Where do I start!? First, let me start by apologizing on behalf of every true boxing fan at Bob Arum’s poor business tactics in the Pacman-Bradley wash. It’s been quite some time since i’ve written something or been so ever inspired to do so, but after the decision that was handed down to Timothy Bradley last night, ( who was just as shocked as we were) i was more than inspired to blog my feelings about this catastrophe of a decision. As a true boxing enthusiast/journalist, manager and trainer, I have a soft spot for hungry underdogs in the sport who work hard to change their lives. So without any bias towards Manny Pacquiao, I went into this contest routing for the younger and hungrier Timothy Bradley. In Bradley, I was extremely confident in his hard work, grew attached to his story (via HBO’s 24/7) and thought that Manny  had lost just a little bit of his passion for the sport, due to Arum picked opponents.

Nights Overview:

However, minus his new found faith, Manny proved to be just as focused as the Manny of old. So like most enthusiast who hunger for a good fight, I eagerly set up my PPV (Pay-Per-View) purchase, pressed record and awaited history. As the night got underway, the first fight proved to be moderately entertaining as a young Cuban fighter (two-time Olympic Gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux) put on a display of punching power and boxing prowess by easily dismantling his opponent and knocking him down 5 times. Ok,  so on to the next. The second match was anything short of a Ambien sleeping pill until 2:52 of the 11th round, when a thunderous uppercut by Randall Bailey ended the undefeated hopes of a wiry awkward Mike Jones. Exciting round, boring fight! So far, I’m not that happy as a paying customer, but I’m enthusiastic about the next 2 fights to come. The last preliminary bout between a game Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KOs) and Jesus Rojas (18-1-1, 13 KOs) started out as the shocker of the night. Arce drops the young Rojas in the first round with a perfect left hook. If fans are familiar with Arce, you know that he is a game veteran fighter who comes to fight to the end.

However, by the end of the first round, the young Rojas started to impose his will on Arce. During a heavy exchange, Rojas hits Arce with a low blow ( that referee Kenny Bayless should have stepped in between of) followed by a hard left hook to the ear/ head area. This thunderous punch sends Arce down to the canvas unable to continue.  Arce begins complaining of a ringing noise in his eardrum and a problem with his equillibrium. Unable to stand up and continue, the punch was considered a foul and the fight ended in the  second round being declared a no contest. Ok, so now the only hopes of saving this night is the long, and I mean long awaited showdown between Bradley and Pacquiao.  In a few words, what a total disappointment !!!!  I’ve watched boxing for quite some time and witnessed plenty of bad decisions and blatant robberies. However, this fight ranks alongside one of the poorest judgements in history paralleled to Pernell Whitakers draw with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. My first thoughts after the decision was handed down, was probably those of Bradley. He did!? /”I did!?” Meaning….I can’t believe i won. It was clearly a surprise to Bradley after being quoted saying to Bob Arum before the decision was handed down, “I tried hard, but couldn’t beat him!..referring to his fight against Pacquiao. When decisions are bad, …. sometimes bad is just really bad!

Facts:

When a fight is blatant and one sided to people who rarely watch boxing, you know what it must look like through the eyes of a true enthusiast. Having watched this fight, listened to Harold Lederman’s scoring and looked at compubox numbers, there was no possible way for Tim Bradley to have won this fight. We all know that the money to a fight is in the rematch, but when compubox has staggering statistics like 190 power punches landed by Pacquiao to 108 power punches landed by Bradley and ringside punching statistics showing Pacquiao landing 253 punches to 159 for Bradley, something is obviously wrong.  Out of the 12 rounds fought between the two fighters, it would be fair to say that the fight was a 9 round Pacman to 3 round Bradley display or at worst, 8-4 Pacman. It was clearly obvious that Bradley had no answer for Manny’s straight left hand and was repeatedly pummled by it round after round. He (Bradley) looked awkward at times and even puzzled trying to escape the speed and accuracy of  Manny’s  Punches.

Strategy:

It’s Obvious Bob Arum developed his own strategy to stay financially afloat before the fight got underway. Let’s try and take a look into the mind of Bob Arum. First, He’s seemingly running out of cash cows and opponents for his biggest cash cow ( Manny Pacquiao) Second, He has Timothy Bradley a hungry up and coming 28 yr. old with no true star status, but potential to make exciting fights.  Third, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has refused to agree to the terms with Arum and is currently serving a 90 day prison sentence for battery.  Fourth, Manny beats Bradley and their is nowhere for either fighter to go.

Ok…Now let’s go into the strategic mind of Bob Arum.

We are currently in Vegas, where the odds of Timothy Bradley beating Manny Pacquioa are presumably 4-1. So why not bet on Bradley, Pre-Schedule a re-match (that Bradley jokingly taunted Manny with date in Hand), use controversy to catapult  Bradley’s stardom and have Manny Pacquioa win the re-match. After Manny wins the re-match, Floyd Mayweather would have had enought time to be released from jail and train to accommodate the fight of the century. Final results:  Bob Arum walks away a very rich man, Manny Pacquioa and Floyd Mayweather retire and Timothy Bradley gets a Victor Ortiz fan pass. Quite genius if you think about it through the most fiendish mind since “Don King”. These are my thoughts, what are yours?