Pacquaio/Bradley Decision a Travesty

There is a reason why interest in boxing is lagging. It's because of shams and cons like the one that went on Saturday night in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.

In case you haven't heard, Timothy Bradley won a split decision over Manny Pacquiao. Judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross scored the fight 115-113 for Bradley while Jerry Roth had the same score but in favor of Pacquiao. So for the first time in seven years, a stretch of 15 fights, the seemingly invincible Manny Pacquiao was defeated and by a virtual unknown.

There are occasions where the underdog will rise up and beat the favorite; its happened before and will happen again (anyone remember Buster Douglas?). Should this have been one of those cases? Lets review the stats:

According to stats kept at ringside, Pacquiao landed 253 punches; Bradley 159. ESPN stats had the count at 190 to 109 in favor of Manny with Pacquiao landing just over 38 percent of his punches and Bradley just under 28 percent. One count had Manny landing more punched in 10 of 12 rounds.

Hmmm...so he hit the guy more overall; he hit the guy more in most of the rounds; yet Manny Pacquiao still loses?

As the ever curious web journalist, I had to investigate. I got lucky and found this clip of the fight and watched it (see the above video). Even to this boxing novice it was pretty clear that Timothy Bradley did not belong in the same arena as Manny Pacquiao let alone the same ring. However, as I read more and more of the stories printed about the stunning upset the reason for it became clear when Bradley said this:

"I got to give him a rematch now."

Just like the Home Boy Shopping Network used to say on In Living Color--mo money mo money mo money! Maybe Floyd Mayweather Jr. will beef up while he's in jail and agree to fight Pacquiao when he gets out after watching this. At least that way the fans will get something for their money.