Australian boxer Jeff Horn showed remarkable powers of recuperation as he battled through the final three rounds with Filipino Manny Pacquiao.

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."

An emotional Horn brandished a walking stick as he also called out the undefeated Mayweather, who has come out of retirement at 40 years of age for a 12-round crossover boxing match against mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor.

"This is no joke, which one does he want? The walking stick or the gloves?" the Queenslander said.

The loss stunned people in the Philippines, where Pacquiao, now a high-profile senator, has long been a national hero. A Twitter meltdown ensued with many saying that the match was rigged.

Source: Khaleej Times