The New York Times is reporting that on a split decision last night, Manny Pacquiao lost his welterweight match against Timothy Bradley.
Unlike "Pac-Man" Pacquiao, Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley hasn't had a lot of limelight.
It will be the first opportunity on the big stage for the 28-year-old American, who is recognized in boxing circles as a tough, skilled fighter, but who for most of his career has labored just outside the spotlight.
"It's been a long journey, but I knew at some point I would get here," said Bradley, who won his first world title, at light-welterweight, by defeating Britain's Junior Witter in 2008.
...
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has been dismissive of Bradley's chances, telling reporters that "we have no worries about this guy at all," but Bradley asserts that such talk serves only to motivate him.
"I like when people talk good about me," said Bradley. "But I like it better when they talk bad about me."
Now, this will be short, and
boxing isn't even a sport I follow ... but it appears to me that GOP augurs would want (over the CheddarKosCheeto ...)
their base to not hear how "turning his life around" to prep for this bout has worked out for the Filipino world-champion.
Pacquiao seemed to have put his marital strife behind him for this bout, rededicating himself to his marriage after admitting he had cheated on his wife, Jinkee.
He also started going to church more often. ...
He also said he stopped gambling, including wagering on cockfighting, which is legal in the Philippines. He said he no longer owns the more than 1,000 roosters he raised, fought and bet on. He said he sold his interest in a Filipino casino. Pacquiao, a Celtics fan, even gave up basketball.
Gave up basketball? Great timing. The Celtics lost to the Heat in the semifinals, so the NBA finals are going to feature the Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The fight was expected to start immediately after the Miami Heat’s victory over the Boston Celtics. But Pacquiao could not be found.
Sucks to be Manny this morning, with no games to look forward to ...
A Reuters account of the hometown reaction to the bout ends on what may be unintended irony.
Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao's best known here for his stands against marriage equality and homosexuality, probably.
Maybe the result of last night's fight is really just a sign that boxers are as fallible as any other political celebrities.
Timothy Bradley appears to have just kept on slogging through the work, and it won him the fight.
"Desert Storm" Bradley, a 5-1 underdog against Pacquiao, improved his perfect record to 29-0 with 12 knockouts, while Pacquiao slipped to 54-4-2 with 38 knockouts. ...
Judge Jerry Roth (115-113) awarded the fight to Pacquiao while CJ Ross (115-113) and Duane Ford (115-113) gave it to the American, but the crowd responded with boos after 12 rounds which the Filipino had appeared to dominate. ...
"It was a good, competitive fight," said Bradley. "Every round was pretty close. Pacquiao won some of the early rounds. I controlled the later rounds with my jab. I need to go home and review the tape.
"He is a strong puncher. He rocked me a couple of times in the fight but I held my ground and fought to the end. This is boxing."
Don't know much about Timothy Bradley ... but he doesn't appear to be
doing time for domestic violence like the next guy who wants to fight Pacquiao, or under investigation for cheating on his taxes.
"I like when people talk good about me," said Bradley. "But I like it better when they talk bad about me."
That, at least, seems to have motivated one man to beat one superstar. Good on ya, Timothy.