Boxing: Manny Pacquiao loss to Timothy Bradley branded ‘disgrace’

Boxing found itself mired in controversy again at the weekend following fierce criticism of the decision to award Timothy Bradley a controversial split- decision victory over hot favourite Manny Pacquiao at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

The Filipino fighter appeared to have done more than enough to take the decision, despite slowing down in the later stages, but was left stunned by the decision which cost him his WBO welterweight belt. Two judges scored the bout 115-113 to the unbeaten Bradley and one handed the win to Pacquiao by the same score, the crowd reacted by jeering when the verdict was returned. Defeat must now place the long-delayed super-fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr in serious doubt.

“He never hurt me with his punches,” said Pacquiao. “Most of his punches hit my arm. I don’t know what happened.”

Bradley added: “Manny hurt me a few times with his left hand. He’s a beast. But my corner told me if I won the last round, I’d win the fight. I’ve got to give Manny a rematch.”

Pacquiao’s training partner Amir Khan branded the decision “robbery”, Lennox Lewis called it disgraceful and fight promoter Bob Arum saying it was “nuts”. Khan, who has been rebuffed by Bradley in the past, had previously been critical of the judging in his own defeat at the hands of Lamont Peterson in December. And the Bolton fighter, who was commentating on the fight at ringside, said: “I’m shocked more than anything. Manny won that fight clearly, I’d give it him by at least eight rounds. But the judges had it differently.”

Former heavyweight champion Lewis was also unimpressed. He tweeted: “Unbelievable! This is another stain on boxing. Even worse than my draw with Holyfield! Disgraceful.” Arum was quoted by the LA Times as saying: “This is nuts. People don’t know what they’re watching anymore. I’m going to make a lot of money [in a rematch] but who’s going to take this sport seriously?”

The win improves Bradley’s record to 29-0, with 12 knockouts, but there is sure to be considerable discussion about the manner of this result. Pacquiao started sluggishly in the opening round only to land three meaty lefts in the closing moments to apparently edge it.

Bradley was allowing too many lefts to land, but was working hard to keep himself in the game, landing decent right hands in the second and third round. Pacquiao nevertheless looked comfortable, boxing within himself but seemingly controlling the pace. By the fifth round Bradley was in visible discomfort with an injured foot.

A pattern had started to emerge, with Bradley attempting to come out hard at the start of each round but Pacquiao finishing strongly and connecting with some considerable blows. Bradley enjoyed his best moments of the fight in the last three rounds as Pacquiao’s control waned a little and the challenger unleashed an array of punches in the 12th to close on a high, but the decision still came as a shock.