Numbers don’t lie in settling debate

LAS VEGAS – The records show that Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley are 1-1 in their head-to-head matchup. But a review of the numbers compiled from their first two fights reveal a clear trend that Pacquiao is the superior fighter although Bradley took the opener on a split decision.

Pacquiao and Bradley will face off in their rubber match here this morning (Manila time) with the winner claiming bragging rights. No title is at stake in the bout as Bradley had previously relinquished the WBO welterweight crown for the chance to bankroll $4 Million instead of making a mandatory defense against No. 1 contender Sadam Ali. It’s unlikely Bradley would’ve earned even $1 Million in battling Ali.

With Bradley surrendering the crown, Ali and Jessie Vargas squared off for the vacant throne in Washington, D. C. last March. Vargas emerged the new champion with a ninth round stoppage of Ali. In June last year, Vargas lost to Bradley on a unanimous decision. Clearly, Vargas isn’t in the class of either Bradley or Pacquiao. It’s incredulous that the WBO ordered a fight for the vacant title rather than recognize the winner of the rubber match as the champion with the condition of defending the crown against Vargas.

In 2012, Bradley walked away with the WBO title under disputed circumstances. Judges C. J. Ross and Duane Ford scored it 115-113, both for Bradley while judge Jerry Roth had it 115-113 for Pacquiao. Ross and Ford awarded five of the last six rounds to Bradley like he dominated the action.

Bradley was the busier fighter with 839 punches thrown to Pacquiao’s 751 but he missed a lot more. Bradley connected only 159 blows or 19 percent to Pacquiao’s 253 or 34 percent. Pacquiao had the edge in landed jabs, 63-51, and landed power shots, 190-108. The crowd of 14,206 was stunned when ring announcer Michael Buffer declared Bradley the winner. At the post-fight press conference, Bradley showed up in a wheelchair, claiming injury on each foot. If he looked for sympathy, there was none given.

“I respect the decision but I believe I won the fight,” said Pacquiao. “Part of the game is respect and professionalism. In almost every round, I hurt Bradley. I’ll be honest. I don’t remember if he hurt me one punch.” Statistics showed that Bradley outpunched Pacquiao in only two rounds. Pacquiao was a 3.5-1 favorite. In the wake of a public outcry, the WBO assembled a panel of five independent judges to score the fight from a TV monitor. The five judges scored it for Pacquiao.

And so the rematch came to pass in 2014. This time, there was no doubt as to who deserved to win. Judges Michael Pernick and Craig Metcalf saw it 116-112, both for Pacquiao and judge Glenn Trowbridge had it a 118-110 rout, also for the Filipino. The punch stats backed up the scorecards. Once more, Bradley was more active with 627 punches thrown to Pacquiao’s 563 but Pacquiao had more connections, 198-141. He landed more jabs, 50-32 and more power shots, 148-109. Kenny Bayless was the referee.

There were 15,601 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the return engagement and they were treated to a brawl as Bradley chose to engage. Pacquiao didn’t mind trading blows, that’s how he likes it. Bradley had his moment in the fourth round when a right staggered Pacquiao but otherwise, he was completely blown away.

Like in the first fight, Bradley said he was injured in the rematch. He walked with a limp in the post-fight press conference and claimed an injury on his legs. “I have no excuses,” said Bradley. “He’s the best fighter in the world. I won’t take anything away from Pacquiao.”

The disturbing issue was Bradley’s headbutting. In the last round, he brutalized Pacquiao’s left eyebrow which was cut and later sewn up with 32 stitches. “I tried to knock him out,” said Pacquiao. “He hit me with a good hook, I stood up to it. Bradley has improved since our first fight.”

Now comes the third fight to settle the issue once and for all. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said he expects Bradley to headbutt even more and use other dirty tricks. But whatever Bradley does, Roach said he won’t win. Like in the first two fights, the numbers showed who was the better man. The numbers will show the same thing in the rubber match, said Roach.