US senator backs Pacquiao-Bradley probe

6:53 am | Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. AFP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON – The top US senator said Tuesday he backs a probe into the split decision giving Timothy Bradley a win over Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, but said he believed there was “nothing untoward” in the scoring.

Undefeated American Bradley won the controversial high-profile championship boxing bout Saturday in Las Vegas in Senator Harry Reid’s home state of Nevada, where the fight’s three judges were under pressure to explain their scoring which many experts have described as flawed.

“If an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Reid, himself a onetime amateur boxer, told reporters in Washington.

“I am confident that there was nothing untoward, I think people just make bad decisions in a lot of things they do, including judging fights,” he added.

“But it doesn’t hurt to clear the air and take a look at this.”

The bout saw judge Jerry Roth give Pacquiao the fight 115-113, but C.J. Ross and Duane Ford both had Bradley winning by the same score, despite Pacquiao appearing to land the more damaging blows throughout the contest.

The fight’s promoter, Bob Arum, questioned the competence of the judges, the selection process the Nevada State Athletic Commission used to choose them, and the fact that all came from Nevada.

While Arum said after the fight that the scoring was the result of incompetence and not corruption, he said Monday he would ask the Nevada attorney general’s office “for a full and complete inquiry.”

Reid is a former member of the state’s athletic commission, and said he judged a few fights before entering politics.

“It’s an inexact science,” he said. “From all the reports that I’ve seen by people on the outside who saw the fight, who attempted to be fair and judge the fight, Pacquiao won the fight.”

Reid also said the controversy could be an opportunity for him and Republican Senator John McCain to resume their efforts to get a national boxing bill passed in Congress.

“We have not been able to do it. Maybe this will be the impetus that Senator McCain can get back (to) work on that again,” Reid said, adding that he would talk with McCain about the issue.

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Tags: Boxing , Manny Pacquiao , Senator Harry Reid , Sports , Timothy Bradley , United States

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AVRSWQTCWADVWA62MXAGV6MB6Y Chris

Di kaya mga 3rd sex mga judges na to!Gumanti lang kay PACMAN.hehehe!
http://twitter.com/uspinoy08 joseph escobar

its all about money im not buyin pay perview n more suck my putotoy ,boxing suckzzzzzzzzzzzz
gyvv

… ‘clear the air’ … very simple and direct argument … cool!
http://twitter.com/TUBAGBOHOLcom TUBAGBOHOL.com

Many people, including Top Rank bigwigs, are happy that there would be a rematch.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GUDXSLGDJSVES3MAZKXXMXJXXM Ratzkey

Ang problema kay Pacquiao ngayun kasi puro lang dasal at Godliness eh pati sa congress yata let’s respect the corrupt na rin like the corrupt judges in the match who he said let’s respect for God’s and goodness sake. Kung ganun eh magresign na lang sya sa congress at magtayo na lang ng simbahan kagaya ni Manalo. Dun ang daming makikinig sa kanya buong araw pa sya naka mic. So much media hype ang pagiging Godly nya pati God on candid camera na rin!! Funny!!
robrano

to Platypus09

No investigation can make boxing a “clean” sport. It is just a business where money rules and all all what counts is profit. There have been fights where most people said that Paquiao was favored and nobody complained or blamed the judges.
Manny was telling in advance he will go for a KO, then there would not be any question. But he was not able to do it. As mentioned, Roach told Manny after round 10 “you have 6 minutes to go ” for winning. But that 6 minutes have not been Manny’s minutes.
Manny said in advance “I go fo KO” which would leave no question, but was unable. Bradley threw more punches, Manny more hits, but seemingly not effective enough. Controlling the fight is senseless. Remember Muhammad Ali, he danced away and around the other boxer which really does not look like “controlling” but was still “in control” waiting for the moment he can hit. How useful is “controlling” 11 rounds but then being hit to KO in the 12th round?
Do not make an international affair out of a boxing just because you do not like the outcome. Nobody has ever done the same when Manny’s victory was questioned. Tell him to accept blood tests as any other athlete and he can fight Mayweayjer and the offered younger Mexican and earn about 5 billion pesos for 2 times 60 minutes. Then he can resign and do his duties as a congressman.

Sarong9146

If you watched the fight, you were a blind mouse as well.
Platypus09

I don’t agree with your thoughts. If you would like people or fans to stick with professional boxing and prevent it from dying, then you have to establish credibility.

And I don’t think you understand that.

First of all, they are topsy- turvy and your thoughts are all over the place and difficult to understand. Sorry.

BatangSingapore

hinahanap ko si kapit tukong Atienza. noon hindi pa naglalaban ay halos sumakay sa likod ni Manny. Pero ng matalo hindi mo na makita ang hinayupak na Intsik na yan bwahahahahahhaha.
http://profile.yahoo.com/ESOLZFVKAWYGCVFPVUANFVV4W4 Efren

May magmamana na sa galing ni Paquiao, yung mga kids niya na maaga ang training; hayun at pinanood pa nang live sa laban niya ! Di ba si Chavit may tagapagmana na rin ? Yung congressman na nakulong sa Hongkong ?
Jerry_SeinfeId

Lets admit the fact that Bible Preacher Manny Pacquiao is old, troubled and considerably weaker than 5 yrs ago. He is bound to lose, so happens its Bradley. Tama na ang pagtingin kay Pacquiao bilang Diyos, huwag na kayo makisawsaw sa fame at wealth na tinatamasa nya sampu ng mga Herpes este Hermes bags pala ni Jink Pacq. Move on Filipino’s, move forward.
oracle888

If one has watched the World Wrestling Federation championship matches, those shouting and rumble in the arena remind me of the Bradly : Pacquiao’s fights aftermath wherein there are lots of talking, complaints, probing and propaganda.

Both have the same goal: to arouse the interest of the public for a Nov 10 rematch. This rematch is good for MGM, City of Nevada, the sponsors, the boxers, and anybody who depends his livelihood on the boxing match. The boxer may not know and are innocent to be dragged into this conspiracy. Yet, they don’t care when they can make additional ten of million of dollars in less than one hour fight.

Who are the loser? The suckers who pay so much money to watch or lost in betting the fights.

US senator backs Pacquiao-Bradley probe

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