Most controversial Boxing decisions over the last 10 years

Timothy Bradley after his controversial match against Pacquiao

Controversy has always been associated with boxing! Whether it’s in the ring or outside of it, fighters and fans likewise have been terribly affected by unethical practices and unlawful judging which have tainted one of the oldest and purest form of sport.

Sources are there in plenty with bad judging, in ring brawls, substance abuse leaders of ”tarnish the sport” bandwagon and in this article we take a look at the most disputed decisions which have happened over the past ten years.

5.Paul Williams vs Erislandy Lara

Williams(Left) and Lara(Right) before the fight

The match which happened in 2011 had then pound for pound elite Paul Williams taking on Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara. In a match were Lara was out landing Williams and getting cleaner shots most experts watching ringside had Lara winning by a comfortable margin; however the result shocked the boxing world when two of the three judges scored the bout in favour of Williams and the other judge had it a draw.

The result was so disgusting that the enquiry commission which was set up to look into the decision suspended all the 3 judges. Lara continues to be a mainstream boxing star while Williams who met with an unfortunate motorcycle accident has left him paralyzed from waist down.

4.Mauricio Herrera vs Jose Benavidez Jr.

Herrera(right) and Benavidez(left) in action

Mauricio Herrera is a fighter who has been robbed his entire career. He has given world class performances against pound for pound elites all in vain and his match with upcoming prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. was no different.

Herrera outboxed the young Benavidez 285 to 250 in total punches, 118 to Benavidez’s 94 in jabs and a good difference in power shots too and yet lost not by Split Decision but by a Unanimous Decision.

Herrera is a worker in the ring he moves a lot, throws calculated shots but dosen’t necessarily have the “thrill skills” to excite the fans but Benavidez the exciting prospect who seems to be the future ”Cash Cow” on the basis of being aggressive seemed more legit to the judges.

3.Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao III

Two of the greatest: Marquez(left) and Pacquiao(right)

Marquez and Pacquiao have battled it out four times and none have been as controversial as this one. The match which happened in 2011 was adjudged as Ring Magazine’s “Robbery of the Year” and it was for obvious reasons.

Even though Pacquiao was the aggressor Marquez was landing the better shots with his excellent counter punching skills. The fight was very close for either to be held as the winner but the decision was ruled in favour of Pacquiao with a Majority Decision. The result frustrated fans and pundits alike. Nacho Beristain who was Marquez’s trainer at the time even thought about filing a lawsuit against the judges who scored the bout.

Marquez did get his first win over Pacquiao a year later but his fans would put their four match score at 2-1 in favour of Marquez considering the 3rd fight which in their eyes he had comfortably won.

2.Brandon Rios vs Richard Abril

Richard Abril in action against Rios

A match where the judges could have scored all 12 rounds in favour of Abril turned out to a howler with Brandon Rios winning it by Split Decision. People who saw the match except for the two judges who scored the bout in favour of Rios clearly noticed Abril’s in ring dominance with his jab and power punches landing almost at will.

The compubox stats further strengthened Abril’s claim of being robbed as he was ahead on punches, jabs and power strikes. Probably everyone except for the two judges had Abril winning it and that too by a comfortable margin. Their careers went in separate ways after that with Rios having fights against Manny Pacquiao and Mike Alvarado while Abril didn’t get recognition any further.

1.Timothy Bradley vs Manny Pacquiao I

Seems both were happy with the decision?

This probably is the worst decision in boxing history! Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley squared off against each other in 2012 and it was for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title. Pacquiao looked to be the aggressor all along and the match ended with Pacquiao outlanding Bradley in total punches thrown, jabs landed and power punches but the main highlight was the decision as 2 of the 3 judges scored the bout in favour of Bradley while the other had Pacquiao winning.

The result was greeted with jeers and contempt and the WBO who later reviewed the fight had Pacquiao winning by a big margin but did not overturn the decision. Pacquiao would avenge his defeat two years later, but the first match remains one of the biggest blunders ever in terms of the outcome.