The blowback from Timothy Bradley’s split decision win against Manny Pacquiao has two senators pushing for a bill that would create a special commission supervising all boxing matches with the goal of bringing transparency to the sport.Pacquiao lost his fight to Bradley in a result that shocked and outraged boxing fans everywhere. Two of the match’s three judges scored it 115-113 in favor of Bradley while all media outlets had Pacquiao winning at least eight of the 12 rounds (most had it scored 10-2 or 9-3 in favor of Pacquiao.)
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., want government to get involved to prevent another result like this from happening in the future. McCain called controversial decision in Pacquiao-Bradley fight “the largest example of the legitimate distrust boxing fans have for the integrity of the sport.”
Reid told Fox News that he and McCain – both former boxers themselves – to get a national boxing bill passed. According to reports, the proposed bill would create a National Boxing Commission to regulate the sport. Standards would be set for boxers, judges, referees and fight promoters.
“Clearly, the conspiracy theories and speculation surrounding the fight are given life because there are so many questions surrounding the integrity of the sport and how it is managed in multiple jurisdictions,” McCain said on the Senate floor.
Bradley, who was a +400 underdog against Pacquiao, landed 82 fewer power punches and was outhit in 10 of the 12 rounds according to CompuBox Stats. One Vegas sportsbook director called it "
the worst decision I’ve seen in my lifetime.”