Philippines, 09 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao mourns Sen. McCain's death


PhilBoxing.com



John McCain.

Filipino boxing great and now Senator Manny Pacquiao joined the family of the late U.S. Senator John McCain and the American people in mourning the death of the Arizona lawmaker.

Sen. McCain, a noted politician-sportsman, former presidential candidate and former naval aviator, passed away on Saturday of brain cancer. He was 81.

?Sen. McCain is a strong supporter of sports, particularly boxing. His death is a big loss, not only to boxing, but sports as a whole,? the eight-division champion and current WBA belt-owner said in paying tribute to his fallen fellow lawmaker.

?I join his family, the American people and the entire sports community, particularly the boxing world, in mourning his death,? Pacquiao told this writer in a long distance call.

Sen. McCain, who fought as an amateur while at the U.S Naval Academy, is remembered as one of the many who raised a loud howl after Pacquiao?s controversial split decision loss to then undefeated Timothy Bradley in the first of the two fighters? trilogy on June 9, 2012.

Two of the judges who worked the welterweight fight submitted identical 115-113 for Bradley, while the other scored it 115-113 for Pacquiao, that caused the Filipino to lose his 147-pound WBO crown.

So enraged was the public?s outcry that Bradley?s disputed win became one of the most controversial decisions in the history of boxing, forcing WBO president Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel to create an independent five-man panel of judges to review the decision.

The results of the review of the judges, who were all accomplished with world title experience, saw Pacquiao the winner by a unanimous 118-110, 117-111, 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

The controversy even reached the hall of the U.S. Senate with McCain and Nevada counterpart Majority Leader Harry Reid, a former middleweight fighter himself, filing a bill calling for the establishment of a U.S. Boxing Commission to oversee all matches in the United States and restore integrity to the sport of sweet science.

Under the proposed legislation, all referees and judges participating in a championship or a professional fight lasting 10 rounds or more would have to be fully registered and licensed by the commission. A sanctioning organization could provide the names of judges and referees it considers qualified for that caliber bout, but only the commission could appoint judges and referees to participate in the matches.

Speaking on the Senate floor, McCain invoked the words of former sportswriter Jimmy Cannon, who called boxing the ?red light of sports.?

McCain, who also authored the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 1998, said the recent dispute stemming from the welterweight bout between Bradley and Pacquiao ?is the latest example of the legitimate distrust boxing fans have for the integrity of the sport.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Concludes World Boxing Cup Astana 2025 with Silver Medal
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • GM Gonzales finishes second in Penang Makruk chess meet, pockets silver medal
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 07 Jul 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 10 - ALI WINS OVER PATTERSON, EVADES VIETNAM WAR DRAFT
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Jack Catterall Defeats Harlem Eubank Via Technical Decision After Fight Stopped Early Due to Cuts
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Good Fortune for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Rimar Metuda Bows to Kuntae Lee in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • BA President Umar Kremlev makes heavyweight icon Tyson Fury an offer for ‘beautiful farewell fight’ for IBA heavyweight title
    , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to Gold Medal Bout at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 06 Jul 2025
  • Catterall vs Eubank: Jack’s Experience Gap Too Wide?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane Advances to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM MANCHESTER: CATTERALL - 146.5 LBS., EUBANK - 146.5 LBS.
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Vincent Astrolabio in LA training alongside Manny Pacquiao
    By Ace Freeman, , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Jason Sanchez Upsets Previously Undefeated Julian Gonzalez in Philly
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • Meatball Launches Boxing Career With Matchroom
    , Sat, 05 Jul 2025
  • The Queens of Philippine Boxing are Training in Cebu
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Raising the Game: Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Unmatched Impact on Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • GM Eugene Torre to grace the Asenso Ozamis Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 Jul 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.