Pacquiao Reign Ends in Controversy, Boos

Promoter 'ashamed' by results
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 10, 2012 4:00 AM CDT
Pacquiao Reign Ends in Controversy, Boos
Timothy Bradley, from Palm Springs, Calif., reacts to his split decision victory over Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, in their WBO welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas.    (Chris Carlson)

Timothy Bradley promised to shock, but the biggest shock in his fight with Manny Pacquiao came from the judges' scorecards. In a fight Pacquiao seemed to have in hand, two judges decided otherwise, giving Bradley a split decision last night and ending the Filipino fighter's remarkable seven-year unbeaten run. "I thought I won the fight," Bradley insisted. "I didn't think he was as good as everyone says he was. I didn't feel his power."

Promoter Bob Arum fumed, the crowd at the MGM Grand booed, and Pacquiao seemed stunned when the decision was announced. Arum, who handles both fighters, said there would be a November rematch, though he blasted the way the decision went down. "I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight," he said. Bradley came on strong in the later rounds, winning five of the last six on two scorecards and four on the third. He won 115-113 on two scorecards, while losing on the third by the same margin. The AP pegged Pacquiao as a 117-111 winner. "I did my best," Pacquiao said. "I guess my best wasn't good enough." (More boxing stories.)

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