But in a stunning confession, [Carlos] Padilla — known for refereeing the “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 — said he helped Pacquiao secure victory by “prolonging” the standard 10-count when the Filipino was knocked down and left dazed in the fourth round.

“I am a Filipino and everybody is Filipino watching the fight, so I prolong the count. I know how to do it,” Padilla, who was recently inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, said in an interview posted on the World Boxing Council’s YouTube page.

“When he get up I said to him ‘hey are you okay?’ — and that’s prolonging the fight,” a smiling Padilla said.

Pacquiao later headbutted Hussein, leaving the Australian with a cut above his left eye.

But Padilla classified the head clash as a “punch”. Pacquiao won by a technical knockout after the doctor stopped the fight due to Hussein’s bleeding.

“I declare it a punch but it’s (a headbutt),” Padilla said, which allowed the fight to continue.