Boxing

[Zapater]

I can't get over it. I've seen some terrible decisions over the years (Marquez v Pacquiao last year) but this one takes the biscuit. You just cannot make a case for Bradley winning this fight. Anyone who does knows nothing about boxing. Terrible, terrible decision. Boxings going down the pan and fast imo.

Must say though I bet Arum regrets not making the Mayweather fight now. I would have loved to have seen his face when the fight was awarded to Manny

He was celebrating with Tim Bradley, whom also happens to be promoted by Top Rank So it suites him quite well, especially with a rematch in the pipeline. I'm positive this was his concoction

In regards to boxing going down the drain, I hate it and it gets me down, but it's part and parcel of the sport and it always has been. It's corrupt and it probably always will be to some degree, and when there's subjective judging there's no way of proving otherwise. Same goes for fighters taking dives etc. If you're a fan of boxing, or involved in the sport, then it's something you have to come to terms with.

[spud_gun]

From the front row.

In all honesty though, just because Marquez beat pac, doesn't really mean that he should have lost that. Bob Arum, wanted a rematch to make even more money from two of his biggest fighters. It amazes me how Bradley already worked out the exact date of their rematch (unless it was in the contract) in the seconds between the interview and the decision.

Timmy seems fairly certain that there will be a rematch

[marcus50bucks]

I'm going to need to watch this fight again. I've been reading one or two boxing forums. They always have a live round by round thread and people post their scores at the end of each round. I was surprised by how many people thought the fight was close. Not only that, a few had Bradley winning. Maybe the HBO commentary clouded my judgement and the fight was closer than I initially thought.

[marcus50bucks]

He was celebrating with Tim Bradley, whom also happens to be promoted by Top Rank So it suites him quite well, especially with a rematch in the pipeline. I'm positive this was his concoction

In regards to boxing going down the drain, I hate it and it gets me down, but it's part and parcel of the sport and it always has been. It's corrupt and it probably always will be to some degree, and when there's subjective judging there's no way of proving otherwise. Same goes for fighters taking dives etc. If you're a fan of boxing, or involved in the sport, then it's something you have to come to terms with.

I remembered after the post that Arum was manager for both boxers.

[Zapater]

I'm going to need to watch this fight again. I've been reading one or two boxing forums. They always have a live round by round thread and people post their scores at the end of each round. I was surprised by how many people thought the fight was close. Not only that, a few had Bradley winning. Maybe the HBO commentary clouded my judgement and the fight was closer than I initially thought.

I thought that too, because HBO are ridiculously biased and pro-Pacquiao, but the punch stats say it all. I know they don't dictate the winner, but the percentage and the output are both firmly in Pacmans favour. I didn't think it was as lopsided as they made it, but I don't think that they're wrong in this case. The only thing they can have going for Bradley is that in the second half of the fight he threw more punches at the beginning of rounds. But if you consider 'ring generalship' it was surely Pacquiao's (which is a factor for judging) purely because the fight was going his way and he was generally controlling the centre of the ring. A few times he backed Bradley up into the corner or the ropes which is unusual for someone of Pacquiao's size.

I don't think Pacquiao was troubled by 1 of Bradley's shots. He was getting the left hook over the top on the counter occasionally, but that was about it. In the first 3 or 4 rounds, Bradley was wobbled by big left hands, which admittedly stopped landing in the second half of the fight. When it comes to boxing we have to remember it's 12 short 3 minute fights, not 1 long 36 minute one. Still though, I find those score cards disturbing. The Marquez one was definitely similar, although I'm sure people will make much bigger of a fuss of this seeing pacquiao was on the wrong end of it. It's funny how they tried to justify that one, but are condemning this one.

On Arum - he did moan about the decision in the presser, but he's so ****ing crooked, he'd have anticipated it even if he did organise it, then make it look like he was upset by it regardless. I don't think Bradley think he won, he looked pretty sad afterwards, and he had no conviction saying he had to look at a tape to see if he really did win. Most boxing journalists, Don Rafael etc had Bradley losing, even his manager and the crowd. Don't really know what to think, but anyway that's the way it goes.

[Shaggy]

Another nail in boxing's coffin.

[Imy]

On reflection, Bradley may have won the first round and the last three (and possibly one of the middle rounds where Manny was taking a breather). Thus the 115-113 to Manny would be correct.

However all the accurate shots and power shots came from Manny in pretty much every round, Bradley looked busy but since when has Boxing been about being busy?

