Pacquiao Robbed

MANNY PACQUIAO PUT TIMOTHY BRADLEY IN A WHEELCHAIR SATURDAY-BUT WAS DEEMED THE LOSER OF THE FIGHT

It may turn out to be one of the most controversial decisions in boxing history. Saturday night at the MGM Grand hotel and Casino in Las Vegas Manny Pacquiao lost a split decision to Timothy Bradley for the WBO Welterweight title. As ESPN put it, it was the boxing judges who “shocked the world.” Pacquiao lost the decision despite landing almost 100 more punches 253-159 (according to CompuBox.) Pacquaio also landed the harder punches and was the fight’s aggressor throwing far more blows and landing more in ten of the 12 rounds.

Pacquiao had not lost a fight since 2005. That’s a remarkable seven-year winning streak. However, many veteran boxing journalists who were ringside were shocked by the decision. Dan Rafael of ESPN flat out stated that Bradley “did not win this fight.” Rafael says he actually had the fight scored 11 rounds to 1 in favor of Pacquiao. Veteran tv ring announcer Harold Lederman also scored the fight 11 rounds to one for Pacquiao. The Associated Press had Manny Pacquiao winning the fight 117-111.

None of that mattered to the judges. Las Vegas boxing writer Kevin Iole called the decision of a Bradley win “a joke” but argues it may actually be good for boxing. Pacquiao nemesis Floyd Mayweather Jr. missed the fight. He’s serving time in jail on domestic violence charges.

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum, who’s committed his share of boxing ethical atrocities, proclaimed himself to be “ashamed” of the sport and the decision, yet stands to benefit financially from a Pacquiao/Bradley rematch.