Manny Pacquiao: Bradley Rematch Must Happen Regardless of Investigation Results

It would be funny if after all of this—after Manny Pacquiao's "loss" to Timothy Bradley; after the investigation which could prove that the results were rigged to ensure a rematch its accompanying payday—Pacquiao just said no to a do-over.

But that will never happen because Pacquiao can't move on with his career until he puts this behind him. It won't matter what the investigation yields. If he's a true competitor, he'll want to prove with his bare hands that the judges were wrong on June 9. And he is a true competitor.

In light of Pacquiao's controversial split-decision loss to Bradley on Saturday, the World Boxing Organization is investigating the matter to ensure that there was no foul play involved. 

Investigation or not, it was evident to essentially everyone in the world that Pacquiao was the true winner of the fight, regardless of where they were sitting. For example, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, who was ringside, scored it for Pacquiao. Justin Timberlake, certainly no boxing connoisseur, tweeted his outrage, as did Miley Cyrus. We've seen a plethora of people from all walks of life, experts or not, clearly point out what the judges could not.

An investigation might further indicate a conspiracy and destroy the reputations of judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross. But it's irrelevant because nothing can turn back time and put Pacquiao and Bradley back in the ring together. Nothing can make Pacquiao win decisively enough so there are no doubts—except a rematch.

Pacquiao isn't stupid. He knows that there have been abundant questions over the last several months about whether he still has it. There have been claims that he's not the boxer he once was, that his victories of late haven't been impressive, that his personal life has gotten in the way of his career and that he hasn't been as dominant. A "loss" to Bradley only fans those flames.

It's true that there's no one who thinks Bradley won that fight. Deep down, Bradley doesn't even think he won the fight. But that isn't enough for Pacquiao, nor is an investigation that might prove he was the true victor.

He's the only one who can prove conclusively that the results of Saturday's fight were ludicrous, and the only way he'll get a chance is with a rematch.