uphold sportsmanship, truth, and fairness in the eyes of the public," added the eight-time world division champ.
Pacquiao said he's been in boxing long enough to know deep within if he lost a fight or not.
"Yung mga referees na yun, mga judges na yun, hindi nila naiisip yung mga sakripisyo ng bawat boksingero. Dapat kung sino yung panalo, panalo," he said.
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