Former WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley must have recalled how fight fans reacted to his controversial victory over Manny Pacquiao in their first encounter back in 2012 after the judges ruled a draw verdict in his fight against Diego Chaves.
Like Pacquiao, he did not question the decision of the judges but he thought he won the fight by majority or even a unanimous decision. “I thought I won at least eight rounds,” said Bradley, with ringside media overwhelmingly favoring him by wide scorecards. “I’m not going to say it was horrible, but I’m not a judge. I maybe give him four rounds [won], max five. I was landing clean punches and felt like I won the fight,” ESPN’s Dan Rafael quoted Bradley in his report. Bradley knew he won the fight even before the judges decision was announced and was surprised to know that it was ruled a split draw. In his mind, Bradley might have thought that judges decisions are unpredictable and what happened to Pacquiao in their first fight could also happen to him and this time it did. Bradley knows that contesting the verdict is futile because judges’ decisions are final. Bradleys promoter Bob Arum was exasperated with what he called an insane decision by one of the judges saying she should not be allowed to judge fights in Las Vegas anymore. ?This was as bad as the decision in the first Pacquiao-Bradley fight,? Arum said. ?Julie Lederman should never be allowed to judge a fight here again. Her scorecard was a disgrace. The real problem is the disparity in the scoring. It makes all of us look insane.? Judge Craig Metcalfe scored the fight a draw at 114-114. Lederman saw Chaves winning 116-112 while Burt Clemens gave it to Bradley 115-113 for split draw. Bradley, who suffered a swollen eye due to accidental headbut said he wiil consult his wife who acts as his manager as well as his trainers and see what lies ahead.
