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Manny Pacquiao punches at Timothy Bradley Jr. during their WBO welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, June 9, 2012. Bradley won a controversial split decision.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 | 5:02 p.m.
Harry Reid
Manny Pacquiao’s controversial loss to Timothy Bradley Saturday night inspired accusations of fraud, a call for an official state investigation, and now, a push for federal legislation.
Nevada Sen. Harry Reid told reporters on Tuesday he would revisit a long-standing boxing bill he’s worked on in the past with Arizona Sen. John McCain.
“Maybe this will be the impetus for Sen. McCain and I to get back and work on it again,” Reid said.
The bill is a nearly decade-old venture spearheaded by McCain to regulate boxing much like other professional sports. It would require uniform health and safety standards, common ranking criteria, and a commissioner to head an envisioned United States Boxing Commission and set rules and standards.
But there was always serious pushback from boxing promoters, including Pacquaio’s booster, Bob Arum.
While the bill has made headway and has even passed a few times in the Senate, it’s never been considered in the House.
If Reid and McCain decide to resurrect the effort, it’s not exactly clear what it would look like.
A spokesman for McCain said he “is considering reintroducing” boxing legislation and that “he too considers that latest decision (in the Pacquaio-Bradley fight) another black mark on the reputation of boxing.”
Reid is a Pacquaio fan, but while he was in Las Vegas over the weekend, he didn’t make Saturday’s fight. Instead, he raced home after the Democratic Party convention to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
But as a former athletic commissioner and boxing judge, he declined the opportunity to pile criticism on the controversial decision.
“From all the reports I’ve seen by people on the outside who saw the fight...Pacquiao won,” Reid said. “I judged fights. Championship fights. It’s hard to do. It’s an inexact science.”
“I am confident there was nothing untoward,” Reid said, mentioning that he had a close friend who was judging Saturday night. “I think people just make bad decisions in a lot of things they do, including judging fights. But it doesn’t hurt to clear the air and take a look at this.”
Reid gave a rather laissez-faire endorsement to the idea of having Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto conduct a state investigation. “I feel confident there’s been nothing untoward, but if an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation,” he said.
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This how it works when you are Harry's friend and you don't finish off an opponent. THE FEDS WILL.
This is a true waste of the Nation's time. No wonder we are sinking into the abyss.
As a casual observer of boxing, it has been a long held belief that the challenger in a championship bout must win decisively or by knockout to take the belt from the champion. There was no knockout and the ultimate decision was less than unanimous. The real problem lies in the fact that the promoter of the bout was, and is, the promoter of BOTH FIGHTERS. Promoter Bob Arum is already distancing himself from this travesty, as he should. As a side note, Floyd Mayweather is already trying to get out of jail after only 12 days of his sentence, citing cruel confinement. What an a-hole. His plan is to promote himself, as usual, and fight the so-called new "champion". What a farce.
Harry Reid is such a tool. Boxing is totally rigged you idiot.
As a registered Dem (who is not a fan of Sen. Reid), I have to call BS. Legislation to prevent boxing from being cooked? How about we worry about job creation...or preventing my student loan interest rates from quadrupling....or protecting my preventative health screenings...or my landlord from going into foreclosure first? Any number of things.
This feels like a cooked NV Dems diversion stunt, which is just pathetic given the more pressing issues here in Las Vegas. *LOOK HERE* *NOT THERE*
Yes, by all means!
A new Cabinet level department at the very least reporting daily directly to the President is the absolute minumum this crisis deserves.
Not since 9/11 has the country faced a crisis of THIS magnitude.
(Maybe Angle wasn't the only nutcase in the last election)
Typical Harry Reid! No such thing as voter fraud, but we better investigate fraud in the boxing ring! Harry displays all the symptoms of being punch-drunk.
Hopefully the fix is overturned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZES3eHJ...
Budget Harry! How about the BUDGET!!!!!
Trying to enforce legislation for boxing is like trying to convince feral cats not to breed. Good luck with that.
@ TEA (Mark Traeger)
I would agree with you. Thinking that Liberals actually do stick their nose into everything is indeed as you say the most pathetic, false ideology that any person could have. Good catch.
Of course what you didn't catch is that former Republican Presidential nominee John McCain was actually the one that spearheaded this bill...
Harry's priorities - self-enrichment, boxing and bullet trains to nowhere.
Ried's legacy of corruption goes back to his days on the gaming commission and Tony Spilotro
Sen. Harry Reid should focus his intentions on the real problems facing the USA. Stop proposing, and get something worthwhile done. Take that for action!
I love Harry, this guy would propose legislation on pigeon waste if it bring him attention. Get to work Sir! We need real 40 hour per week jobs!