The boxing world is receiving a lot of backlash after the controversial decision in Saturday night's match between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley.
Bradley, being the underdog, won in a split decision.
People enjoy rooting for the underdog, but when the world's most popular boxer is stripped of a hard earned victory, fans will react negatively and the sport could suffer for years to come.
Boxing is already a controversial sport. Athlete's pay is not measured necessarily by talent, but based mostly on their popularity. Because of this, people have constantly questioned the outcome of fights.
Promoters have had a history of cheating boxers of their own money. Notorious promoter Don King has faced lawsuits after not giving fighters the money they deserved.
Last night, boxing saw one of the talents that gave the sport life get stripped from his belt.
Pacquiao, along with other fighters like Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather, helped the sport get back on the map.
Prior to their emergence, boxing was going through a dark age. Boxing did not have any major heavyweights attracting the people.
The Evander Holyfields and Mike Tysons were disappearing from the sport. Their time was done.
Smaller boxers in lightweight and welterweight divisions began dominating the sport.
When fighers like Julio Cesar Chavez, Tito Trinidad and Oscar de la Hoya faded into the background, Pacquiao was one of the fighters who brought boxing back to the people.
The international star worked his way up from the bottom. He became a star and a motivational figure for people around the world.
Boxing fans are now disappointed with the judge's decisions. The sport's already weak credibility has taken a nose dive.
Making matters worse, Bradley showed up to the final press conference with a blown up ticket that read "Bradley vs. Pacquiao 2." With his name coming first, Bradley predicted the victory in last night's match.
The ticket basically inferred that Pac would ask for a rematch.
What looked like typical boxing propagando, now adds an ever uglier spin to last night's controversial results.
Bradley was not even sure he had won the fight and stated he was going to watch the tape. Usually, boxers are very demonstrative and confident about winning. Bradley, along with the fans, was shocked with the outcome.
With the way things have turned out, even if there was a rematch, there is doubt that people would watch.
Maybe boxing will need Pacquiao and Mayweather to hook up on the ring in order to attract viewers, but even then, the damage has been done.
The people do not trust the sport of boxing anymore.
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