NBA players, US celebrities upset over Horn win, say Pacquiao ‘robbed’

Jeff Horn came away with a unanimous decision victory over Pacquiao on Sunday to claim the WBO welterweight title before a boisterous crowd at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Horn’s upset win, however, didn’t sit well with NBA stars and Hollywood celebrities, who did not hold back on social media in venting out their disappointment over the shocking turn of events.

“Uhhhhhhh, can U Say Bulls**t??!!Manny got F****d!!! That’s the Face of a Winner??!” posted the award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson on Twitter referring to Horn, whose face was swollen and had a cut above the right eye after taking a punch in the second round.

“Boxing is wack!!!! Pac-man got robbed again…This is why MMA is so big now..SMH,” said retired NBA player Chauncey Billups, who was the Finals MVP during the Detroit Pistons’ championship run in 2004.

In 2012, Pacquiao also suffered a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley by split decision in a bout where he yielded the same welterweight crown. Pacquiao regained the belt two years later in a one-sided rematch.

Shortly after controversial decision was made, Kobe Bryant posted a GIF showing a shocked close-up of rapper and actor Ice Cube on Twitter that has been retweeted and liked for over 30,000 times as of posting.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves also had the eight-division champion’s back.

“Disrespected @mannypacquiao like he not a legend. #PacquiaoHorn.”

The numbers also showed Pacquiao got the better of Horn and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors let the people know about it, tweeting a post with a photo of the punch stats.

“The sun must’ve been in the judges faces,” said the athletic swingman.

Horn threw 52 more punches with 625 but Pacquiao landed 90 more shots with 182.

Pacquiao landed 32% of his 573 total punches and also hit 123 power punches as compared to Horn’s 73.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Algieri backpedals as the 11th round ends

MANILA, Philippines–Chris Algieri tapped his reserve winds and threw a combination to Manny Pacquiao at the start of the 11th round.

Another episode of Algieri’s backpedals but Pacquiao wanted a fight as the champion closed in on the American and landed another left straight.

Pacquiao acknowledged Algieri’s efforts as chants of “Manny! Manny!” from the thousands of fans in Cotai Arena showered the Filipino.

And it’s a clinic for Pacquiao as the fight went to the 12th and final round.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Algieri tastes the mat again in the 10th

MANILA, Philippines–Chris Algieri fought back early in the 10th round but Manny Pacquiao looked as clean as a whistle.

Pacquiao then stepped up his offense once again pinning Algieri to the ropes.

Algieri kept the distance with jabs but Pacquiao closed in and landed a massive punch to the face of the New Yorker.

A massive uppercut came from Algieri but only the air between the boxers felt the pain from the throw.

Algieri wobbled but continued his impressive head movement; Pacquiao though would not be fooled.

A knockdown again as Algieri tumbled to the floor to Dionisia Pacquiao’s amusement.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Algieri falls flat on his back in round 9

MANILA, Philippines–The last single-digit round commenced with both fighters immediately going to the offensive at the sound of the bell.

Mosquito punch for Manny Pacquiao and the American Chris Algieri also threw a light punch as well.

Algieri landed three punches to the head of Pacquiao but the champion looked as fresh as ever.

Pacquiao landed a left straight and Algieri fell flat on his back but continued the fight and received three punches to the face and another knockdown.

An offensive onslaught from Pacquiao with multiple combos to the face of Algieri followed as the American reeled in pain.

source: sports.inquirer.net

A slow round 8 but Algieri still on the defensive

MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao acknowledged that Chris Algieri can still manage to go toe-to-toe with him but the Filipino immediately followed it up with a two-punch combo.

A slower pace from Pacquiao compared to the previous two rounds but Algieri still backpedaled with the American landing a right straight to the face of the champion.

Algieri told the referee that a low blow hit him but the man in charge of the ring would not give him that as Pacquiao’s glove only hit the American’s leg.

Pacquiao then gave Algieri a high-five for the mistake.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Algieri looking tired as seventh round ends

MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao looked to play with Chris Algieri as he encouraged the undefeated New Yorker to throw some punches.

Algieri responded with a hard right to the body of Pacquiao but the champion brushed it off and blocked the American’s jabs.

Pacquiao then landed a straight to the face of Algieri who looked more tired and helpless as the fight continued.

Jabs are aplenty for Pacquiao as Algieri’s arms went lower, a sure sign of fatigue.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Pinoys weigh in, expect Pacquiao victory

MANILA, Philippines—As eight-division World champion Manny Pacquiao steps onto the squared circle on Sunday in Macau, his compatriots expect that the Fighter of the Decade would once again raise his arms in victory.

“I think Pacquiao would get this one again, he’s one of us” jeepney driver Carlito Ilagan said of the home-grown hero. “I think he’s ready.”

Pacquiao will defend his WBO Welterweight Title against undefeated American Chris Algieri on Sunday in Cotai Arena in Macau.

Rolando Nazare, a traffic enforcer, said he expects Pacquiao to deliver a knockout but should be wary of the younger Algieri.

A peaceful man by vocation, Pastor Samuel Patagnan Jr. of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ also expects a knockout.

“I think it would still be Pacquiao, he’s an expert and a veteran,” Patagnan said. “Knockout? Probably, because he’s also fought other younger and taller fighters before.”

Kevin Patrick Hogan, an American tourist, said Pacquiao should take the fight early and a knockout would be possible.

