Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Why the Public Shouldn't Buy a Rematch

Timothy Bradley was awarded a split-decision victory over Manny Pacquiao. The decision also split the boxing world and has set up a virtually unavoidable rematch, but the paying public shouldn't show up. 

Pacquiao appeared to answer the questions about his conditioning, training, the impact of his new faith and concerns about the quality of his last boxing performance. Bradley may have gotten off the early blows, but Pacquiao hit him more often and harder.

Even Bradley felt he had lost the fight.

In a comment on ESPN.com, Promoter Bob Arum stated "Can you believe that? Unbelievable," Arum said. "I went over to Bradley before the decision and he said, `I tried hard, but I couldn't beat the guy."

Still, two of the judges opted to award the fight to Bradley.

Pacquiao certainly deserves an opportunity to beat Bradley again and take back his title, but boxing fans shouldn't support the event financially.

They shouldn't buy the pay-per-view broadcast, they shouldn't show up for the fight and they definitely shouldn't place wagers on a sport that is obviously corruptible.

There are many possible explanations for what transpired at the edge of the ring. It is possible Bradley actually deserved to win the fight and the only view from which one could see it was the judges' table.

Perhaps two of the judges made honest mistakes, or maybe the HBO broadcast team was so convincing that they swayed an entire viewing public to believe Pacquiao was dominating the fight...even those in attendance and not listening to their commentary.

There seems to be something bigger at play, though.

Prior to the match and again before the results were announced, HBO pay-per-view announcer Jim Lampley discussed the questionable credentials of the judges. 

Arum pretended to be outraged over the decision, but one could see the vision of dollar signs floating above his head. He manages both fighters and one has to wonder if he has enough influence to sway a judge or two.

There is no preliminary word on how the outcome impacted the Las Vegas sports books, but with the close ties between gambling revenue and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) one has to wonder if they were favored in the decision.

Perhaps the outrage over Pacquiao's decision over Juan Manuel Marquez made the judges more critical of the Filipino boxer during the fight, tipping the match to Bradley.

Whatever the reason, it is difficult to buy that Bradley deserves to be the champion. It should be harder for boxing fans to buy a rematch.

When the expected November rematch occurs, fans need to send a message that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the NSAC need to clean up their act.

Leave Arum holding the bag for the expected monster payouts for his fighters. Leave HBO in the red for the event. Leave the sports books with empty and vulnerable to an odd prop-bet.

Until those that have the most to gain actually lose, there won't be pressure on the NSAC and the WBO to clean up their sport...and until the sport is honest again, it isn't deserving of fans hard-earned dollars.