Timothy Bradley Jr. defeated Juan Manuel Marquez by split decision to remain unbeaten and keep his World Boxing Organization’s welterweight title.
Bradley did just enough to win, beating Marquez by split decision in Las Vegas Saturday night.
“That win was my ticket to the boxing Hall of Fame,” Bradley said. “I beat a great champion.”
Two judges scored in Bradley’s favor 116-112 on one card and 115-113 on another, while a third judge gave a win to Marquez at 115-113.
Marquez and the pro-Marquez crowd did not agree with the judges decision and hinted at foul play.
“I came to win. I felt that I did win,” Marquez said. “The judges took it away. You don’t have to knock out a guy to win.”
Marquez went on to say, “I’ve been robbed six times in my career. I clearly won the fight.”
However, Bradley was the more active fighter and rocked Marquez with a vicious left hook that almost dropped him to the canvas.
“He couldn’t touch me,” Bradley said. “I gave him a boxing lesson.”
Bradley is now undefeated in 31 fights with his third narrow decision win in a row. Marquez dropped to 55-7-1–a champion record by all accounts–and is probably coming to the end of his career.
Both fighters earned $4 million.
