Manny Pacquiao landed more punches and more power shots than Timothy Bradley. According to anyone who was watching and scoring the fight, Pacquiao had won something between 8 to 10 of the rounds. It was that one sided. But the judges saw a completely different fight, and somehow, someway, decided to give the sport another terrible decision – Bradley wins, Split Decision.

The numbers that should mean something, the punches – Pacquiao connected with 253 of his 751 thrown punches, 34%. Timothy Bradley connected with 151 of his 839 punches, 19%. Pacquiao hit the new champion with 190 power punches, landing at an accuracy of 39%. Bradley connected with 108, accurate 28% of the time.

He might have been given three to four rounds, those that weren’t too one sided, but seven rounds?! 115-113 by two ringside judges? Something just isn’t right, and wasn’t right all night apparently. Manny Pacquaio looked a bit complacent , cocky even, midway through the fight. But he had Bradley, even if once again, he didn’t go for the kill. Probably because he didn’t have too much wind left.

Timothy Bradley was fading away from round 8 onward. He was fighting on a hurt ankle but generally looked winded while Pacquiao kept ringing his head back. He wasn’t dodging or simply trying to survive. He kept trying to land shots, looks as the more aggressive fighter. But being more aggressive shouldn’t win you fights. Being a better boxer, more accurate, that should win you fights.

Bradley was left too open many times, but he did get a chance to prove that he has a strong chin. It was quite clear he was surprised with the decision himself, not looking too confident after the final ring of the bell. He was booming with confidence after the decision was put forth. Just talking about looking forward to the rematch.

And that’s what we’ll get, probably. A rematch, on November 10. After such a travesty and hack job the judges made of the fight, and via that showing their complete disrespect for the sport and for the fans. This is why many people keep claiming boxing is dying, are already dead. When decisions are made based on something no one seems to understand, reflecting nothing everyone saw during the fight.

115-113 twice for Bradley, 115-113 for Manny Pacquiao. Even the judge giving the fight to Pacquiao (Jerry Roth) wasn’t that close to what really happened in the ring. The judges simply had a horrible night. Maybe worse. Something no one likes to consider.

I did my best, but I guess my best wasn’t good enough. I’ve been watching his fight tapes. There were no surprises. He never hurt me with his punches. Most of them hit my arms. I don’t know what happened. No doubt I won the fight. (Manny Pacquiao)

Bob Arum later said that even Bradley’s manager had Pacquiao winning 8 of the fight’s 12 rounds. Something simply doesn’t add up, on all accounts. Arum didn’t seem pleased, but at least he now has the Rematch angle to play, although what this loss means to the future of Pacquiao’s fight with Mayweather remains to be seen. Any edge in the negotiations for more money had to have taken a huge hit.

Something like this is so outlandish, it’s a death knell for the sport. This is f—— nuts. I have both guys, and I’ll make a lot of money in the rematch, but it’s ridiculous. You have these old f—- who don’t know what the hell they’re looking at. It’s incompetence. Nobody who knows anything about boxing could have Bradley ahead in the fight. (Bob Arum)

Pacquiao came away with $26 million before the PPV share. It was probably his best fight in a long while. Rocking Bradley often in the early goings. On the ropes and in the corner. Somehow, the judges didn’t acknowledge it. Hard to understand why. Timothy Bradley took home $5 million, and one atrocious decision, some already calling as one of the worst in the history of the sport.

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