The Day Boxing Died...

Well we can finally lay out the tombstone for the sport of boxing. For years I've said the only reason the sport of boxing doesn't make the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is simple...after that fight there's really no one else to watch...other than Mayweather-Pacquioa 2. Then there was tonights fight...Pacquiao-Bradley. And words can not express, how much of a complete disappointment this fight was from start to finish.

For years it's been said...boxing is fixed and as corrupt as it gets as a sport. And it was proven true at least for tonight. In what has to be the biggest robbery in this sport, Bradley "officially" was named the winner by split decision. But in reality, it was a complete white washing by Manny Pacquioa. Throughout the fight, from the first round forward, Pacman established his straight left (a punch I've said he'd never land on Floyd) and pummelled Tim Bradley with it for 12 rounds. Bradley had no answer offensively or defensively for Manny's arsenal. In the end though, that apparently didn't matter to two of the three judges who somehow saw it fit to give Bradley the edge on the scorecards. When the first scorecard was announced, 115-113 Pacquiao, I for one was stunned. I thought to myself, "What? 115-113? What the fuck. Oh well" thinking to myself, it's an isolated incident...then the next card Buffer read was 115-113 Bradley. I skipped shocked and went into hysterical disbelief. A split decision in this fight for Manny? No way...then Michael Buffer announced the last scorecard...115-113, for the winner by split decision...AND NEW...that was the last thing i heard as i saw Bradley joyfully raise his hands...and just like that...the coffin was nailed shut for the "sport" of boxing.

Somehow, Bradley had won five of the last six rounds on two scorecards. Judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross scored it 115-113 for Bradley, while losing on Jerry Roth's scorecard by the same margin. I had the fight 120-108 for Pacquiao, a much more credible source (The Associated Press) had Pacquiao winning 117-111. It was just something I couldn't comprehend. Even if you found a way to score five of the last six rounds for Bradley, which other two rounds did you give him to score him the win? Bradley came into this fight in great shape, but he simply didn't have the technique or skill to hang with Pacquiao let alone win this fight. Manny outlanded Bradley in ten of twelve rounds, and 253-159 throughout the match. Power punches was 190 for Manny while Bradley landed (supposedly landed...the guy has no power) 108. Pacman also had a bigger percentage of punches landed 34% to 19%. It was for all intent and purposes, a boxing lessen by a world class fighter, who fought a guy with no power and somewhat a raw talent by my observation.

I guess the one negative thing I can say about Manny during this boring fight, is that Pacman simply didn't finish Bradley and really didn't try to. He sort of coasted, while scoring the bigger punches in every round. Manny left it up to the judges by not knoking out Bradley, and in the end, he lost his belts, his 15 fight winning streak, and possibly the huge Mayweather payday. If you were waiting for that fight, be prepared to wait some more. No matter who you are a fan of, Mayweather or Pacquiao, the decision reached at the end of this fight was a complete farce. Anyone with objectivity will see it that way. There are no winners tonight (other than the gamblers who bet on Bradley who was a 3-1 underdog). Manny lost his titles but the sport of boxing lost its dignity if it had any left. The rematch is already set for November 10. This time I expect Manny to come out and try to annihilate Bradley quickly to garner some sort of retribution for this robbery...but will anyone be watching? With MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) eating part of Boxing's market share, this match didn't do anything to sway people back to boxing.