HBO review only confirms suspected daylight robbery

HBO played a re-run of the controversial Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley fight last Sunday prior to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s devastating stoppage win over Andy Lee in Texas and did little to end the anguish of millions of boxing fans.

The showing only confirmed the daylight robbery that took place at the MGM Grand and below is a round by round summary of HBO’s view of the replay, which remains as mind-boggling today as it was last weekend.

Round 1 – Two judges gave the 1st to Bradley. Eric Raskin had it for Pacquiao, but felt this one close enough to go the other way. I scored it 10-9 Bradley.

Round 2 – The same two judges gave the 2nd to Pacquaio. It’s a stretch, but you could make a weak case based on activity, Bradley out-throwing 72-37. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 3 – All three judges gave the 3rd to Pacquiao. That is to say, they got it right. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 4 – The 4th was another sweep on the judges cards for Pacquiao. Incidentally, it’s the round Bradley fractured his foot. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 5 – Two judges, Ross and Ford, scored the 5th round for Bradley. Our writer @EricRaskin frankly doesn’t see how they could. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 6 – All 3 gave the 6th to Pacquiao. But you wonder if they were punishing him throughout for taking off early in rounds. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 7 – Our writer @EricRaskin called the scoring in the 7th “unfathomable.” Bradley won on all three cards despite getting outlanded 27-9. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 8 – Ross and Ford scored the 8th for Bradley, and you could make a case for it. Still, we had it for Pacquiao. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 9 – Two judges gave the 9th to Pacquiao, one to Bradley. Both fighters had good moments, but Pac had more of them. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 10 – We gave the 10th to Bradley, as did all 3 judges. Pacquiao might’ve taken this one off. I scored it 10-9 Bradley.

Round 11 – The 11th was another close one, with Pac possibly thinking KO, but Bradley getting good body shots in. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

Round 12 – The final round, which all three judges gave to Bradley, we had for Pacquiao, but was close enough to go the other way. I scored it 10-9 Pacquiao.

HBO’s summary: Ultimately, looking back after the fight Eric Raskin had it 118-111 to Pac.

Somehow, a week later, this is still shocking to watch.

My summary: I scored the fight 118-110 and could only give Bradley maybe the eleventh or twelfth rounds at a push to close it to four rounds. But even then, it would be out of generosity, rather than the American earning them outright. /Phil D. Jay WBN Editor