Manny Pacquiao felt that he was robbed of a victory, when he dropped his WBO welterweight world title to Jeff Horn in a stunning, unanimous points decision in a Sunday afternoon bout billed as the Battle of Brisbane in front of more than 51,000 people.

The official scorecards saw Horn the winner by unanimous decision—117-111, 115-113, 115-113. Pacquiao was not that upset over the 115-113 scores, but the tally of 117-111 by judge Waleska Roldan of New York left him steaming.

“We’re ahead by four to five rounds, in my opinion,” said Pacquiao to The Inquirer. “[117-111], it’s too much. I would believe the decision more if it was close, say 115-113.”

Pacquiao had Horn in serious trouble during the ninth round and was looking to finish him off. He says the referee got in his way. The Filipino star has spoken out against what he feels were dirty tactics used by Horn, including use of the head, elbows and pushing down on his neck throughout the whole fight.

“I nearly hit him [the referee]. Horn was saved by the bell. I was looking for the knockout punch [in] every round. He fights dirty, but that’s OK,” said Pacquiao.

There is a rematch clause that Pacquiao plans to execute, but he would rather not fight Horn again in Australia.

In Marawi city in the southern Philippines, more than 500 displaced villagers at a government hall, along with troops and police, yelled Pacquiao's name as they watched the bout live on a wide screen.

Local officials organized the free public viewing to give the displaced residents a respite from the disastrous siege by Muslim militants aligned with Daesh (ISIS) who took over several villages in the city last month.

"Many couldn't accept the result initally but the entertainment side of it provided a respite from their everyday struggle," Marawi crisis committee spokesman Zia Alonto Adiong told The Associated Press by telephone. "But the message of courage and resiliency to face the challenges head on, I think Manny Pacquiao provided that here today."