Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has echoed the call of boxing promoter Bob Arum for Nevada State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto to investigate the controversial split decision that gave Timothy Bradley the WBO welterweight title held by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
The websites Las Vegas Review Journal and The Hill both reported that Reid has endorsed an inquiry to quell the world-wide outrage ignited by the questionable scoring of judges Duane Ford and CJ Ross who each had Bradley winning. The third judge, Jerry Roth, gave the fight to Pacquiao.
Reid is a Democrat and the U.S. Senate Majority Leader. Two years ago Pacquiao joined Reid’s Las Vegas political rally and endorsed the Senator who was running for re-election. This happened almost two weeks before Pacquiao was scheduled to fight Antonio Margarito.
Boxing bill
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s controversial loss to Bradley also revived calls for federal legislation to regulate boxing.
Reid told reporters he would revisit a long-standing boxing bill he’s worked on in the past with Arizona Sen. John McCain.
“Maybe this will be the impetus for Sen. McCain and I to get back and work on it again,” Reid said.
The bill is a nearly decade-old venture spearheaded by McCain to regulate boxing much like other professional sports. It would require uniform health and safety standards, common ranking criteria, and a commissioner to head an envisioned United States Boxing Commission and set rules and standards.
But there was always serious pushback from boxing promoters, including Pacquaio’s booster, Bob Arum.
While the bill has made headway and has even passed a few times in the Senate, it’s never been considered in the House.
If Reid and McCain decide to resurrect the effort, it’s not exactly clear what it would look like.
A spokesman for McCain said he “is considering reintroducing” boxing legislation and that “he too considers that latest decision (in the Pacquaio-Bradley fight) another black mark on the reputation of boxing.”
Reid is a Pacquaio fan, but while he was in Las Vegas over the weekend, he didn’t make Saturday’s fight. Instead, he raced home after the Democratic Party convention to celebrate his wife’s birthday.
But as a former athletic commissioner and boxing judge, he declined the opportunity to pile criticism on the controversial decision.
“From all the reports I’ve seen by people on the outside who saw the fight…Pacquiao won,” Reid said. “I judged fights. Championship fights. It’s hard to do. It’s an inexact science.”
“I am confident there was nothing untoward,” Reid said, mentioning that he had a close friend who was judging Saturday night. “I think people just make bad decisions in a lot of things they do, including judging fights. But it doesn’t hurt to clear the air and take a look at this.”
Reid gave a rather laissez-faire endorsement to the idea of having Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto conduct a state investigation. “I feel confident there’s been nothing untoward, but if an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation,” he said. /with reports from AP