Arum rules out Pacquiao-Bradley rematch
Tue, 12 Jun 02:09:00 2012
Bob Arum has refused a Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley rematch, but the promoter wants an investigation into the scoring controversy.
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Arum was still fuming about the split-decision verdict that went against Pacquiao on Saturday and said there would be no rematch with Bradley unless Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto launches an investigation.
Bradley, a 4-1 underdog, upset Pacquiao in one of the most controversial outcomes in years to take the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
All three judges scored it 115-113, with Duane Ford and C.J. Ross seeing it in favor of Bradley and Jerry Roth siding with Pacquiao.
The rematch that Bradley thought he would get may be on hold, at least for a while, however. Arum, whose company promotes both fighters, said his feeling that Pacquiao had won a wide decision had not changed a day later.
But because of the outcry among the fans and media, many of whom accused Arum of somehow rigging the outcome, the veteran promoter said he would demand an investigation.
"I want to investigate whether there was any undue influence, whether the [Nevada Athletic Commission] gave any particular instruction and how they came to this conclusion," said Arum, who at the post-fight news conference was adamant the result was a mistake but not the result of any chicanery. "But the whole sport is in an uproar. People are going crazy.
"If this was a subjective view that each of [the judges] honestly held, OK. I would still disagree, but then we're off the hook in terms of there being no conspiracy. But there needs to be an independent investigation because it strains credulity that an event everybody saw as so one-sided one way all three judges saw it as close. It strains credulity."
Ford spoke by telephone to Yahoo! Sports on Sunday. He said the criticism is a part of the job he accepts, but said those criticizing the outcome are almost certainly not familiar with the way fights are judged.
"If this were 'American Idol', without a doubt, Manny Pacquiao would have won," Ford said. "But it was not. I gave an honest opinion. I had Pacquiao up 4-2, I think, at the end of six rounds. I thought he hurt Bradley a couple of times early in the fight. But when the bell rang to end that round, it was over and what happens in one round doesn't carry over to the next round. They're separate units.
"In the second half of the fight, Pacquiao picked off a lot of punches to the head, but Bradley landed some hard body shots. That hurt Pacquiao. I don't mean it hurt him in the sense of it physically hurting him, but in terms of scoring and piling up points. Bradley did an excellent job standing his ground as a boxer. Remember, it's a boxing match and Bradley demonstrated his ability to box expertly."
Bradley has been harshly criticized by many who believe Pacquiao won, but the fact that Bradley won the fight with two badly injured feet should say something about his tenacity.
And the bout might suggest that Pacquiao is declining more than previously thought. If he had trouble with a fighter who had two injured feet and needed a wheelchair to attend the post-fight news conference, how difficult would it have been for him had his opponent been completely mobile?
Bradley injured his left foot in the second round when he pivoted. His manager, Cameron Dunkin, said an examination late Saturday revealed torn ligaments that will keep him off it for several weeks to a month.
He said the X-ray did not show a fracture, but doctors ordered an MRI on Monday in Palm Springs, Calif.
"They said that just because the X-ray did not show a fracture didn't mean there isn't one," Dunkin said. "He has a lot of pain on the top of the foot and there are 700 bones in there. Some of them are so small. The doctor said the only way to tell if there is a fracture is to do an MRI."
He said there was no serious injury to the right foot, which was far more swollen than the left.
"The right was just kind of rolled and it was basically a twisted foot that was pretty swollen," Dunkin said.
Dunkin also said he was fine if Arum chose not to arrange a rematch. He said Top Rank promotes Bradley and owes him a fight. If it chose not to make a rematch with Pacquiao, it would have to book a different fight for Bradley.
Juan Manuel Marquez, who lost a controversial decision to Pacquiao on Nov. 12 in the same arena, was in attendance Saturday, Top Rank president Todd duBoef said, because the company was planning to make Pacquiao-Marquez IV in the event of a Pacquiao win.
That changed in light of the outcome, and Pacquiao said he wanted a rematch. Ultimately, Arum will likely accede to Pacquiao's wishes.
Pacquiao's next fight almost certainly will not be in Las Vegas after the uproar over Saturday's fight. Ford, though, said it is unfair for those who don't know the scoring criteria and who weren't focusing intently on the fight to bash the judges.
"In pro boxing, you look for damage, and if the punches are equal and the damage is equal, you are looking for effective aggression, and that does not necessarily mean the guy going forward," Ford said. "Effective aggression can be a guy going back. And then you look at ring generalship, and that's all about control.
"When you score a fight of that magnitude, you know the criticism comes with the job. But unless you are totally focused on that scoring zone for three minutes, it's impossible to score the fight correctly. I know you can't do it talking into a microphone. It was a close fight in my mind that could have gone either way. The result was nothing more than three judges giving an honest opinion, and nothing other than that."
Arum told media at ringside that Dunkin had scored it 116-112 for Pacquiao, but Dunkin angrily denied that Sunday. Dunkin said he had it 115-113 in favor of Bradley.
