Philippines, 19 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Why the fight was not even close


PhilBoxing.com




A MAJOR principle in the rule book for international boxing judges states that the scoring of drawn (even) rounds should be discouraged. If both protagonists failed to engage and land punches, the man who made the better defensive maneuvers, who displayed commendable ring generalship should be given the (blank) round.

This was stressed by the late Dr. Jose Sulaiman when he presided over as president of the World Boxing Council in an international boxing convention in Bangkok, Thailand in 1994.
This item would be explained in detail by the late lawyer Rodrigo Salud, founding WBC secretary-general, who wrote the council?s constitution and by-laws and crafted its rules and regulations.

Veteran international referee Bruce McTavish yesterday confirmed that this rule is still very much in effect in world boxing.

**

At first glance, this rule would sound limp, or self-defeating as it could tend to encourage cheap evasiveness inside the ring.
On closer look though, the rule should more significantly help develop sharper ring craft and science, if not totally deviate from useless savagery.

Anyway, this item in the world boxing rule book is being revisited here in order to help enlighten people who continued to wonder how Floyd Mayweather Jr. could?ve won over Manny Pacquiao when all the flamboyant American world welterweight boxing king did was run, run, and run.

**

Majority of Filipino fans were perplexed after Mayweather, the better all-around warrior, was declared winner by unanimous decision. This disbelief would be aggravated and there would be hissing protests after Pacquiao, the loser, claimed on top of the ring that he thought he had won.

This reporter had to explain to puzzled neighbors, who were able to watch the fight free on wide-screen television courtesy of Barangay Vergara (Mandaluyong) Captain Topet Mendiola, that the bout was decided on the clear number of punches scored, all-around sharpness, and floor control.

Pacquiao, intense and grim, did appear very heroic and was always on a fierce chase.

Mayweather, on the other hand, proved wholly superior in craft and overall competence, mainly in defense.

**

In the opening round alone, Mayweather, whom Pacquiao had initially thought would run or avoid confrontation, dropped a bomb by taking on his foe at midring, landing at least three clear shots, to take the first. Mayweather, who would dominate the next two rounds, was cornered and tagged with a killer left in the fourth round. He was able to take cover and cower his way out. This would be the only instance when he had to scamper stiff, awkwardly.

Mayweather, who would also lose the seventh round, did battle, and prevailed through tested classy defense, sliding out of harm?s way by the skin of his teeth, an unaccomodating stand which Pacquiao fans found shallow and boring.

There, of course, was not a single moment when he was observed to have run away, or turn his back on his opponent. While he would not always score big, he quietly piled points with nifty counter-punching, at the same time making the over-eager Pacquiao paw and punish the air repeatedly.

**

It was not an exciting way to win, but the fight failed to live up to expectations because the other side, who came raring to do a power grab, also did not have ample sharp ammunition.

The official computerized count of thrown and landed punches showed Mayweather as the clear unanimous winner.

Maybe Pacquiao would realize later it was not even close, the reason he recapitulated and admitted he had lost to the better boxer.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.