Australian school teacher, Jeff Horn defeats Manny Pacquiao to claim WBO Welterweight Title

Manny Pacquiao has suffered a controversial defeat in the hands of unheralded Australian Jeff Horn who is a former schoolteacher to win the World Boxing Organisation welterweight crown with a unanimous points decision in Brisbane on Sunday.

Horn, 29 stunned the world champion causing a upset with a points victory after 12 absorbing rounds of boxing in front of more than 50,000.

Horn who improved his record to 17-0-1, was awarded the win over the eight-division world champion by scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113, as his ultra-aggressive style proved too much for Pacquiao in the 12-round match dubbed the “Battle of Brisbane”.

The 11-time world champion entered the fight as favorite but got more than he bargained for

Pacquiao, 38, who is an eight-weight world champion and considered one of the greatest fighters of his generation was hot favourite to win his 60th fight and wanted another shot at Floyd Mayweather Jnr, as his camp had predicted a “short and sweet” win over Horn, a 2012 Australian Olympian.

But Horn showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion, as he showed the more enterprising combinations to rip the WBO welterweight world title away from his opponent, taking the fight to the Filipino great from the opening bell leaving Pacquiao with serious questions on his future in the ring.

Very tough. I didn’t expect that tough,” Pacquiao said. It’s okay, it’s part of the game. That’s the decision of the judges, I respect that, he added.

Pacquiao had been hoping to set up a second big-money showdown with Floyd Mayweather, but it was Horn who called for a fight with the unbeaten American immediately after his win.

I've just believed since I was very young that I could do this,' Horn said in an interview, before welcoming the prospect of a rematch with Pacquiao.

With the fight, Pacquiao’s career record falls to 59-7-2, while Horn now stands at 17-0-1 — on wins, losses and draws.