Imagine standing at a crime scene where a robbery took place. Three witnesses are interviewed; one says the perpetrator wore vertical stripes, the other said they were horizontal while the last says he was dressed in full clown regalia.
That’s what it was like watching Pierre Benoist’s scorecard come across in the Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez bout this weekend. And it all the makings of a robbery and circus, combined.
In what was a one-round contest, at best, Benoist gave 9-of-12 rounds on his card to Williams. The other judges scored the bout a 114-114 tie and 115-113 in favor of Williams.
HBO analyst Jim Lampley instantly described the decision in the only fashion possible, a travesty.
As decisions are being made for hosting the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao bout, promoters in both camps will keep this in the back of their mind.
This decision has to rule out New York and the Aug. 22 travesty that was Juan Diaz-Paulie Malignaggi must rule out Texas. If the fight is to be ruled fairly it has to be in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao is flying in from the Philippines, he doesn’t need to come this far to get robbed.
