Bradley vs Pacquiao - Weird Decision Surprisingly
Bradley-Pacquiao decision leaves boxing reeling, Bob Velin
Arum, the 80-year-old chairman of Top Rank Promotions, represents both fighters. "This is an international kind of story. There are people all over the world looking to blame somebody for this," he said. In a decision that sent shock waves through the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Bradley was declared the winner by split decision. Judges CJ Ross and Duane Ford scored it 115-113 for Bradley, while Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Pacquiao. Ross has limited experience, while Ford and Roth are veterans of big Las Vegas fights.
The decision resulted in boos raining down toward the ring, where HBO's Max Kellerman was trying to interview Pacquiao and Bradley. "This is such an incredible situation, something I've never seen in 47 years in boxing, that it requires an investigation. And you can't rely on the (Nevada Athletic Commission) to conduct an investigation, because they'll whitewash it."
The commission's chief executive, Keith Kizer, did not return a phone message Sunday. Bradley's trainer, Cameron Dunkin, told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday: "I thought it was very close and could've gone either way. (Bradley) said, 'I don't judge the fights, I just fight the fights.' I can't believe that (Arum has) gone crazy in this, but he has."
Source: USA TODAY
Timothy Bradley Defeats Manny Pacquiao In Controversial Split Decision, TIM DAHLBERG
In a fight Pacquiao seemed to have in hand, two judges decided otherwise, giving Bradley a split decision Saturday night and ending the Filipino fighter's remarkable seven-year unbeaten run.
Promoter Bob Arum fumed, the crowd at the MGM Grand arena booed, and Pacquiao seemed stunned when the decision was announced. Arum said there would be a November rematch, though he blasted the way the decision went down.
"I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight," said Arum, who handles both fighters.
Bradley came on strong in the later rounds, winning five of the last six rounds on two scorecards and four on the third. He won 115-113 on two scorecards, while losing on the third by the same margin. The Associated Press had Pacquiao winning 117-111.
Source: Huffingtonpost
How Bradley Beat Pacquiao—Without Punching Him
Pacquiao has prospered by landing straight lefts and right hooks, then sweeping out to launch another combination. On Saturday, either his legs weren't taking orders or Bradley managed to stymie him. In the later rounds Bradley, who was hampered by a broken left foot and twisted right ankle, didn't exactly hammer the champ. CompuBox had Pacquiao out-landing Bradley in all but two rounds. Still, Pacquiao looked slow and stopped landing concussive blows. Near the end, Bradley's corner told him, "Win the last round and you win the fight." The brave and spirited young fighter fired 88 punches to Pacquiao's 68—and virtually everyone gave it to Bradley. Analyst Max Kellerman said that if the fight went 15 rounds, "Bradley might have won."
The fight was a window into the subjectivity of boxing. Is a solid punch or two in a round sufficient to win it, regardless of who seems in control? And if bouts are really fights, shouldn't we consider who would have won if combat continued? One also has to wonder how much we're swayed by replays, punch stats, loquacious commentators and a highly partisan crowd.
Source: wsj
Manny Pacquiao loses to Timothy Bradley in controversial split decision
“Can you believe that? Unbelievable,” promoter Bob Arum said. “I went over to Bradley before the decision and he said, ‘I tried hard but I couldn’t beat the guy.’” Bradley said he hurt his ankle in the second round, and that trainer Joel Diaz said he could either quit or try to take the fight to Pacquiao.
“I did my best,” Pacquiao said. “I guess my best wasn’t good enough.”. Pacquiao said he studied Bradley on tape before the fight and wasn’t surprised by anything he did. He said he thought he was in control of the fight and was shocked when the decision went against him. “He never hurt me with his punches, most of them landed on my arms,” Pacquiao said.
Source: Thestar
Bradley-Pacquiao: Winners and losers of fights should be determined via compubox statistics
This has happened before as well. Richard Abril comfortably beat Brandon Rios at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, however Rios was awarded a split decision victory and coincidentally this was another Top Rank event. It was perceived by many boxing experts as a disgraceful decision, due the fact that Compubox proved that Abril landed and threw more punches and limited Rios to landing punches mainly on the arms and shoulders which aren’t seen as scoring blows.
Boxing is a dramatic sport without a doubt. The pre fight banter which keeps the fans on the edge of their seats. All the hype the fighters create to make the event an even more exciting spectacle. The boxing in the ring that creates an unbelievable amount of animosity causing fans to get that sudden rush of adrenaline when they are witnessing two warriors clobbering each other with vicious blows. These aspects define controversy which is why the sport is so exciting. Nevertheless unfair and biased judging is what’s ruining the sport. There have been many fights in the past that have been scored incorrectly. The problem with this however is that the last three Top Rank fights have been very controversial due to dodgy judging. Marquez losing to Pacquiao, Abril losing to Rios and now Pacquiao losing to Bradley. I hate to say it but this has to be more than a coincidence.
Compubox states who has won or lost a fight. So tell me, what is the point of judges when the statistics via Compubox proves who has won or lost a fight anyway? Judges out and Compubox in. It’s as simple as that.
Source: boxingnews24
Bradley's camp believes strong finish key to upset of Pacquiao
"Yeah, Bradley landed here and there with no impact, but Pacquiao was landing power punches, particularly his straight left hand, with rhythmic regularity," said boxing play-by-play man Jim Lampley of HBO, whose unofficial scorer Harold Lederman gave Pacquiao a dominant triumph, 11 rounds to one.
As the scores were passed from the judges to ring announcer Michael Buffer, Lampley said an HBO staffer told him in his earpiece, "You're not going to believe what you're about to hear."
Lampley said he was "disgusted enough by the decision to question my commitment to boxing for about two hours last night."
Arum said he has heard from some ticket brokers that "no one wants to come" to a Bradley rematch because most fight watchers considered Pacquiao's effort a one-sided victory.
"The only thing I can think that would prevent a rematch is Manny saying, 'Why do I need this anymore?' " Lampley said. "In the wake of this disappointment, and with all the other things happening in his life, this could be his moment."
Pacquiao's first words to reporters after the fight were, "That's why we love boxing."
Source: Chicagotribune
