Manny Pacquiao

The Australian shocked Pacquiao to win the WBO welterweight title at the start of July, but many considered the unanimous points decision a controversial one.

But Pacquiao and the Philippines Games and Amusements Board (GAB) called for the WBO to review the fight, although Horn would still keep his title regardless of the findings.

Five judges re-scored the bout and Horn was once more ruled the winner on Monday.

The WBO was responding to a Philippines government department's request to review last Sunday's fight after Pacquiao said the decision against him was unfair.

The Philippines Games and Amusements Board's (GAB) said it based their request on protecting boxing's integrity, citing possible miscalls by the referee and judges.

But the WBO reiterated its only hope of revoking the fight judges' decision rests on proving fraud in match officiating.

Pacquiao lost his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight championship to Australian Horn in a contentious points decision on Sunday in the 'Battle of Brisbane' at Suncorp Stadium.

While the 38-year-old Pacquiao said he accepted the view of the judges in his in-ring interview immediately after the fight, he has grown more critical of the result since returning to the Philippines.

For all of 45 seconds.

"This boxer," Pacquiao said pointing to Duran, "was one of my favourite boxers when I first started. And of course, Jeff Fenech. And my friend Tim Bradley."

Bradley is one of the few fighters to have inflicted defeat on Pacquiao in his 67 bouts. Pacquiao then paused, looked around …

"And I don't know the name of the rest of the people here. You will enjoy this fight. Thank you, and good afternoon."

And then he left.

Pacquiao, an eight-weight world champion, will put his WBO welterweight title on the line against the undefeated Horn.

"We signed the Jeff Horn contract this morning. Fight is July 2 in Brisbane, Australia," Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz told French news agency AFP.

The bout will be outdoors at Suncorp Stadium on a Sunday afternoon, timed to coincide with a prime-time Saturday night telecast in the United States. 

Pacquiao's Twitter followers recently voted Khan, 30, as the opponent they would like to see him fight next.

Khan beat fellow Briton Kell Brook, Australia's Jeff Horn and American Terence Crawford with 48% of the vote.

He said on Twitter: "Currently negotiating with Manny #teampacquiao. Coming soon. Watch this space!"

Six-weight world champion Pacquaio, who said his next fight will be in the United Arab Emirates, added: "My team and I are in negotiations with Amir Khan for our next fight. Further announcement coming soon."

Duco Events, which promotes Horn in partnership with Bob Arum's Top Rank, was confident the fight would be held at Suncorp Stadium on April 23 in what would be one of the biggest bouts ever staged on Australian soil.

The venue had already been booked while the Queensland Government had confirmed it would reach into its pockets to host an event predicted to be seen by close to one billion boxing fans around the world.

Joseph Parker's handlers will resist the temptation to have him involved in the Manny Pacquiao extravaganza in Australia in April.

Duco Events have been given the green light by Pacquiao's boss Bob Arum to nail down the finances for a late April fight for the WBO welterweight title against rising Australian Jeff Horn.

Duco promote Horn and Parker, the stars in their trans-Tasman stable.

Parker is looking to April for the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title.

Mr Aquino released a statement saying Abu Sayyaf, a notorious kidnap-for-ransom gang that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and beheaded a Canadian hostage this week, had planned to abduct Pacquiao or kidnap me," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao, who bounced back from a controversial split-decision defeat to Bradley in 2012 with a decisive win two years later, delivered the final blow in their welterweight fight in Las Vegas as all three judges scored it 116-110 in his favour.

With fans chanting "Manny" at the conclusion, Pacquiao (58-6-2) maintained that he is heading into retirement and continuing his political career in the Philippines.