ROC4LIFE

I felt my sphincter clench and my scrotum contract in shock when Michael Buffer announced Tim Bradley as the “NEW WBO WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION” on June 9th, 2012. If you watched the Pacquiao-Bradley bout and if you’re sane and honest, you’ll agree that Manny Pacquiao won that fight. Unfortunately, it was officially entered in the loss column for Pacquiao. If boxing fans had so much trouble accepting the result, imagine how difficult it must’ve been for the man who actually got robbed.

In the final installment of the Pacquiao blog series, the Filipino champ explains what happened in the controversial Bradley fight.

“I was really looking forward to fighting Tim Bradley. He had earned the shot at my title having been undefeated and unifying the junior welterweight titles twice. He always came to fight in shape and he always fought aggressively. I thought the fans would enjoy our fight.

“But after the early rounds where I was connecting on a lot of my punches Bradley did what Joshua Clottey, Shane Mosley and even Juan Manuel Márquez did when they fought me. He ran.

“It was very disappointing. If I didn’t go after Bradley there would be no action — no fight. That’s no good for the fans.

“I felt I won the fight easily. I controlled all of it. And when the final bell rang I could see the frustration in his face. He knew he lost. You could tell by his body language. But when I heard the scores I was completely surprised but what could I do? The judges saw it differently and I accept their decision. Officially it counts as a loss and I am no longer a world champion, and yet it has never felt like a loss to me. It is hard to describe.

“That is why I decided not to seek a rematch with Bradley. Everyone knew I won that fight. It was one sided. The fans did not want to see that fight again and what would it prove?

“But it did remind me of what boxing is all about; finishing what you start. It’s not always good enough to win. You have to win going all out for all 12 rounds. You have to go for the knockout when it presents itself. As Freddie Roach has always told me, ‘When your opponent is ready to be knocked out, knock him out. It’s your job.’

And that is how I have trained for Márquez. To do my job.”

Bonus:

Here’s the complete third episode of Pacuquiao/Marquez 24/7.

Pacquiao vs. Marquez 4 takes place Saturday, December 8 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

— Rizoh