What Skip Bayless, Stephen A. Smith say about Pacquiao vs.Bradley

TV Hosts Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless of the popular ESPN sports show "First Take" were visibly bothered by the controversial decision of judges favoring Bradley over Pacquiao during their fight in June 2012 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This particular segment of "First Take" is relevant in the wake of speculations that the contract for a rematch between Pacquiao and Bradley has been finalized.

"I have never been more shocked and in this case saddened by the outcome of the event," Co-host Skip Bayless said during the show.

According to Bayless, he had it 11-1 by the rounds in favor of Pacquiao and 119-109 on his scorecard.
Bayless also said that Bradley talked to his promoter Bob Arum during the break saying: "Bob, I gave it may all, I just couldn't beat the guy." Bayless then wondered whether the fight was a set-up because a rematch had been set up with a date right after the fight though Arum qualified later that a rematch was not set in stone.

Bayless ventured further saying that the judges must have been irked by Pacquiao's delayed entry because he left the dressing area to watch his favorite NBA team Boston Celtics live on TV. He said he could not think of any valid reason for the one-sided scoring.

The scoring controversy led to a decision by the sanctioning body to constitute five seasoned judges to review the video of the fight. After the review, all judges declared Pacquiao the winner.

Unofficial scorecards by members of media covering the fight showed that 53 of the 56 sportswriters who voted, favored Pacquiao over Bradley by a wide margin.

Despite the controversy, Bradley said he deserved the win but offered Pacquiao an immediate rematch.

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