If boxing judges were given pre-fight ring walks, entrance music and entourages, I imagine Duane Ford, C.J. Ross and Jerry Roth would?ve strolled down the aisle last Saturday, heads bobbing in unison, to a live performance of Let?s Plan a Robbery by a reunited Three 6 Mafia. At least then, fans and spectators would?ve been given some sort of warning as to what was about to happen. With their disastrous decision to gift Timothy Bradley Jr. a win over Manny Pacquiao, the three blind mice have supplanted Crunchy Black, DJ Paul and Juicy J as the most known unknowns.
After a so-so bout against arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, in which he earned a disputed decision, Pacquiao bounced back by dominating the undefeated Bradley over twelve rounds. By Compubox stats, Pacquiao landed more total punches (253 to 159), power punches (190 to 108) and a higher percentage of punches (34% to 19%) than his opponent. To the objective eye, after the second-round it seemed if Bradley had finally gotten a proper taste of Pacquiao?s vaunted speed and punching power and realized he had bitten off more than he could chew.
It?s not that Bradley ever gave up, he gave a gallant effort and showed real heart and determination during the bout, fighting through foot problems. But after a few rounds, the challenger was visibly discouraged by the hearty serving of straight left hands and became less aggressive. He was admittedly hurt and dazed numerous times during the middle rounds. On the other side of the ring, Pacquiao who?s never been considered defensive wiz, blocked and avoided many of Bradley?s shots. Bradley was simply outclassed.
The Associated Press had Pacquiao winning 117-111. ESPN?s Dan Rafael scored it 119-109 for Pacquiao and called the decision “an absolute absurdity.” Bradley?s mother probably couldn?t have found more than three rounds for her son. But somehow, Ford and Ross found a whopping seven rounds to give to the overmatched fighter.
Ford later justified his bogus score by telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal, ?I thought Bradley gave Pacquiao a boxing lesson.?
Wait. What?
It seemed surreal when the decision was rendered. At the fight party I attended, people joked about how quickly the tabulation of scorecards would take place. One buddy, who had apparently laid down a few wagers on a Bradley victory sat sullenly as he mentally prepared for a few weeks of peanut butter or bologna sandwiches in lieu of his soon-to-be lightened bank account. When the first pro-Bradley score was announced, head-shaking ensued. But knowing there?s often one ?crazy? judge, nobody feared the wrong decision would be made. Even the announcement of Roth?s 115-113 pro-Pacquiao score garnered grumbles for being too close. ?What fight were they watching?? somebody asked. When the last score was read, the room was filled with silence…then anger and disbelief.
To make matters worse, this didn?t happen at a smoke-filled club or in a ESPN-level fight on a Tuesday night. People shelled out $70 bucks to see the gross injustice. During the post-fight interview, Bradley acknowledged he wasn?t satisfied with his performance. Neither was the crowd, who booed raucously. This fight wasn?t a close bout that ended in a disputed decision (see Pacquiao – Marquez III), it was Usain Bolt setting a world-record in the 100m final only to be told he finished second to the fat, slow guy who hadn?t crossed the finish line yet.
Of course boxing didn?t fall from its high graces from past generations by accident. Corruption, scandal and gross incompetence reign supreme in a sport where world champions were once revered by all. Now many of them aren?t even recognized. The sport of boxing has been battered for far too long to still rack up black eyes. This decision was a vicious shot to the gut. With disgusted fans leaving in droves, it?s becoming more and more difficult for the sport to recover and catch its breath.
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