WBO President Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel said that Wednesday could mark the conclusion of his investigation into the disputed split-decision victory by Tim Bradley, which dethroned Manny Pacquiao as WBO welterweight beltholder at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on June 9.
According to CompuBox stats, Pacquaio (54-4-2, 38 knockouts) out-landed Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) in 10 of the 12 rounds, with the overall count in his favor 253-to-159. He also scored with more total jabs (63-51) and power punches (190-108). Bradley out-landed Pacquiao in only the ninth round, while the 10th was even in punches connected with each landing 14.
Bradley won on the cards of judges C.J. Ross and Duane Ford with scores of 115-113, while Jerry Roth had it the same way for Pacquiao. An informal poll of 51 writers favored Pacquiao over Bradley, 48-3.
Valcarcel concluded that Bradley-Pacquiao "ended in a controversial result," and decided to "take measures in accordance with the rules of procedure," by which his Championship Committee would "examine with five recognized international judges and evaluate the video of the match." That panel was to then "agree to what emerges," and "make its recommendation according to the rules."
"We are taking the scorecards of our five international judges and comparing them to those of the judges of the fight. We're trying to find the most controversial rounds and see where they agree and disagree. And then, we will compare that to the scorecards of the three judges who worked the fight," Valcarcel told RingTV.com on Tuesday.
"We will identify the rounds where the judges did not agree. I want to be sure which rounds were the close, controversial rounds, according to everybody. We're probably talking about two or three rounds. And then, we will decide whether the rounds should have been scored this way or the other way, and then we will reccommend what to do. We hope to have a decision maybe tomorrow."
If the decision is found to be unacceptable, Valcarcel said that the organization's rules do not allow for the bout being overturned.
"The only thing that we can do is authorize a rematch," said Valcarcel. "We can not go any further than that. That is in our rules."
The Bradley-Pacquiao contract already had contained a clause calling for a rematch on Nov. 10, although Pacquiao is reportedly considering a fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez in Mexico for that date.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Bradley, has requested that Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto investigate the results of the bout. Nevada State Athletic Commission director, Keith Kizer, told RingTV.com that he will review the video with the three judges.
On Monday, Bradley-Pacquiao became a bipartisan issue in Washington, D.C., where Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada introduced legislation that would create the U.S. Boxing Commission.
HBO's unofficial ringside boxing scorer, Harold Lederman, who scored the fight 119-to-109 for Pacquiao (or 11 rounds to one), told RingTV.com that he believes that the Nevada Commission should open up its judging criteria to include "the best possible," including those outside of Las Vegas.
Valcarcel agrees with Lederman.
"I was checking Pacquiao's history in Las Vegas," said Valcarcel, noting that Ford, Ross and Roth are all Las Vegas residents. "Part of the problem is that in Vegas , they have to open it up to other international judges because they don't use outsiders."
Kizer disagreed with Valcarcel and Lederman.
"On three of the last five world title fights we've had here on pay per view, we used outside judges on those fights. The Nevada Commission has often used judges form outside of Nevada," said Kizer.
"We used an outside judge on the [Randall Bailey-Mike Jones] fight, and we used an outside judge on the [Guillermo Rigondeaux-Teon Kennedy] fight, and we used an outside judge on the [Saul Alvarez-Shane Mosley] fight."
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