A heroic against-all-odds victory or ‘highway robbery’? The sporting world is divided after Jeff Horn’s epic win against legend Manny Pacquiao in front of 50,000 delirious fans in Brisbane

It was the fight that enthralled the nation, but not everybody was happy with the result.

Australian Jeff Horn won against defending boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao in a unanimous decision at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, leaving the sporting world divided.

Controversial boxing legend Anthony Mundine  declared Horn had ‘manifested his dream into reality’, and Sports Sunday presenter Emma Freedman called Horn’s performance ‘extraordinary’.

But ESPN personality Stephen A Smith called Horn’s win ‘highway robbery’ in his analysis following the fight.

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Others labelled the victory a ‘joke’ and calling the fight ‘rigged.’

Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant tweeted an image of shocked rapper Ice Cube following the decision, while Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said ‘boxing is a joke.’

‘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!’ three-time world champion boxer Lennox Lewis posted to Twitter.

‘That wasn’t the fight I watched.’

ESPN personality Stephen A Smith called Horn’s win ‘highway robbery’ in his analysis following the fight. 

Former Australian cricketing captain Michael Clarke praised Manny Pacquiao for his conduct after the game, and called Horn a ‘legend’, adding he has an ‘amazing future.’

Surfer Sally Fitzgibbons said she was ‘stoked’ for the 29-year-old, while David Warner Tweeted ‘you little beauty.’

Australian cricketing star David Warner was also quick to heap praise on the newcomer, saying the fight was ‘awesome stuff’.

And while rugby legend Wendell Sailor was happy to be at the fight, the sports star appeared happier with his company.

He shared a picture of himself with actress Amber Heard, who is in Australia filming Aquaman.

‘I’m a massive boxing fan but I have to say awesome to meet the lovely Amber Heard,’ he captioned the Instagram post.

‘Love ya [sic] work.’

The fight, which was aired free-to-air in America, was widely watched by athletes across their major codes.

ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas was inconsolable after the decision, saying the scorers didn’t follow the rules.

‘They gave a trophy to the local kid for trying hard, you’re not supposed to get it for trying hard, you’re supposed to get it for winning!’ an exacerbated Atlas shouted.

Atlas then disrespectfully began his post-fight interview with Horn by saying ‘I thought you lost,’ as Pacquiao smiled and laughed nearby.

Portland Trailblazers point guard Damian Lillard Tweeted Horn was fighting ‘dirty af’ and upon hearing the result said ‘that’s not right.’

Minnesota Timberwolves starlet Karl Anthony-Towns said Pacquiao was ‘disrespected’ while Toronto Raptors All Star said ‘the sun must’ve been in the judges face.’

Fox Sports enigma Skip Bayless referred to the Australian champion as ‘somebody named Jeff Horn,’ while ESPN NBA expert Michael Wilbon called it a ‘hometown b.s. decision.’

Jeff Horn has single-handedly changed the face of Australian boxing, sensationally defeating Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao.

The 29-year-old former schoolteacher beat his strongly-fancied opponent by unanimous decision in a brutal welterweight bout at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

The Brisbane local, who took up boxing 14 years ago to learn how to defend himself from bullies, has now cemented himself as one of the sport’s top drawcards.

In front of a packed hometown crowd, Horn punched his ticket to boxing’s big time with an incredible performance to win Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight championship.

The three judges scored the fight 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, with Horn immediately calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the fight and declared himself ‘no joke’ to the legions of boxing experts across the world who gave him no chance.

Pacquiao went into the fight the hot favourite, but Horn’s camp was confident he could produce an upset over the world champ.

A crowd of more than 50,000 took their seats for what was unquestionably the biggest fight of the former school teacher’s short

The Australian landed plenty of punches early, before Pacquiao scored with a big left hook mid-way through the second round, which he won convincingly.

A cut above Horn’s right eye opened up in the tight third round, before Pacquiao’s forehead was badly split by an accidental head butt.

Another accidental head clash in the seventh saw Pacquiao split again, with blood pouring from cuts to the left and the right side of the head.

Horn looked in huge trouble after Pacquiao landed a series of deadly blows in the ninth round, leaving the Aussie staggering and praying for the bell.

He wobbled into the tenth still in trouble, but managed to regain his legs and composure and took the fight into the 11th and 12th rounds.

From there Horn did not look back, repelling any late comeback by the Filipino legend and cementing his name in Australian sporting history.

The fight was one that enthralled the world, with even PR maven Roxy Jacenko’s daughter Pixie Curtis taking a moment out of her busy day to watch it.

Pixie, five, was pictured staring at the screen as the fight raged on, seemingly captivated by the scene.

Former Survivor star Sam Webb shared a picture of himself with Justice League actor Willem Dafoe ahead of the game.

‘What a good day in Brisvegas watching the boys go toe to toe,’ he captioned the image.

His reality television co-star Lee Carseldine, also a former cricket player, shared the moment Horn was declared the winner via an Instagram video.

He dedicated the clip, which filmed delighted fans celebrating, to ‘those who keep believing in their dreams’.