Australia's Horn stuns Pacman in bloody upset

Australian Jeff Horn stunned Filipino Manny Pacquiao in a bloody Brisbane battle to claim a unanimous 12-round decision and win the WBO world welterweight title in front of 50000 fans yesterday.

The unheralded 29-year-old former schoolteacher, who improved his record to 17-0-1, was awarded the win over the eight-division world champion by 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113.

"I'm so happy, I can't explain my feelings," Horn said at ringside, before welcoming the prospect of a rematch.

"I've just believed since I was very young that I could do this."

Pacquiao, one of the finest boxers of his generation, paid the price for a slow start and his inability to end with a knockout.

The 38-year-old 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 tired.

With blood pouring from both sides of his forehead after accidental butts, the southpaw launched a fierce assault on Horn which nearly ended the contest in round nine.

Horn, who was cut above his right eye in round two, said he had been exhausted and rattled by the Filipino's punches.

"It was hard, hard getting through that round, hard getting hit, getting caught with a shot and then continue," Horn said.

The Australian showed remarkable powers of recuperation as he battled through the final three rounds with Pacquiao, who earned the last of his 38 knockouts in 2009, unable to capitalise on his dominance.

The bout ended with the fighters in a clinch on the ropes and although Pacquiao gave a little shuffle and a grin to show he had plenty left in the tank, his fate was in the hands of the judges.

"Very tough. I didn't expect that tough," said Pacquiao, whose record now reads 59-7-2.

"It's okay, it's part of the game. That's the decision of the judges, I respect that." Pacquiao, who had hoped for an impressive victory to fire talk of another fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, said he would "absolutely" return for the contracted rematch against Horn.