With an overwhelming majority of the media judging Manny Pacquiao the winner against Timothy Bradley (myself included) in Las Vegas a few nights ago, a second viewing of their fight seemed warranted. Pacquiao?s involvement in another controversial decision, a win over Juan Manual Marquez last November, had many fans feeling Bradley’s shocking victory was payback. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach broached the subject after the fight.
“I’m not sure if our last fight had something to do with that,” Roach said. “That was a very close fight and maybe controversial, but I thought Manny won that. Did they hold that against us? I’m not sure.”
In 1999, Lennox Lewis dominated Evander Holyfield over 12-rounds. The decision seemed obvious to everyone in attendance and watching on cable. Well, almost everyone. The three judges called the fight a draw. The commentators were dumbfounded. They all had Lewis way ahead. The decision caused many fans to scream fix and call for an immediate investigation.
Any of this sound familiar?
Las Vegas has had it?s share of bad decisions. Many had Oscar De La Hoya winning his rematch against Shane Mosley and losing his next fight against Felix Strum – except the judges, who saw it the opposite way.
Nobody can accuse Floyd Mayweather Sr. of being a Manny Pacquiao fan. Even he was shocked by the verdict.
?I feel like Pacquiao won the fight but I?m not going to sugarcoat nothing,? said Mayweather to boxingscene?s Ryan Burton.
Newly-crowned light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson also ventured an opinion.
?Oh man, I had Pacquiao winning six of the first seven rounds,? said Dawson during a telephone interview for his upcoming bout with Andre Ward. ?I had to leave after eight rounds to catch a flight home. People started calling me telling me that Bradley had won. I didn?t believe them.?
On the other hand, respected boxing historian Thomas Hauser judged Bradley the winner according to an article by Ryan Maquinana.
Nevertheless ringside judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross saw Bradley winning by the identical scores of 115-113. Their tallies overruled judge Jerry Roth who had Pacquiao winning 115-113.
Punching stats compiled by Compubox showed Pacquiao landing 259 punches to 153 for Bradley. Pacquiao landed more punches in 10 of the 12 rounds. But boxing statistics are subjective, compiled by two people watching the fight and counting the punches landed – at least the ones they think landed.
The following sketches are highlights, not blow-by-blow descriptions of the event. The style of writing is a throwback to the way bouts were reported 90 years ago.
So, without further fanfare, lets roll the tape…
Round 1:
Bradley throws the first punch but misses. The two (traded) trade body shots in the first thirty seconds. Pacquiao the aggressor. A Bradley right is blocked by Pacquiao. Bradley using his jab as a range finder. Bradley lands a left to the body. Pacquiao connects with two left hands near the end of the round.
Obervation: The pattern is set in the first round. Bradley throws more punches, but Pacquiao lands a higher percentage.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Round 2:
Bradley still probing with his jab, but not connecting. Pacquiao lands a left hand 18 seconds into the round. Pacquiao lands another left at the 1:42 mark. Pacquiao jab clips Bradley who drives Pacquaio to the ropes. Bradley lands a left while Pacquiao misses with a counter.
Observation: A toss-up round. Bradley?s solid left wins the round. He out hustled Pacquiao by a smidgen.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Bradley
Bradley had thrown 71 MORE punches 17 percent connect rate according to Compubox. Pacquiao had landed 29 punches to 25 for Bradley.
Round 3:
Bradley lands a straight right to the body. He also connects with a left. Pacquiao stings Bradley with a jab. Pacquiao lands a left to the head and right to the body. Bradley counters with a right to the breadbasket.
Two jabs by Pacquiao and a left near the end of the round knock Bradley off-balance.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Comments: All three ringside judges had Pacquiao winning two of the first three rounds.
Round 4:
Bradley lands two body blows 20 seconds into the round. Pacquiao lands two right hands. Bradley dings Pacquiao with a lead right and blocks a follow-up right. He also ducks away from a Pacquiao combination. Pacquiao lands two jabs and opens up. A combination by Pacquiao connects. Bradley lands a hard right at the bell. First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Observation: Pacquiao is making the fight. He?s more aggressive and landing harder shots. Bradley?s right at the bell was his best punch of the fight. Pacquiao landed 21 power punches in round four.
