Promoter Bob Arum on Sunday called for an investigation into the controversial split-decision verdict that saw Timothy Bradley deal superstar Manny Pacquiao his first defeat since 2005.
Arum said there would be no rematch between the fighters unless Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto launched a probe into the scoring of Saturday night’s WBO welterweight title fight, Yahoo! Sports reported.
It was widely believed that Pacquiao won the contest, having consistently landed cleaner and more forceful punches throughout, but the judges didn’t see it that way.
Two judges scored the fight 115-113 to Bradley, while the other scored it 115-113 to Pacquiao. The decision was met with boos at the MGM Grand arena.
“I want to investigate whether there was any undue influence, whether the [Nevada Athletic Commission] gave any particular instruction and how they came to this conclusion,” said Arum, whose company promotes both fighters.
“If this was a subjective view that each of [the judges] honestly held, OK. I would still disagree, but then we’re off the hook in terms of there being no conspiracy.
“But there needs to be an independent investigation because it strains credulity that an event everybody saw as so one-sided one way all three judges saw it as close. … the whole sport is in an uproar. People are going crazy.”
Source: Fox Sports
