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By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side Editor

I just watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight and judged it for myself like HBO said to.

This judge here called it a draw. There wouldn't be as much outrage with the Mac Arnold card, I suppose. Pacquiao would have kept his WBO welterweight belt.

To tell you the truth ... OK, first off I will admit I'm not a huge Pacquiao fan. So with that being said maybe there was a bit of bias but maybe if HBO announcer Jim Lampley would have called the fight objectively like he was supposed to in the first place and not drool every time Manny moved maybe he would have seen some of the shots Bradley was firing back.

I mean I found it practically gross the way he was prostrating himself over the Pac-Man. It was like, Damn, dude, he's just a above-rate fighter. And one in my opinion who is thriving on the lack of credible opponents.

The list of guys he's mowed down have either been mostly lighter than he was -- Ricky Hatton, for example -- or over the hill -- Oscar De La Hoya, another one.

In some ways it reminded me of the old days with some of the crappy decisions Muhammad Ali (Ken Norton), and later, Sugar Ray Leonard (second Tommy Hearns fight) got away with.

You never heard of how those two "ruined" boxing with their shoeshining ways at the end of the round to steal it for the judges. In fact, it was the direct opposite. They've often been credited with "saving" boxing during their different eras.


Meanwhile, I would be going berserk at home yelling at the TV screen to whomever was announcing the fight, most notably during the Ali days it was Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, "call the fight, call the fight and shut up."


Brought back some old memories.

Not all bad ones really as I sit here now. But spare me, Lampley, with the decision being one that is destroying boxing because what's more at cause of hurting boxing is the two best pound-for-pound fighters not squaring off in the ring, not a couple of blind judges.

By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side Editor


Again, despite this not being the fight the public is clamoring for, Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley Jr. will be an intriguing fight.

Also, I predict it will be a bloodbath because no matter how much the Pacman and his trainer Freddie Roach whine, Bradley's best punch will in fact be with his glimmering head.

Somewhere along the up-tempo fight, a butt will occur and southpaw Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) will come out of the clinch a bloody mess. Head butts are notorious between orthodox fighters and southpaws, regardless of how Bradley already fights.

Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs, 1 no contest), a light welterweight title holder in two divisions, appears in great shape and for sure will push Pacquiao, who has looked somewhat shaky in his last two fights. An appearance Pacquiao's camp says was linked to out-of-ring issues that they also say have been rectified for this battle.

When all is said and done, the lighter Bradley will fade late and Pacquiao will come out of the ring with an 11th-round KO, his WBO welterweight belt still in his possession.

And of course with more of the same innuendos and hypothetical questions going unanswered on whether he is the pound-for-pound best fighter or is WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Sigh. Go Bradley.

By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side Editor

Quick note here on the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto 154-pound title fight for the Puerto Rican's crown tonight (May 5).

The main thing is it isn't Mayweather Jr. taking on Manny Pacquiao -- the battle the public is clamoring for and deserves to see. And from what it sounds like, after reading a recent column by Tim Dahlberg, the fight probably will never come off.

"Money" man went off on a diatribe after Dahlberg asked him this week "if" the fight would be made -- from everything about NOT being a coward to having legitimate concerns for his health, after once again laying accusations that the Pacman is on steroids.

 Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs)  has already obliterated Cotto (37-2 30 KOs) back in 2009 in a 12-round TKO for the WBO welterweight championship.

So basically this supports a "yawn" factor for tonight's bout because although I see Mayweather (42-0 26 KOs) winning, it will be by a 12-round decision.  


He'll likely drop a game Cotto but the fight will not be in much doubt by the time the final bell rings.


Mostly I'm basing this on the speed factor, which I thought was even evident in training while watching snippets from HBO's "24/7." A plodding Cotto won't be able to catch Mayweather; the undefeated boxer will just be too quick.


And shame on Manny for rooting for Cotto. He should be wanting Mayweather to win so they can get it on instead of hopes for signing another lame rematch between him and Cotto in June.

By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side editor

Quickly on this one, since I'm working, I see Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III being a dud despite their two previous classics.

For the rubber match, Pacquiao is much bigger than when the two fought at 125 and 130 pounds. It will show early I say and the "Pacman" will stop him in like ... the fourth round.

Marquez on the other hand, has not fared as well in his matches at heavier weights, namely his welter-catch weight match against Floyd "Money" Mayweather, which was a lopsided decision for Money Mouth.

But Marquez will be a warrior but simply won't stand up against Pacquiao.

***

Something that has my dander up is this WBO welterweight title fight is this "catch" weight business.

In the old days, if a fighter such as the great Henry Armstrong moved up in weight and was only able to make 140 pounds -- if even that -- for the 147-pound title, it was too bad that's what he'd have to fight at. And often it wouldn't matter anyway.

So these two fighting at 144 pounds is not really a 147-pound title fight.

But have at it, should be a good match while it lasts.

By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side Editor

Man, I was sooooo wrong about the Floyd Weather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz WBC welterweight title fight.

Sounds like it was a wild fight.

I guess I'll reserve judgment on whether "Money Mouth" finished Ortiz off with a dirty tactic until I see the fight replay.

From what I understand, Ortiz pulled a dirty trick out of his own playbook with the headbutt.

Anyway, I have to give credit where credit is due and that is "Money Mouth" is a great fighter. Whereas he steps up in the limelight, others, such as Ortiz for example, lay eggs.

And Ortiz, who is known for classic meltdowns, apparently had another one Saturday night. A hug and a kiss in ring center? What?

Thank you, Floyd for knocking him out.

Now would you please fight Manny Pacquiao already.

By Mac Arnold
Fighting Side Editor

Yep, you're going to hear it here first.

I'll probably be the only one that says this, and just hours before the Victor Ortiz vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. welterweight title fight.

Mayweather Jr. will dominate the early rounds to mid rounds and get flashy but then fall victim to carelessness.

Ortiz is going to catch him, I say. And everybody he's fought supposedly has gone down at some point in the fight.

"Money Mouth" is going to taste the canvas. He'll go reeling around the ring after he gets up and the champ, that's right, the WBC welterweight champ will finish him off.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I just have a feeling that the time off for "Money Mouth" at 34 is going to cause some ring rust.

While watching an HBO show last night on the fight related to "24/7," Sugar Ray Leonard, none other, kind of hinted at this saying Ortiz "won't catch him clean, that's too hard to do on Floyd, but the temple ..." (Sugar then put his fist up to his temple.)

Anyway, I'm venturing a mile out on a limb, I know, but it's much more fun this way rather than to predict a "Money Mouth" victory on a 12-round decision, which is more likely to occur.

Enjoy the fight. Should be a good one.