WEEKS before the Pacquiao-Bradley fight, I was already mulling over the possibilities.
After last November’s Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy, I came to the conclusion that world professional boxing is more of big business, ran by shrewd bigtime businessmen.
To me the result of that trilogy was questionable, although many people believe it could have gone either way. Pacman or Marquez could have been declared the winner.
Staunch reporters of Juan Manuel Marquez in the Mexican community insist, however, that their countryman was the clear winner. Their cries of “We were robbed” are still being heard to this day.
Ironically, this time it’s the Filipinos and the pro-Pacquiao groups that are singing the same tune.
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On the premise that pro boxing is business, it is easy to figure out why the Filipino boxing superstar was made to win over Marquez in their third fight.
Giving Marquez the win over the world’s most popular boxer would not be a good business move because Marquez was already 39, an age considered well advanced in the sport. There aren’t too many good years ahead of the Mexican.
Marquez is in the twilight of his career and no big bucks can be squeezed from the very few productive years that he still has. Pacquiao had to win.
These thoughts made me shudder.
Tim Bradley was young, he still has many good years ahead of him. He has the matinee-idol physique and he could be molded into a star. Between him and Manny, he was the better business proposition.
Without a knockout, it was possible to make Bradley win even if he did not deserve it. The key was the judges. Were they corruptible?
The decision all boiled down to the scorecards of the three judges.
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As I write this, there’s still an uproar over the result of last Sunday’s fight which Manny clearly won.
People are already talking about a rematch in November. Actually, Bradley had been talking about it even before the fight.
The papers say Manny is inclined to agree to a rematch, perhaps to show the world who the real champion is.
But he will need to win by a knockout. Otherwise, he could be robbed again by the same “businessmen” who control the sport of pro boxing.
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The result of last Sunday’s fight elicited strong reactions from celebrities all over the world. Here are some of them:
“I’m so disgusted. The judges need to be drug-tested. What fight were they watching? I called the international broadcast and was on Bradley’s apron and Pacquiao simply outclassed him. Wasn’t even close, in my eyes. Unbelievable. So disappointed in my sport. Boxing is killing me. Regardless, I will be there in November calling the rematch. Just in shock right now… I need a drink.” —Mario Lopez
“I only watch boxing because of Manny Pacquiao and Manny Pacquiao is still the world’s best boxer.”—Lady Gaga
“That was disappointing.”—Jeremy Lin
“I can’t believe what I just saw. Please tell me they read that decision wrong.”—Justin Timberlake
“What an embarrassing night for boxing. Sh*t looks like the WWF… Pacman and Jinky deserve to go home happy.”—Drizzy
“The whole world is disappointed. But we still know who really won”—Katie Perry