Round 5:
Pacquiao stalking Bradley. He lands a body shot. Bradley still throwing light jabs. A harder jab does connect to Pacquiao?s chin. Pacquiao lands to the body. Bradley backing away and jabbing. Pacquiao lands a hard left and flurries. Bradley counter connects.
A close round. Pacquiao threw the harder punches. His aggressiveness gives him the edge. Bradley a little behind.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second viewing: Pacquiao
Comments: Judge Jerry Roth had Pacquiao winning rounds four and five. Judges C.J. Ross and Duane Ford had Bradley winning round five.
Round 6:
Bradley begins the round by throwing out that picky jab. Pacquiao is coasting at times during the first minute of each round. Pacquiao stalking but not throwing punches. Half-way through the round he lands a jab and left hand. Bradley lands his own right. Pacquiao clips Bradley on the chin with a right of his own. Bradley lands a hard shot to the body of Pacquiao. A Bradley combination lands to the body. Pacquiao knocks Bradley back with a hard left.
Bradley wins the round on sheer volume and determination.
First viewing: Bradley
Second look: Bradley
Doghouse scorecard: Pacquiao leads four rounds to two.
Round 7:
Bradley misses with a combination. He lands a right to the body. Pacquiao connects with two jabs at 1:30 mark of the round. Pacquiao lands three snappy lefts that get Bradley?s attention. The California native lands two rights of his own. Both fighter land glancing blows at the bell.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Observation: Another relatively close round, but Pacquiao the more active fighter.
Round 8:
Bradley jabs to Pacquiao?s body. He lands a good left hook. Pacquiao connects with a combination. Bradley lands a right against the ropes. Pacquiao utilizes his jab. He lands another right and left near the end of the round.
The first two minutes were even, but Pacquiao landed hard a right and jab at the bell.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Judges C.J. Ross and Duane Ford gave Bradley rounds seven and eight.
Doghouse scorecard: Pacquiao has won six rounds, Bradley two.
Round 9:
Bradley digs a left hook into Pacquiao?s hip. Bradley taps Pacquiao with his jab. The punches aren?t hard, but they get points. Pacquiao lands a left. Bradley works the body of Pacquiao. He lands a uppercut and left hand. Pacquiao misses a combination, but connects with two jabs. His left hand clips Bradley?s chin.
Compubox showed Pacquiao connecting with 22 punches, Bradley 21.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Round 10:
Bradley lands a good left followed by a jab. Pacquiao fires a combination. Bradley connects with a right hand and two lefts. He smoothers Paquiao and connects with his jab. Another left at the bell.
First viewing: Bradley
Second look: Bradley
Observation: Bradley won the round with activity, volume, and effectiveness.
All three judges gave the round to Bradley.
Round 11:
Bradley continues to jab. Pacquiao, after being extolled by trainer Freddie Roach, lands a sharp combination. Bradley?s jab is more effective. Pacquiao lands two lefts and a right. Bradley still working the body.
First viewing: Pacquiao
Second look: Pacquiao
Pacquiao landed 21 punches to 15 for Bradley according to Compubox.
Doghouse scorecard: Pacquiao eight rounds, Bradley three.
Round 12:
Bradley throws a hard combination that is blocked by Pacquiao. He does connect with three jabs to the body. Pacquiao lands a right, but is coasting. Two more jabs by Bradley, followed by a right. The fighters trade lefts at the bell.
First viewing: Bradley
Second look: Bradley
Final observations: A second viewing of the fight convinced this writer of two things. Pacquiao still won the fight, but a few of the rounds were closer. Bradley is effective in ways that are difficult to perceive. Pacquiao was the harder puncher throughout. His coasting at times cost him. However, he still deserved the verdict based on harder and effective punching.
First viewing scoring: 117-111 Pacquaio.
Second look: 116-112
Let the discussion continue…
