By: Danny Serratelli

Before the fight tonight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley I made my prediction. Bradley is an undefeated champion in his prime, he is fast, smart and a good technical boxer. Bradley was moving up in weight to fight Pacquiao at 147 and I predicted that his lack of power and inability to hurt Pacquiao would cost him the fight.

Some of Bradley’s best attributes, his heart and his desire to fight and be aggressive would lead to trouble against Pacquiao. My prediction was that the fight would be competitive at times, but that Pacquaio would win by unanimous decision because of the big difference in power and because of Bradley’s desire to mix it up.

The prediction played out or it came pretty close. It appeared that Pacquiao should have been awarded a unanimous decision. Over the years I have defended the judges and the way fights are scored in boxing. The casual fan often doesn’t acknowledge the way professional fights are actually scored by professional judges. However, all that aside and based off my single viewing of the fight, it appears 2 of the judges blew it this time.

As we went to the scorecards, the man, Harold Lederman had the fight 10-2 Pacquiao. My card read 9-3 for Pacquiao. People believed it was a sweep and before the scores were announced I said that I can see judges giving Bradley as many as 4 or 5 rounds in this kind of fight. When they began announcing a split decision, it was strange…Maybe C J Ross blew it…. a SPLIT decision for Pacquiao, but when we heard Duane Ford’s score it became surreal. Bradley and Pacquiao both conducted themselves as warrior gentlemen.

After Pacquaio’s last fight against Marquez I watched the fight again, with no sound and I scored it the same 7-5, Pacquiao. I look forward to scoring this one again. At this time it seems very hard to believe that the judge who thought Pacquiao won gave Bradley 5 rounds and the other 2 judges game him 7. While Bradley was game I do not remember a single memorable blow he landed, while Pacquiao landed quite a few. Bradley did some things well, as Pacquiao seemed unable to land more than one hard punch at a time and Bradley never gave up.

I don’t buy into the punchstats, I did think there were several rounds in which Bradley looked like the busier fighter. When the fighters mixed it up early it seemed neither landed with any degree of accuracy, but when they did connect, Pacquaio landed the harder shots every time.

Maybe Floyd will finally fight Pacquiao now?? I want to see this rematch first.