Even Pacquiao bashers believe he won handily

“Bradley should have given the belt and announce victory to Pacquiao right after the decision,” — Oscar De La Hoya

“I felt like there was a gap, where you could see who’s winning,” — Mayweather Sr.

LAS VEGAS—Even Manny Pacquiao’s critics believe that he was the clear winner over Timothy Bradley in their WBO welterweight championship battle Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).

Take Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Sr., acknowledged as perennial Pacquiao bashers.

De La Hoya, the former Golden Boy of boxing who was forced to quit on his stool and to eventual retirement by Pacquiao in 2008, tweeted that “Bradley should have given the belt and announce victory to Pacquiao right after the decision.”

Interviewed by reporters after the 12-round bout, Floyd, namesake of Pacquiao’s pound-for-pound rival, said that although he didn’t score the fight, he knew that Pacquiao won.

“I felt like there was a gap, where you could see who’s winning,” said Mayweather, who didn’t discount the possibility of his imprisoned son figuring in a megabuck bout with Pacquiao in the future.

For now, however, the younger Mayweather has to serve his 87-day sentence for domestic battery.

Of course, Pacquiao admirers and boxing and martial arts experts are more aghast at the split decision that rocked the boxing community.

Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, lambasted the Nevada State Athletic Commission on his tweet, for allowing another blockbuster bout to reek of conspiracy.

ESPN boxing analyst and trainer Teddy Atlas, on the other hand, told @SportsCenter that: Boxing is a corrupt sport. Implying that the bum decision is tainted.

Virtually all of those who covered the bout also saw Bradley losing by a big margin. /inquirer