Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Pac-Man's Controversial Win Dooms Boxing

The sport of boxing came so agonizingly close to redeeming itself on Saturday night.

And then, the "powers that be" handed the win to Manny Pacquiao, robbing Juan Manuel Marquez of the WBO Welterweight title that he so deserved after a brilliant fight on Saturday night.

Let's be clear—this was a tremendous fight, one for the ages, in which both men fought valiantly, using brain over brawn and mettle over muscle.

Except that Marquez fought the better fight here, without question. Anyone with eyes on the ring could've told you that. Marquez didn't dominate the bout, per se, but he certainly won this one. He stifled Pacquiao through nearly every round, neutralizing Pac-Man's clear advantage in speed, strength, agility and comfort at the welterweight level. Marquez dictated the terms of this fight and, thus, deserves to have the record reflect that.

But this fight was over before it ever began. It was in the pockets of the Las Vegas casinos and all the rest of the fat cats who stood to profit from Pacquiao hanging onto his title.

It really was so easy. All the judges needed to do was score the bout they saw rather than the one that Bob Arum and all the big-money folks in the boxing world wanted, and we'd be well on our way to seeing this fledgling combat sport shed at least some of the stigma that has held it down in recent years.

Instead, the sport once again finds itself drowning in the greed of a few seedy businessmen (or maybe just one) who care more about lining their own pockets than doing well by boxing.

Arum himself couldn't have indicted himself more when, after the fight, he told Mario Lopez that a fourth bout with Marquez, another one of his Top Rank clients, would "set all the monetary records for any pay-per-view."

Because, in the end, boxing today isn't about athletic competition or giving everyone a fair shot at the title.

It's about building up superstars, like Pacquiao, and allowing their handlers, like Arum, to reap all the rewards.

For the latest news and updates on Pacquiao vs. Marquez, and for all the latest news and insight on all things boxing, be sure to check out Bleacher Report's Boxing Central.