LAS VEGAS – One of boxing's major sanctioning bodies will review Timothy Bradley 's controversial split decision victory over Mann...
WBO President Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel said in a statement Wednesday that the WBO's championship committee will review video of the fight with five "recognized international judges" and make a recommendation. He said the WBO does not doubt the ability of the scoring judges.
Most reporters seated ringside and the vast majority of fans inside the MGM Grand arena on Saturday night thought Pacquiao had easily defended his welterweight title against Bradley. The first surprise came when ring announcer Michael Buffer announced that there was a split decision, and the biggest surprise came in the reading of the scores. Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Pacquiao, while judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross had it for Bradley by the same score.
"The public saw the fight and they're outraged, and we need clarity here," Arum told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "We need those responsible to investigate, to see what happened, how the judges could be so off. "Was there any funny business going on? Or no funny business? Did they have a conversation with each other?" Arum asked. "We need to get clarity. The public is demanding it."
It is not clear what, if anything, the WBO review could mean. Both camps already have talked openly about a rematch.
When that fight could take place is also not clear. Bradley will be off his feet for at least eight weeks. He injured his left foot and right ankle during the fight and appeared at a post-fight press conference in a wheelchair.
On Monday, Bradley had an MRI on his injured left foot, which didn't reveal any fractures, but there are some pulled ligaments, manager Cameron Dunkin said.
Bradley also finally found time to watch the fight and wrote on his Facebook page that "I felt just like I did the night of the fight … I won the fight! Pacquiao is a great man and a great fighter and he will have a chance to get his title back and at the same time I will be able to get a more definitive win."
Dunkin said the fighter has had a difficult time ignoring the media backlash from the decision.
"He's trying," he said. "It's hard, though. He's a nice kid, and he takes a whole lot of this personal, and they're pretty vicious out there. It's been pretty hard on him."
Arum submitted a formal request to the Nevada Attorney General's office on Monday asking for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fight. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the senior senator from Nevada, also has asked for an investigation.
Jennifer Lopez, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Attorney General's office, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the office had received Arum's request and will review it and take whatever action it deems necessary. She said they typcially do not confirm or deny whether they open an investigation.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission's executive director, Keith Kizer, said this week he has no plans to review the fight, even though he acknowledged having Pacquiao ahead.
No comments