“I think he can, but I think he’s gonna do it in the first couple of rounds, first, second, third or fourth,” Hogan said. “If it goes past the fourth round, it might be tough.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Fil-Ams in Las Vegas relieved by Pacquiao win

• Were wary of non-KO fight ending, which could’ve robbed their champ again

• Fans now want Mayweather’s head

• Viewing parties bring family and friends together

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Manny Pacquiao is back as champion. Order has been restored. Filipinos in Las Vegas can rest easy.

“He showed he still have plenty left in the tank,” said Pat Pimentel at a fight viewing party. “He has slowed down, but he’s still one of the best.”

Showing just occasional flashes of his old fiery self, Paquiao easily outpointed Timothy Bradley over 12 rounds Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Area to win back the WBO welterweight title he lost to the American two years ago.

There were no anxious moments for the two dozen or so Fil-Ams who watched the fight at the home of William and Trini O’Rourke on Dessert Inn, except before the decision was announced.

Pacquiao easily dominated the fight, but like in 2012, there was fear that Bradley, who came into the fight with a spotless 30-fight winning streak, could snatch the victory.

“I’m glad Pacquiao was declared winner,” said Jose Badsalin. “It was a convincing win, but you never know with this decision victories.”

After a two-loss streak, including that controversial split-decision loss to Bradley, Filipinos here have been wary of a Paquiao fight.

Pacquiao fights are a big event here for the 30,000 or so Filipino-American residents, and fight parties are pretty common, with groups of Filipinos using the occasion to meet up with friends, relatives and folks coming from the same Philippine towns and cities.

“It’s been like family affairs,” said Trini Rourke, who works at the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas. “Everyone here is either a friend or relative.”

Because watching the fight live is expensive, most Filipinos resort to buying pay-per-view to watch the bout, oftentimes sharing the expense and food potluck style.

At the O’Rouke fight party, there were pancit, lumpia, chicken and beef, kakanin, including cassava cake, and puto.

It’s an event repeated in many Filipino homes across the United States — and in the Philippines — as Pacquiao, a tried and tested boxing hero, continues to impress despite his advancing age.

The talk now, here and throughout the boxing world, is if finally fans will get the fight they’re hoping for — a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., a Las Vegas native.

“That will be the fight of all fights,” said Romy Lumanlan, who added that Mayweather could not forever avoid Pacquiao if he were to cement his boxing legacy.

Pacquiao came out sharp and eager to fight and engaged Bradley toe-to-toe in the early rounds, unleashing his patented two-fisted attack and combinations.

In the third round, Bradly pinned Pacquiao on the ropes and appeared to have hurt the Filipino, drawing gasps from the crowd watching the bout.

But Paquiao escaped with not much damage and administered the same punishment to Bradley in the seventh. As the American visibly appeared to be tiring out, Pacquiao took control of the fight.

In the 12th, however, the two boxers banged heads, and Pacquiao sustained a deep cut on his left eyebrow. Good for the Filipino champion, it was the last round, and there was no clear damage.

“He’s good for perhaps another two years,” said Gil Guillen, whose wife is Filipina, and had lived in the Philippines for 14 years. “We can still enjoy watching him fight.”

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

No review of Pacquiao-Bradley despite Arum criticisms, says Nevada State Athletic Commission

In spite of accusations from Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and tweets from UFC president Dana White calling the Nevada State Athletic Commission the "worst" in the U.S., the organization is not expected to discipline or review any of the judges in Saturday's (Sunday, PHL time) split-decision win by Timothy Bradley over Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire that no such action would be needed, saying, "Every fighter who loses a close fight looks at the judges."

He also conceded however, "I think every judge should strive to get better."

Kizer's comments came on the heels of criticisms from Arum and White after the controversial result kept Bradley's undefeated streak alive, while causing Pacquiao to drop his title.

Arum told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole that he wanted an investigation to see if someone rigged the outcome of the bout.

"I want to investigate whether there was any undue influence, whether the [Nevada Athletic Commission] gave any particular instruction and how they came to this conclusion," said Arum.

"If this was a subjective view that each of [the judges] honestly held, OK. I would still disagree, but then we're off the hook in terms of there being no conspiracy. But there needs to be an independent investigation because it strains credulity that an event everybody saw as one-sided on way all three judges saw it as close. It strains credulity."

Arum also said he would hold off on a Pacquiao-Bradley rematch until Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto agreed to such a probe.

UFC President Dana White was also unafraid to share his opinion regarding the match, tweeting out to his followers, "Nevada state athletic commission at its finest!!! You've for to be f***ing kidding me!! that is disgusting Nevada state athletic commission!!" and "Worst athletic commission in the country!!!!!!!"

Earlier today, judges Duane Ford and Jerry Roth defended their scores in an interview with Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Ford said that he thought "Bradley gave Pacquiao a boxing lesson," and thus scored it 115-113 for Bradley.

Roth, who gave the match to Pacquiao, 115-113, said, "[Despite the last three rounds] I still thought Pacquiao had done enough to win."

The third judge, CJ Ross, declined to comment. She scored it 115-113 for Bradley.

Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Skip Avansino reiterated what co-worker Keith Kizer said when asked if the judges acted inappropriately, saying, "We had three seasoned professionals working and I don't question their determinations.

"I'm not going to second-guess our judges."

Curiously, Arum was hit with a $125,000 fine by the Nevada State Athletic Commission back in 1995, due to an attempt to bribe the International Boxing Federation. At the time, it was the highest fine ever issued, Sports Illustrated wrote. - AMD, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com