Date: 2nd July 2017
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaTitle: WBO World Welterweight Title
Promoter: Top Rank & D & L Events
Tv: ESPN
Manny Pacquiao
(
59
-
6
-
2
)
Weight: 145¾ lbs
Jeff Horn
(
16
-
0
-
1
)
Weight: 146¼ lbs
Manny Pacquiao made the first defense of his WBO World Welterweight Title against Jeff Horn fight on Sunday 2nd July 2017 at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The fight was promoted by Top Rank and D & L Events and was aired on ESPN. The fight was won by local man, Jeff Horn who defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
Over a month before the fight, 40,000 tickets had been reportedly sold, indicating the high level of interest in the event. On the day of the fight, the stadium was packed, with 51,052 people in attendance. The atmosphere was electric, with fans cheering on their favorite fighter.
Jeff Horn was guaranteed $500,000 from the fight, while Manny Pacquiao was guaranteed at least $10 million. The huge disparity in their paychecks was a reflection of the difference in their experience and accomplishments in the sport. Pacquiao was a veteran of the ring with an impressive record, while Horn was a relative newcomer.
The fight itself was a closely contested affair, with both fighters giving their all. Pacquiao started strong, but Horn came back strong in the middle rounds, scoring some crucial points. Despite Pacquiao's experience, Horn proved to be a worthy opponent, landing some powerful blows and showing remarkable resilience in the face of Pacquiao's attacks.
The final decision was a unanimous one in favor of Jeff Horn, which came as a shock to many viewers and experts. Pacquiao's camp disputed the decision, claiming that the judges had been biased in favor of the home fighter. However, the judges defended their decision, stating that they had scored the fight fairly and impartially.