Pacquiao vs. Bradley: Nothing Can Fix Damage Caused by Controversial Decision

There isn't really anything that can undo the damage caused by Timothy Bradley's crazy split-decision win over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday. There is no investigation that erase the decision's indelible effects.

By now, the public has already decided that Bradley's win was unquestionably undeserved. Anyone with eyes could see that Pacquiao won the fight, no matter how much or how little boxing they'd watched in their lives.

Yet Bradley—an undefeated underdog—was awarded a split decision, much to everyone's surprise. Jerry Roth scored the match 115-113 in Pacquiao's favor, while Duane Ford and C.J. Ross scored it 115-113 for Bradley.

It's saying a lot when the guy who won didn't even see it coming. According to SI.com's Bryan Armen Graham, promoter Bob Arum—who represents both Bradley and Pacquiao—said that before the decision was announced, Bradley told him, "I tried hard but I couldn't beat the guy."

And yet, here we are. Win for Bradley; loss for one of the greatest welterweights in the sport.

Since the moment Saturday's match ended, fans have been crying conspiracy, and it seems logical. After all, there is a lot of money to be gained from a rematch, which is essentially guaranteed now that Pacquiao lost. It's very possible that no matter how good Pacquiao was on Saturday, he was never going to get the win. 

Many have even claimed that Arum is at the center of a possible conspiracy, considering the financial implications of a rematch for him. He was furious post-fight, but you know what they say about he who doth protest too much, and plus, half of the fun of boxing is all about drama and posturing. 

Arum told the Vancouver Sun:

"

Something like this is so outlandish, it's a death knell for the sport. This is f——— nuts. I have both guys, and I'll make a lot of money in the rematch, but it's ridiculous. You have these old f—— who don't know what the hell they're looking at. It's incompetence. Nobody who knows anything about boxing could have Bradley ahead in the fight.

"

So if anyone with any clue about boxing could clearly see who the true victor was on Saturday…how can the outcome possibly be justified?

For a second, let's say this investigation—which, according to Yahoo! Sports' Hobson Lopes, will be conducted by WBO president Francisco Valcarcel—reveals some foul play. In that case, we are left with the knowledge that boxing isn't worth watching because the outcome doesn't matter, anyway.

This situation is a lose-lose. Either the conspiracy investigation yields nothing and the boxing world remains up in arms—and promoters like Arum make millions off the rematch—or the investigation confirms everyone's worst fears.

No good is going to come of this situation. The judges already screwed up, and their colossal error in judgment could cost this sport its integrity.