Bobby Pacquiao scored a controversial 10 round split decision points win over former IBF super-featherweight champion Carlos Hernandez at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The 34 year old appeared to have done enough to clinch the decision in this 10 round world title eliminator despite being knocked down in the second round but two judges scored for the Filipino by 95-94 and 95-93 while the third judge saw Hernandez the winner by 97-92.
Pacquiao started positively, by sticking out his southpaw jab to set up the right hand, which served him well to take the opening round. The second round was even more impressive for Pacquiao as he found Hernandez even easier to hit. The Filipino brother of the more celebrated Manny Pacquiao, impressed with his speed, which caused Hernandez no end of trouble. More trouble came two minutes into the round when Hernandez was sensationally floored with a short left hand. Hernandez was clearly hurt but rose at the count of eight and like the true battler that he is, fought his way back well to survive the round.
Pacquiao could have been forgiven for thinking he had the fight in the bag going into the third session but Hernandez being the true warrior that he is, came storming back to turn the fight around full circle by hurting the now confident Pacquiao with a series of combinations and sustained pressure.
Hernandez came out in determined mood in the fourth round as he stalked the back tracking Filipino. After such an explosive start to the contest the pace understandably slowed as Pacquiao regrouped. Hernandez’s experience was clearly evident as he picked his punches better to gradually wear the young 24 year-old down and again finish the round in front.
The 34 year-old former IBF super-featherweight champion again applied sustained pressure on the young pretender in the fifth round. But Pacquiao settled down to box more and appeared to be more effective. Pacquiao elected to jab and move in the sixth round as Hernandez attempted draw the 24 year-old into standing and trading and the tactics appeared to be working as the pace slowed. Both men came out punching in the seventh round as the fight developed into an untidy scrap. Hernandez hurt Pacquiao with a right uppercut and piled on the pressure as Pacquiao’s defence started to desert him. Hernandez’s round.
Pacquiao, the younger man by 10 years again started the eighth round fast but Hernandez again kept marching forward and was the busier and threw the more eye catching punches. Much like the previous two rounds, Pacquiao started the round positively but it was the battle hardened Hernandez, who finished the stronger. The ninth round was difficult to score as both men traded on equal terms but again it was Hernandez that just managed to finished the round with his nose in front. The tenth and final round saw the Filipino southpaw come out fast, thinking he was behind on the judges cards and looking for the big punch that floored Hernandez in the second round.
Pacquiao may have got the decision but Hernandez always looked the stronger more dominant of the two and can count himself very unfortunate not to get the decision. For the record SecondsOut scored the bout 97-94 to Hernandez.
