Timothy Bradley on Saturday defeated Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title in a “controversial 12-round split decision” in front of a “stunned crowd" of 14,206 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, according to Steve Carp in the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Virtually “every media member at ringside” had Pacquiao “comfortably ahead at the final bell, and the outcome created a feeling of disbelief throughout the arena.” Top Rank Chair Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, said, “I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight. I'm going to make a lot of money on the rematch, but this was outrageous.” Carp noted a potential rematch "has already been set for Nov. 10 at the Grand Garden” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/10). YAHOO SPORTS’ Kevin Iole wrote, “Dreams of a megafight against No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have gone up in smoke with the pens of judges who saw a different fight than the fans in the building and most media at ringside” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/10). In L.A., Lance Pugmire writes as the scores "were passed from the judges to ring announcer Michael Buffer, [HBO broadcaster Jim] 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” (L.A. TIMES, 6/11).
SOUR NOTE: In Las Vegas, Ray Brewer wrote Arum “worries the flawed decision will further turn away fans in a sport with a scoring system always at the center of controversy.” Arum said, "Fans from other sports, fans who like athletic competition but who have no connection to the sport, will be turned off” (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/10). In Sacramento, Victor Contreras asks, “Why should we continue to watch boxing? Why should we let our guard down and believe Pacquiao-Bradley II or Pacquiao-Mayweather or Mayweather-Bradley will be on the level?” (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/11). In Houston, Jerome Solomon wrote he is “almost to the point where watching them isn’t even worth the time and effort” (CHRON.com, 6/10). In S.F., Vittorio Tafur writes, “Every once in a while, a sport that I love, boxing, will do something that will betray my trust and leave me muttering about my feelings to friends at a bar” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/11).
LEFT IN THE DUST: In Las Vegas, Ed Graney writes MMA has “flown above boxing in popularity across the nation.” It is because organizations like UFC "offer the best matchups,” but even more so, “it's about robberies like this.” Arum: “This is (bleeping) nuts. Something like this kills boxing. The (judges) don't know what they're watching" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/10). In Orlando, George Diaz writes, “At least professional wrestling admits that it's all hijinks and shenanigans. What is professional boxing's excuse?” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/11). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote under the header, “Boxing Cements Itself As A Joke With Bradley Decision Over Pacquiao” (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 6/10).
ALL IS WELL: YAHOO SPORTS’ Iole wrote, “Controversy sells. The bigger the controversy, the bigger the rematch.” This rematch will be "bigger than Saturday's bout by a wide margin." Bradley will "become a star; he's already a charismatic guy who performed well when he finally got his chance on the big stage. And Pacquiao's legion of fans "will rally to his support, believing he was wronged and demanding justice in a second fight.” The result was "unfair to Pacquaio, who deserved to win." Iole: "But bad for boxing? Not in a million years." More people were talking about the fight "when it ended than would have been had Pacquiao gotten the wide verdict most had expected.” The “only loser in the event was probably the state of Nevada, which likely won't get the opportunity to host the rematch.” Arum said that the rematch "will be held in a ‘non-tax state,’ meaning it's likely headed to Texas” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/10).
