WBO TO REVIEW PACQUIAO-BRADLEY FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Jun 2012
World Boxing Organization president Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel that the WBO Championship Committee will review the welterweight title fight between ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao and undefeated challenger Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley who won the title in a decision that drew the ire of millions around the world.
Valcarcel had ironically awarded Pacquiao the first WBO Diamond Ring in a pre-fight press conference only to see him lose a hugely controversial split decision last June 9 at the MGM Grtand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who promotes both Pacquiao and Bradley formally requested the Nevada State Attorney General to conduct a probe into the fight and the circumstances surrounding what has been branded a ?robbery? both by media, fight fans as well as outstanding world champions such vas Lennox Lewis and Oscar De La Hoya.
US Senate majority leader Harry Reid while refusing to even suggest that corruption was involved in the judges decision said there must be a thorough probe to help clear the air.
Valcarcel said he ordered the review in order ?to take measures in accordance with the rules of procedure.?
He said the Championship Committee will meet soon and will examine ?with five recognized international judges to evaluate the video of the match.
Valcarcel said the Committee will ?agree to what emerges and make its recommendations according to the rules.?
Judges Duane Ford and CJ Ross scored the fight 115-113 for Bradley while Jerry Roth had Pacquiao the winner by the identical 115-113 margin.
The WBO president stated ?I want to clarify that in no way this says that we are doubting the capacity of these judges which we consider as honest and competent.?
Meantime, World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has apologized for his statement headlined by the Manila Standard in which he branded the Pacquiao-Bradley decision ?the theft of the century.?
Sulaiman claimed it was ?an exaggerated (remark) and a bad translation from Spanish? even as he took the high road by accepting the blame.
Sulaiman said he was ?deeply sorry for hurting a dear friend like Duane Ford (one of the judges who scored it for Bradley) and cannot find the words to express it, stating that Ford is ?not only a very good, honest and decent person in his private life but he is one of the best judges that I have known and in fact holds a vice chair in the WBC Ring Officials Board and has been a leader for many judges.?
Sulaiman noted that boxing being a subjective sport there are several differences of opinion and I scored the fight one-sided for Pacquiao which was meant as no offense to my friend.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
Sat, 13 Sep 2025SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025