[Bender]

BBC
Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title to Timothy Bradley after a highly controversial split points decision in Las Vegas.
Despite landing 94 more punches, the Philippines fighter was beaten for the first time in seven years after two judges scored the bout 115-113 in the undefeated American's favour.
The other judge at the MGM Grand had Pacquiao ahead by the same margin.
The decision was roundly booed and a rematch looks likely later this year.
"I thought I won," said Bradley, who had displayed his confidence by having oversized tickets printed for a rematch on 10 November.
"I didn't think he was as good as everyone says he was. I didn't feel his power."

..................
Bradley enjoyed his best moments of the fight in the last three rounds yet the crowd reacted angrily and began to jeer when the judges returned their verdicts.
"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.'"
Pacquiao said he was shocked by the verdict: "I did my best [but] I guess my best wasn't good enough.
"He never hurt me with his punches, most of them landed on my arms," Pacquiao said.
Arum, who has contracts with both fighters, said: "I'm going to make a lot of money on the rematch, but this [decision] was outrageous."
Britain's Amir Khan was at ringside and likened the outcome to his own experience late last year when he lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles to Lamont Peterson in a contentious points decision in Washington.
"I was commentating on the fight and I was shocked more than anything," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "Manny won the fight clearly - I gave him it by at least eight points.
"The same thing happened to me when I fought Peterson. I met Manny backstage and he said: 'I'm not hurt, I'm fine. He didn't do anything in the fight for the judges to have him winning.'
"Manny has had a tough career and he's not been boxing as well as he should be in his last few fights, but everyone in that arena thought he won that fight.
"I only gave Bradley a couple of rounds and they were very close. I had Manny winning at least 8-4," he continued.
"I was sat with all the press people and when they put the mic to Bradley everyone started booing and throwing drinks.
"Manny was still smiling as always. He had no marks at all apart from maybe a gash on his eye, but that was a headbutt."
Khan, who fights American Danny Garcia in Los Angeles for the WBC light-welterweight title on 14 July, has again targeted a bout with Bradley.
"We've offered the fight to Bradley twice before and he's turned us down twice," Khan said.
"He did mention this week he wants to fight Amir Khan, I'm ready to get this fight on. This is only going to make me train harder because once you let things go to the judges you can lose fights.
"This is the third time I'm offering the fight to him so let's see what happens."

[Zapater]

On reflection, Bradley may have won the first round and the last three (and possibly one of the middle rounds where Manny was taking a breather). Thus the 115-113 to Manny would be correct.

However all the accurate shots and power shots came from Manny in pretty much every round, Bradley looked busy but since when has Boxing been about being busy?

That's being very generous. Using that logic, Haye beat Klitschko or at least merited a split decision because for me that was a more competitive fight and he was statistically better.

[Gibbo]

Absolutely disgusting decision.

Manny ****ing battered him.

I also think this has killed off any chance of Mayweather Vs Pacquiao now.

[RichC]

If this is accurate, it certainly looks dodgy

[Bender]

Absolutely disgusting decision.

Manny ****ing battered him.

I also think this has killed off any chance of Mayweather Vs Pacquiao now.

this needed to happen years ago if it was going to happen

[RichC]

Absolutely disgusting decision.

Manny ****ing battered him.

I also think this has killed off any chance of Mayweather Vs Pacquiao now.

I don't think he battered him but he didn't deserve to lose.

I expect the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight to take place still, it just puts Mayweather the driving seat in terms of whatever deals to make it happen need to take place.

[marcus50bucks]

Do you know what, I have since watched it again. The last 5 or so rounds were quite close and in my opinion theres a case for Bradley winning most of them. For me Manny seemed to take his foot of the pedal after six rounds. I still think Manny won but at the same time HBO'S scorecard were ridiculous. On reflection there's noway Manny won the fight by the margin they said he won.

I recommend people watch the fight again only this time mute your telly especially if you had hbo or primetime (they were pro Manny) commentary.

[Gibbo]

I don't think he battered him but he didn't deserve to lose.

I expect the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight to take place still, it just puts Mayweather the driving seat in terms of whatever deals to make it happen need to take place.

I don't know, Bradley looked staggered several times and Manny from about the third or forth round just dominated, Bradley wasn't throwing anything with conviction and Manny if he tried a bit harder could have landed at will.

Maybe he wasn't battered in a physical sense but I only think you could give 2 maybe 3 rounds to Bradley.

It needs to happen soon, both fighters will be in zimmer frames by the time it happens at this rate.