Date: 9th June 2012
Venue: MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Title: WBO World Welterweight Title
Promoter: Top rank & DiBella Entertainment
Tv: HBO Pay-per-view
Manny Pacquiao
(
54
-
3
-
2
)
Weight: 147 lbs
Timothy Bradley Jr
(
28
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 146 lbs
The Manny Pacquiao vs Timothy Bradley Jr fight, which took place on Saturday 9th June 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a highly anticipated boxing event. The fight was promoted by Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment and was aired on HBO Pay-Per-View. Pacquiao, the current WBO Welterweight champion, was defending his title for the fourth time.
Pacquiao entered the fight as the #1 welterweight contender and #2 pound-for-pound boxer, according to The Ring Magazine. On the other hand, Bradley, a 5-1 betting underdog, entered as the #1 junior welterweight contender and #8 pound-for-pound boxer. Despite the odds, Bradley managed to beat Pacquiao by split decision, shocking the boxing world.
Pacquiao was guaranteed a whopping $26 million by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. However, his check on the night of the fight was for $6 million, and he also received a portion of the pay-per-view buys. Bradley's purse was a career-high $5 million, and he also received a portion of the pay-per-view buys.
The fight attracted an attendance of 14,206, and the gate was $8.9 million, making it a highly lucrative event for the organizers. However, the fight was marred by controversy as many believed that Pacquiao was the rightful winner of the fight.
After the bout, five veteran judges commissioned by the WBO reviewed the fight and declared Pacquiao the unanimous decision winner. However, the decision was not overturned, and Bradley remained the WBO welterweight champion.
The controversial decision sparked a heated debate among boxing fans and experts, with many criticizing the judges for their scoring.