PACQUIAO WELCOMES CLEMENTS' ASSIGNMENT AS ONE OF THE JUDGES ON #MAYPAC
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES, Cal . ? On May 8, 2004, Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao salvaged a split draw decision over arch-rival to be Juan Manuel Marquez in the first of the two future Hall of Famers? quadrilogy held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Thanks or no thanks to an error in scoring submitted by judge Burt Clements, who saw the fight at an even 113-113 despite Pacquiao?s sending the Mexican legend kissing the canvas three times right after the opening bell had sounded.
The then 51-year-old Clements scored the first frame, 10-7, under the 10-point must system of scoring instead of 10-6, which should have been, thus, robbing the Filipino soon-to-be eight-division champion what could have been a clear split decision triumph.
A week from now in the same MGM Grand Arena, Clements will be one of the judges the Nevada Sports Commission has appointed to determine the winner of the epic Pacquiao fight against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather that will unite the welterweight division.
Pacquiao though, who has recovered from that loss, likewise, claim the distinction of being the only man to crown himself owner to four lineal titles, has long forgiven the ring judge from Reno for that miscue days after that.
?Tao lang ako na handang magpatawad sa isang tao rin na nagkamali,?? this writer remembered Paquiao as saying during one of the SCOOP (Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines) sessions held upon his arrival following the fight.
The same sentiment the World boxing Organization 147-belt owner expressed Thursday during an interview at his LA residence following his ritual sparring session at the Wild Card Gym in preparation for his 12-round encounter with the owner of the Boxing Council and World Boxing Association diadems that will also decide who between them will be declared the greatest fighter of this era.
?Even then, 11 years ago, I had already pardoned him,? the fighting Sarangani lawmaker said. ?Tao nga lang tayo eh. Kung ang Diyos nga nagpatawad, tayo pa. As the Bible says in the Book of Matthew, 'For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.'"
?As the saying goes, no man is an island, di ba?? he said. ?My forgiveness stands up to now. I respect Mr. Clements as a man and as a judge and I welcome his choice as one of the three wise men that will decide my fate and that of Mayweather's in our coming fight.?
?His choice attests to that. And those of the three other judges,? he noted in reference to the other verdict-makers Dave Moretti of Las Vegas and Glenn Feldman of Connecticut.
The father of five with wife Jinkee, Sarangani Province Vice Governor, likewise, welcomed the naming of Kenny Bayless as the third man in the ring.
?Wise choice, very good,? he exclaimed. ?He has refereed seven of my previous fights and I believe he?s done very well. I take off my hat to him and the three judges.?
?All of them and the two of us, Floyd and myself, are the principal actors that will play important roles in making the fans enjoy the fight,? he said. ?Sana gawin naming lahat na mapaganda ang laban para sa kasiyahan ng fans.?
His one other prayer, Pacquiao added, is that no one suffer any major injury. ?I pray to the good Lord above that we finish the fight still intact so that we may continue making our fans happy and the sport of boxing continues its growth.?
Pacquiao?s promoter and Top Rank big boss Bob Arum and his Mayweather Promotions counterpart Leonard Ellerbe, who have not seen eye-to-eye in many issues, likewise, were one in praising the appointments of fight officials.
?This is one thing Bob Arum and I do agree on: We're very pleased with the selection of the officials. I have no doubt the officials will be very fair in judging the fight and the referee will undoubtedly do a masterful job,? Ellerbe commented.
The 70-yeear-old Moretti, of Las Vegas, is acknowledged as a top boxing judge. He?s worked nine of Mayweather?s last 14 fights, and has worked in six of Pacquiao?s bouts.
Like Pacquiao, Arum dismissed Clements' misdemeanor on the Marquez 1 faux pas, saying; ?Here?s how honorable the guy is, he admitted the mistake that night.?
Feldman, who founded the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, has worked only one fight featuring Mayweather or Pacquiao.
Photo: The Pacquiao (R) and Marquez fight in 2004 ended in a split draw due to a scoring error by boxing judge Burt Clements.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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