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Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines reacts after losing his WBO welterweight title fight against Timothy Bradley Jr. of the U.S. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, June 9, 2012. Pacquiao lost by split decision.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Bob Arum
Pacquiao loses controversial decision
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KSNV coverage of Manny Pacquiao's loss to Timothy Bradley, June 9, 2012.
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Bob Arum is changing his tune about a potential rematch fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.
In the post-fight press conference Saturday following Bradley’s controversial split decision victory against Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title, Arum told Pacquiao he would fulfill the Filipino boxer’s wishes and promote a rematch fight.
Monday night, Arum adamantly said Pacquiao-Bradley II is an unlikely option. Arum’s Top Rank promotes both fighters.
“I don’t want to do a rematch,” Arum said. “This fight was a one-sided fight. If it had been scored properly — 10-2 or 9-3 — who would be asking for a rematch? Nobody. Just because these officials screwed up, that doesn’t justify a rematch.”
Several observers scored the fight heavily in favor of Pacquiao, but when the bout went to the judges’ scorecards for the decision, the result was shocking. All three scored it 115-113, with C.J. Ross and Duane Ford ruling in favor of Bradley for the unlikely win. It snapped a seven-year, 15-fight winning streak for Pacquiao.
The decision is being classified as one of the worst in boxing history, and Arum repeatedly said he was ashamed for the sport. Some 36 hours later, he still was outraged.
“I absolutely still feel the same way. That’s ridiculous,” he said.
Bradley made headlines last week during the pre-fight promotion by holding an oversized ticket for a rematch on Nov. 10, showing confidence he was going to beat Pacquiao and trigger the rematch clause. But, as Arum explained Monday, Pacquiao isn’t contractually obligated to take the rematch. This despite Pacquiao saying he would be interested.
“That makes me I think I have to become a warrior in the right for this rematch,” Pacquiao said Saturday after Arum said he would do the rematch. “In the rematch, my thinking is I don’t want to finish the whole 12 rounds.”
If Arum has his way, he would have Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 10. A fight with Mayweather, who is currently serving an 87-day jail sentence for domestic violence, is much anticipated and would arguably be a fight of the decade — well, if both sides could finally comes to terms after several failures on agreeing how to split money and drug-testing methods.
A fight against Marquez, which would be ideal in the interim if Mayweather can’t be in fighting shape by November, would be the fourth meeting between the two and appealing because of how close the three previous fights were. Last fall, Pacquiao took a majority decision in a fight that went back and forth.
That wasn’t the case Saturday against Bradley.
While Bradley can be credited with fighting from start to finish, and possibly stealing some late rounds, several feel he didn’t come close to earning the win.
Pacquiao, who closed as a 4-to-1 betting favorite, landed 34 percent of his 751 punches while Bradley landed just 19 percent of his 839 punches. Pacquiao landed 190 power punches and Bradley landed 108, and Pacquiao landed more punches in 10 of 12 rounds.
Arum said he could pair several fighters against Bradley, including the winner of July’s Amir Khan-Danny Garcia bout.
The outrage from fans is something Arum hasn’t seen in his lengthy promoting career. The Top Rank offices in Las Vegas were flooded Monday with phone calls from upset fans looking for a refund on their pay-per-view buy. Arum said those fans were directed to field their complaints with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“It’s unbelievable. They were calling from all over the country looking for a refund,” he said.
Also Monday, Arum submitted a formal request to the Nevada attorney general’s office for a complete inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the scoring. He requested to be interviewed as part of the inquiry to clear his name from wrongdoing or conspiracy theorists speculating he was behind the decision.
“I asked them to investigate my involvement as a promoter. I want them to take my testimony,” he said.
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
The fight was obviously fixed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZES3eHJ...
As much as I may agree on with his premise...
Bob Arum; not exactly a paragon of virtue.
Bradley needs to return the belt; it will be good for his karma. There needs to be an investigation; it wasn't even close. I saw a poll online and 98% agreed Pacquiao won; I have never seen so many people agree on one thing. One of the blind judges, Judge Ford, explained why he picked Bradley and his reasons don't make sense. He said Pacquiao was throwin a lot of wild shots, but the stats clearly show something different. www.change.org/petition
just search Pacquiao and sign; we need to right this wrong- total nonsense!
Are you kidding? Bob Arum needs the rematch! I repeat, BOB ARUM N-E-E-D-S this rematch! This guy is promoting the fight with his words in the article---NOW!
Look! People who know are not stupid! Bob Arum owns both fighter. Manny owes Bob money. Had Manny be awarded the fight over Bradley, Bob wouldn't have another fight. Floyd will not fight Manny because of Bob. This is a move by Arum. He has to look as if he is upset...Please!
Any writer willing to investigate this fight will have the facts. Write the facts about Arum.
To decrypt Arum:
After thinking about it I can make more money off Bradley by keeping him away from Manny. I will continue to try to match Manny vs. Floyd and Marquez and make even more money.
Comment removed by moderator. ALL CAPS
The rematch would be a financial bust. The fight on Saturday night was B - O - R - I - N - G.
One of the few in-between-rounds highlights was Bradley twisting his ankle because they had nothing else to show.
Bradley was rolled out in a wheelchair.
Pacman even won all the points landed and power punches. I guess those points don't matter?
Boxing should be outlawed in Nevada. UFC is the future and they truely Throw Down on each other not wearing pillows for gloves. That is how I see it
Floyd could beat Bradley 1 day after getting out of jail without any training. Manny, maybe not.
The UFC is the future? What's next, Demetrious and the Gladiators? Fight to the death? The UFC is not a sport, but rather an exhibition for the lower classes. Who better to exploit the masses with low class entertainment than the kings of low class, the Fertittas and Dana White.
Hopefully the fix is overturned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDZES3eHJ...
Get ready for a second recession in Vegas. With Arum refusing to promote a Pacquiao-Bradley re-match and Mayweather being a comatose vegetable by the time he gets out of jail, the economy in Vegas will be dead. Or so they want us to believe.