Friday June 22, 2012
WBO rematch ruling restores faith in boxing, says Pacquiao
MANILA: Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said yesterday that a WBO panel ruling that he had won his controversial bout against Timothy Bradley would help restore people’s faith in the sport.
The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) on their website yesterday said all five members of a special panel they asked to review the controversial June 9 Las Vegas bout scored it in favour of Pacquiao.
The WBO said it could not overturn the result of the fight or ask Bradley to surrender the belt, but that it could authorise a rematch.
“I hope with this ruling the public’s faith in boxing would be restored,” 33-year-old Pacquiao said by phone from his home in the southern Philippines.
“I was not surprised by the WBO ruling. I knew that I won, so did the whole world. But that is already over and I am now focusing on the next fight.”
He said he and his promoter Bob Arum would discuss his next move in a Los Angeles meeting set for next week, but remained coy on who would be his next opponent.
“We will soon find out who I will fight next,” he said, when asked if he was aiming for a rematch against US fighter Bradley.
Bradley snatched Pacquiao’s welterweight belt via a split decision, with two judges scoring it 115-113 for the American and a third scoring it 115-113 for Pacquiao.
With the win, Bradley snapped Pacquiao’s 15-fight, seven-year winning streak.
The decision sparked outrage in the boxing-crazy Philippines and in the United States, where two senators pushed for the creation of a national boxing commission to regulate the sport.
Arum questioned the competence of the judges and pressed for an inquiry from the Nevada attorney general’s office.
Pacquiao is a social phenomenon in the Philippines, where his status as one of the greatest boxers ever has propelled him to huge riches, a movie career and election to parliament. — AFP
- Former world junior champ Zulfadli in main draw
- FedEx eyes record win at Wimbledon
- V Shem-Khim Wah face tough opener in Singapore Open
- Revington says he will decide on future after the World League
- Iain steels himself for a good show at Seri Selangor
- MHC: No action against Dharma and Lim
- Brazilian Massa looking ahead to team’s revival
- Direct flight now to Naypyitaw for Malaysian SEA Games squad
- It’s on with the job as players glad it is all over
- Results worldwide
- NBA: Heat beat Spurs to force game seven
- Lions winger North cleared for first test
- Code-hopper Folau set to debut in first test against Lions
- Lions pride wounded ahead of first Australia test
- Blake out of Jamaican champs, to run just 100 metres at worlds
- Quick visit to mum puts Li Na right
- 'Yuna Kids' aim to continue Korean star's legacy
- Iain steels himself for a good show at Seri Selangor
- MHC: No action against Dharma and Lim
- Results worldwide
RSS
