Horn Shocks Pacquiao To Win WBO Title

Former schoolteacher Jeff Horn stunned champion Manny Pacquiao to win the WBO world welterweight title with a unanimous points decision in Brisbane.

The three judges scored the fight 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 to the 29-year-old Australian at Lang Park.

“That’s the decision of the judges. I respect that,” said 38-year-old Pacquiao.

The Filipino, an eight-weight world champion, has now lost four of his past nine fights.

Horn, 29, was aggressive from the opening bell, although Pacquiao’s left jabs scored points in the early stages.

Horn, who has now won 17 and drawn one of his 18 bouts, caused Pacquiao problems during the middle rounds and cut him above both eyes.

The veteran fought back with a brilliant counter-attack in the ninth round, only for Horn to win the 10th.

Both fighters tired in the final two rounds, with Horn’s good work in the opening stages proving enough for a famous win.

Horn, nicknamed ‘The Hornet’, grew up in Brisbane and first walked into a boxing club 11 years ago to learn self-defence.

While studying for his degree, he reached the quarter-finals of the London 2012 Olympics, turned professional soon after and made his debut in 2013.

Horn, who until recently taught students at Pallara State School in Brisbane, won prize money sometimes as low as A$2,000 (£1,100).

Reports claim he won a guaranteed $500,000 (£383,832) from his fight against Pacquiao.