Going into the bout, many fight scribes made the 28 year old Palm Springs, CA, resident a last minute favorite to upset the Pac-man, but most pundits didn't envision a victory this controversial.
Judge Jerry Roth scored the contest 115-113 in favor of Manny Pacquiao, but C.J. Ross and Duane Ford both saw the fight 115-113 for Tim Bradley.
When the verdict was announced, the questionable decision was greeted with a collective sea of boos. The vast majority of the 14, 206 fight fans in attendance overwhelmingly saw the highly publicized match play out in a different manner.
HBO ringside scorer Harold Lederman gave the new WBO Champion one round out of a possible twelve with Pacquiao landing the harder more consequential and damaging blows, winning eleven rounds on Lederman's unofficial scorecard.
Despite the official fight results, Manny Pacquiao put on one of his most impressive performances in quite some time. With a dominant exhibition over a young and undefeated fighter, the Pac-man showed his critics that he can still compete at the highest level of the sport.
Although the Filipino Congressman ended his fifteen fight win streak with the formal loss to Bradley last night, the eight division champion will more than likely get an immediate opportunity to face the new WBO Champ in November 10th.
Manny stated that he will not let a rematch go to the judges' scorecards.
