LAS VEGAS -- Moments after Tim Bradley was awarded a controversial split decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night at the MGM Grand, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum went into a tirade, ripping the two judges who scored the fight for Bradley and threatening to keep the rematch out of Nevada.
“What we saw tonight was ridiculous. That’s the only word to describe it: ridiculous,” Arum said. “We’re not morons, all of us. The outcry world wide about this decision will not be good for boxing.”
Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) handed Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) his first loss in seven years and claimed the WBO welterweight championship when he was awarded a split decision that stunned a packed crowd. All three judges scored the bout 115-113. Jerry Roth had it for Pacquiao, while Cynthia J. Ross and Duane Ford gave Bradley the nod. All are veteran judges from Nevada with multiple championship fights to their credit.
Boos filled the arena when the decision was announced and Arum didn’t hold back his displeasure even though he promotes both fighters.
“I think it’s incomprehensible,” Arum said, adding he would offer to take the judges to see his eye specialist. “I have the best eye doctor in the world and if they would get on a plane and go to Los Angeles, I would pay for them to have a visit.”
The Post scored the fight 116-112 for Pacquiao, who according to CompuBox landed 253 punches to 159 for Bradley, including 190 power punches to 108 for Bradley.
“I thought we won the fight,” said Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer, Freddie Roach. “I thought he fought a very good fight. I thought it was one of his best fights since the [Miguel] Cotto fight. Bradley was very tough and very durable, but I thought we clearly won the fight.”
Pacquiao said he respected the decision, “but 100 percent I believe I won the fight.”
A replay of the bout will be shown on HBO on Saturday at 10 p.m. EDT before the live telecast of the middleweight championship between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee from El Paso, Texas.
A rematch had been negotiated as part of their original deal, with the date set for Nov. 10. Bradley went so far as to display an oversized ticket made up for the rematch, during the press conference on Wednesday. The outcome has left some wondering whether everything was on the up-and-up.
“Something wasn’t right,” Roach said, “because what everyone else saw and what [the judges] saw were two different things.”
What shouldn’t be lost is a gutsy performance by Bradley. He fractured the top of his left foot in the second round, also sprained his right ankle, and needed a wheelchair to attend his post-fight press conference. Despite the pain, he was able to withstand the hard flurries of Pacquiao and steal the fight because the two judges that favored him scored the last three rounds for Bradley.
“He hit me with some big shots early on,” Bradley said, “but I persevered and went through the pain and used my boxing ability towards the end to clear some rounds, maybe the last five rounds, to get the victory.”
Bradley didn’t apologize for winning the split decision.
“There were three judges out there and two felt I won that fight,” Bradley said. “What do you want me to do? That’s all I can say on that. But we definitely have to do it again.”
Boxing has had its share of controversial decisions in recent months. Three judges were suspended in New Jersey after Paul Williams was given a majority decision over Erislandy Lara last July. There were plenty of people who thought Pacquiao didn’t deserve the majority decision he earned over Juan Manuel Marquez last November.
Pacquiao is already looking forward to the rematch, saying he’ll become “a warrior” in his training.
“I don’t want the rematch to last all 12 rounds,” he said.
george.willis@nypost.com
Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Tim Bradley, Bradley, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, split decision, Cynthia J. Ross, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
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