LAS VEGAS—Even Manny Pacquiao’s fiercest critics believed he was the clear winner over Timothy Bradley Jr. Saturday night.
Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Sr. both said the eight-time world champion Pacquiao should have easily retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight title instead of losing it by split decision.
De La Hoya, the former Golden Boy of boxing who was forced to quit on his stool and to eventual retirement by Pacquiao in 2008, tweeted: “Bradley should have given the belt and announced victory to Pacquiao right after the decision.”
Interviewed by reporters after the 12-round bout, Floyd, namesake of Pacquiao’s erstwhile pound-for-pound rival, said that although he didn’t score the fight, he knew that Pacquiao won.
“I felt like there was a gap, where you could see who’s winning,” said Mayweather, who didn’t discount the possibility of his imprisoned son figuring in a megabuck bout with Pacquiao in the future.
The younger Mayweather is serving his 87-day jail sentence for domestic battery.
Other Pacquiao admirers as well as boxing and martial arts experts fumed at Bradley’s split decision escape.
Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, lambasted the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Twitter for allowing another blockbuster bout to reek of conspiracy.
ESPN boxing analyst and trainer Teddy Atlas, on the other hand, told @SportsCenter that boxing is a corrupt sport and the decision was tainted.