Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia witnessed the emergence of a new WBO welterweight champion. On July 3, 2017, 38-year-old Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao fights a battle with 28-year-old Jeff “The Hornet” Horn in a 12-round bout that took place in Brisbane’s 52,500 seat capacity stadium. Capturing the historic moment, Twitter exploded with over 500,000 tweets (9 a.m. PHT, 2 July – 12 p.m. PHT, 3 July) when The Hornet was announced as the new champion.
With the conversation reaching its peak at 1:30 p.m. PHT with 3,300 tweets per minute, many Twitter users burst throughout the website mainly because of the bout results.
Many celebrities and sports personalities didn’t accept the new winner so easily. From Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson to boxing champion Lennox Lewis, hordes of people shared their dismay on Twitter with either short rants or with the modern humorous memes.
Uhhhhhhh, can U Say Bullshit??!!Manny got Fucked!!! That's the Face of a Winner??!
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) July 2, 2017
This is what's wrong with boxing. Horn was very game but I'm hard pressed to see how he could have won that fight by any stretch! #PacHorn
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) July 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/881378572585357312
Here are the event’s Top 3 Tweets reflecting the same sentiment:
#PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/i1oqnD74Q2
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) July 2, 2017
Final punch statistics favored Manny Pacquiao, but Jeff Horn won WBO welterweight championship #PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/ZxMIeH88hU
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 2, 2017
Disrespected @mannypacquiao like he not a legend. #PacquiaoHorn
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) July 2, 2017
Turning to Twitter, the boxing community humorously expressed their reactions regarding the unanimous decision against the Filipino boxer.
https://twitter.com/ame_hess/status/881378744127987712
Them: And the new welterweight champion of the world…
Me: AnD THe NeW WeLteRweIGht cHaMPiOn oF tHe wOrld…#PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/OhoafNNxzS
— Jason (@jayb0ojayb0o) July 2, 2017
How tf do you go from almost having to stop the fight in the 9th to a unanimous win?#PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/PkGvWiQCMN
— ?Jasmine△⃒⃘ (@jasminesealegs) July 2, 2017
Despite all the uproar, the supporters of “The Hornet” weren’t really dissuaded from enjoying the Aussie’s victory, savoring the moment by coming together to express their excitement.
#AndTheNew WBO World Welterweight Champion is Jeff Horn! Congrats! What a fight it was! Both of them were amazing #PacHorn #PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/liUiBn2puW
— Gaurav Kumar (@puraanigali) July 2, 2017
Pacquio is a legend, but in that fight he was poor, it shows his age has catched up to him, congrats to Jeff Horn???? #PacquiaoHorn
— Pxm3 (@Parmvirrr) July 2, 2017
Judges scored it: 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 — via unanimous decision. Jeff Horn is NEW WBO Welterweight Champ!?
— Migs Bustos (@migsbustos) July 2, 2017
Though he lost, the Philippine senator/ professional boxer expressed nothing but good and proper sportsmanship, captivating more of his supporters.
Look at him. Smiling wide open! ? HE'S THE TRUE WINNER AFTER ALL! ? #PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/ZkOEgvcTde
— Paula Louise ¹ᴰ (@paulalsd) July 2, 2017
This man has all my respect regardless, he's a legend. Great fight. #PacquiaoHorn pic.twitter.com/n1W7nNyADx
— Israel Flores (@Kushothelioma) July 2, 2017