He said he understands the uproar, but said most of it is because of Pacquiao's huge popularity.
"If they're fighting on a street and we're just scoring the fight, the whole fight, I can see you thinking maybe Pacquiao won it," Dunkin said. "But when you score it round by round, I think it's very reasonable to believe Bradley won."
News: Pacquiao vs Bradley

Comment 90 - 110 of 110
I hope the American Government will do something to correct this obvious criminal act by punishing the judges, otherwise people of the world will regard AMERICA AS A CHEAT NATION!!!!
game was ovibiously infavour of pac man but dicision was really against . anyway god sow already oneday pacman win anyway.
If Pacquiao was robbed, he deserves a rematch to get his belt back. Give the man his rematch if he wants it. Same thing goes for Bradley, he deserves to have the chance to beat Manny fair and square. Arum's going a bit too far with this one. By all means have an investigation, but also have the rematch regardless of how the investigation turns out.
just concentrate on boxing manny not basketball.celtics are losers remember?learn how to react w/ the dirty tactics...
Arums new cash cow mooooooooo !!
If Boxing is considered a sport in the U.S, considering Manny Pacquiao himself is a Congressman in the Philippines, the Nevada House of Representatives should conduct a committee hearing regarding those three judges and the Nevada Athletic Commission itself should be investigated because we don't want to make it appear that Boxing in the United States is dirty and favoring those sector or individual person of interest. Besides it is very embarrassing to the whole sector of society who have seen the fight and or watched the PPV that judges in the United States are corrupt.
Manny is the best pound for pound boxer in the world Bradley was even good enough to lace Manny,s boots but because of Mafia interference in Nevada State Gaming which includes boxing and gambling casino,s they payed off the judges to vote in favour of Bradley therefore saving the bookies a good hiding and the Mafia bosses pockets full of dollars. Nothing to do with Manny or Bradley it was all down to who got paid the most by the mafia to put the decision Bradleys way
Bradley stepped into the ring a fully fit fighter, any injury or damage he sustains during the fight is part of the fight, it may be a reason for diminished performance but cannot be used as an excuse for it. I thought Pacquiao won, but I'm not paid to score boxing matches, quite the contrary I paid to support Manny and got my money's worth of boxing, despite my man losing. I just hope Pacman gets his rematch.
Bradley was able to impress the judges with his seeming agression and control of the fight. But technically pacman should have won because he landed a bigger percentage of landed punches and power shots. If the judge used bradley's ankle as an excuse, pacman has also fought with an injured hand and foot in previous fights and those were never used as excuses. It was a close fight and it could have been judged either way. But The challenger has to win by a substantial margin in order to unseat the champion. In this case I dont think bradley has done that.
"So Corruption still runs in AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN BOXING! We will never believe the Americans anymore! Now we know how America win in sports, thru corruption! BOOO TO AMERICA!" Mafia did it to Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and now to Arum, & Bradley! America is the mother of all corruption in the World!
Im not an anatomy expert but i the guy said, "He has a lot of pain on the top of the foot and there are 700 bones in there." i could of sworn an adult human body had 206 bones.
I can't understand what mr Ford talking about. It might be he was sleeping during the fight or he closed his eyes when pacman hit bradly and besides he was comparing the American idle to boxing and its too far different. Boxing is not base in popularity when you are in the ring. If bradley two feet were injured that's part of the fight and that's good for him because he keep running and running. If he was injured during the fight it is out of your business because you are not the referee.
Must punish those behind this gambling syndicate, they destroyed boxing integrity as sport not merely gamble, they cheated while the world was wactching, it's a big shame for you cheaters. I hate all of you!!!!!!!
To Jay: You'll never see a mayweather/pacquiao fight. Pretty boy is (1) to afraid to face pacman, (2) don't want to los and spoil is undefeated record, and (3) the criminal is where he belongs- in jail with the rest of the dope dealing, gun toting thugs.
Okay! So much for controversy, let them (the fighters) have the final say and settle this in the ring. Let the rematch go on as planned.
Im not watching boxing anymore. manny won it was so clear. Also this is such a race thing! Blacks are on Bradleys side and didnt even watch the fight ahhahahaha . Pathetic
I watched the fight and I'm amazed at how everyone thinks Pac-Man won. The fact is, Bradlwy won 8 rounds. If my math is correct then Bradley won the fight. Don't blame the judges. This fight was hard to score because Bradley out jabbed and out boxed Pac-Man. Yes, the rounds Pac-Man did win he won big, but the fight is judged by rounds and Pac-Man only won 4 rounds.
Are we so dumd to believe a payout Ford is singing on his horn about this fight? Ford, do you have any integrity left in your veins for the sake of yourself? Shame on you!!!!
I was initially stunned when Bradley won. After the dust settled however, I realized how more advantageous this is for Pacquiao. It was a change from the usual expected Pacquiao win and I think it renewed his fans' interest and vigor.
if you ppl can stop looking at the compubox numbers you will understand why pacman lost. go ufc.............
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