22nd June, 2012
Members of a five-man review panel have ruled that Manny Pacquiao should have been declared the winner of his bout against Timothy Bradley.
And now the former WBO welterweight champion wants a rematch against the American.
The panel was appointed by the WBO championship committee to review the 9 June bout. The members studied video footage of the fight in Las Vegas and ruled the judges should have made Pacquiao the winner.
No official reports of their decision have surfaced in the United States but it seems Pacquiao has been informed of the result of their deliberations.
The former champion said in Manila on yesterday he would prefer a rematch to Bradley giving up the title which the American won on a split decision because “people may think I just usurped it”.
“My supporters shouldn’t worry. We’re going to get that title,” the Filipino superstar said.
Duane Ford, who scored the bout 15-13 for Bradley, has been quoted as saying, “I thought Bradley gave Pacquiao a boxing lesson.”
His colleague Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Pacquiao and CJ Ross 115-113 for Bradley.
WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel later announced that five “recognised international judges” would review the fight and make a recommendation.
Valcarcel said, however, the WBO did not doubt the ability of the judges who scored the fight.
The WBO cannot overturn the result of the fight or force Bradley to surrender the belt, but can authorise a rematch.