They were quick to mock Filipino fans, but context still matters. What began as a shove escalated when an Australian player chose to retaliate with a punch. Who does that? In that moment, did anyone seriously expect the other players to simply stand by and watch, especially given the tensions and incidents that had already led to it?
Also Jeff Horn may have won on paper, but history has a way of separating results from reality. Everyone who watched the fight knows who truly absorbed the punishment that night. The judging in the Pacquiao–Horn bout remains, to this day, indefensible. It was criminal.
To be clear, violence is never something we condone, and hopefully it never happens again. Still, it’s hard to ignore the bitterness now coming from certain corners of the Australian media. A little perspective and less salt would go a long way. - Pow Salud, Powcast Sports