MANILA, Philippines – While he did “enough to win” against Timothy Bradley, Manny Pacquiao was not as impressive as he was in previous fights, a sports columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) said on Monday.
Manny Pacquiao, left, throws a punch against Timothy Bradley in the sixth round of their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. Bradley won by split decision. AP/Julie Jacobson
PDI sports columnist Sev Sarmenta gave this assessment in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM as he tried to explain the possible reasons why the judges in the Pacquiao-Bradley bout came to a split decision Sunday.
Although he deemed it a “close fight”, Sarmenta explained the factors which may have affected the judges’ controversial decision to hand the WBO welterweight title to Bradley. He believed Pacquiao was “unable to unload in the 10th, 11th and 12th rounds.”
Sarmenta said Pacquiao was not as aggressive in the last three rounds of the fight despite his “thunderous” punches.
“At the end of the day, it’s the overall performance of the boxer ang tinitingnan. May defense na kino-consider, may aggressiveness. Palagay ko yung dalawang judges, yun ang kanilang pananaw. Hindi sila impressed enough para ibigay kay Pacquiao (ang title).”
For more of the interview, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.