Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters of all time, but even legends aren’t immune to boxing’s darkest habit, bad judging.
Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Pacquiao has been on the wrong end of several high-profile decisions that left fans, analysts, and even his opponents’ fans scratching their heads.
As the dust settles on another controversial verdict in 2025, World Boxing News looks back at four blatant nights when the judges robbed Pacquiao.
The other against Floyd Mayweather in 2015, WBN carded the result 116-112 for Floyd, a decision that never seemed to be in doubt.
However, Pacquiao has consistently maintained his claim that he won the fight, which CompuBox stats support in certain aspects.
Five Debated Pacquiao Losses 1. Agapito Sanchez | November 10, 2001 | Draw (Ric Bays 58-54 Raul Caiz Sr 55-57 Marshall Walker 56-56)
In just his second U.S. appearance, Pacquiao faced the rugged Agapito Sanchez in a WBO and IBF super bantamweight unification at the MGM Grand. What transpired was one of the dirtiest fights of the era.
Sanchez repeatedly fouled Pacquiao, including multiple low blows and a deliberate headbutt that opened a deep gash above Pacquiao’s eye.
Doctors stopped the fight after six rounds due to the cut. But rather than disqualifying Sanchez or awarding a technical decision win to Pacquiao, who dominated the action, the judges scored it a split draw.
Even HBO’s commentators were stunned. “It’s hard to understand how Sanchez can foul his way through the fight and not lose,” said Jim Lampley.
Pacquiao cut Sanchez HBO Top Rank / HBO 2. Timothy Bradley | June 9, 2012 | Split Decision (Duane Ford 113-115 CJ Ross 113-115 Jerry Roth 115-113)
WBN Score: 118-110 Pacquiao
The decision that made boxing a global laughingstock.
Pacquiao outlanded Timothy Bradley in ten of twelve rounds, controlled the pace, and stunned the American repeatedly.
Most observers, including nearly every ringside journalist, scored for Pacquiao. Yet somehow, two of the three judges awarded the bout to Bradley, handing Pacquiao his first official loss in seven years.
The outrage was so severe WBN initially refused to call it a loss for Pacquiao. Top Rank’s promoter Bob Arum declared: “I’m ashamed for the sport.”
A WBO judges review saw all five score for Pacquiao.
3. Floyd Mayweather | May 2, 2015 | Unanimous Decision (Burt A Clements 112-116 Glenn Feldman 112-116 Dave Moretti 110-118)
WBN Score: 116-112 Mayweather
Billed as the “Fight of the Century,” Pacquiao finally met his longtime rival Floyd Mayweather in a mega-fight that shattered pay-per-view records.
What transpired was a tactical affair that left many unsatisfied.
Despite Mayweather’s edge in clean jabs, Pacquiao landed the harder punches and seemed to win several of the middle rounds. More tellingly, CompuBox stats showed Pacquiao outthrew Mayweather in power punches.
However, all three judges correctly handed Mayweather a wide unanimous decision.
After the fight, Pacquiao revealed he had torn his right shoulder before the bout—raising questions about whether the fight should’ve even gone ahead, and how much that affected the result.
Even before his fight with Mario Barrios in 2025, Pacquiao said, “I still think I won that fight.”
Mayweather vs Pacquiao Hall of Fame Naoki Fukuda 4. Jeff Horn | July 2, 2017 | Unanimous Decision (Ramon Cerdan 113-115 Chris Flores 113-115 Waleska Roldan 111-117)
WBN Score: 116-111 Pacquiao
In a bout that drew over 50,000 fans in Brisbane, Many expected Pacquiao to make quick work of unknown Australian Jeff Horn.
Instead, the judges gifted Horn a unanimous decision that stunned the boxing world.
Pacquiao nearly stopped Horn in round nine and outclassed him over the second half of the fight, yet the hometown hero somehow walked away with the WBO welterweight title.
A special WBO review panel later rescored the fight round-by-round using five independent judges. The result? Upheld for Horn. Even with that, the stench of a hometown robbery never faded.
5. Mario Barrios | July 19, 2025 | Draw (Tim Cheatham 114-114 Max DeLuca 113-115 Steve Weisfeld 114-114)
WBN Score: 115-113 Pacquiao
At 46, Pacquiao stunned the world again when he stepped back into the ring to face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.
Most observers expected a ceremonial farewell, but Pacquiao came to win.
The Filipino legend consistently landed the cleaner punches, controlled the pace, and had Barrios backing up. When the final bell rang, many believed Pacquiao had pulled off the impossible—winning a world title at 46.
Instead, the judges handed Barrios a draw. Even neutral commentators had Pacquiao winning by two or three rounds.
Despite these five blemishes on his record, Manny Pacquiao’s greatness has never been in question. Fans know what they saw. History will remember what he did.
Unfortunately, the judges didn’t always get the memo.
