MANILA, Philippines - Sinabi ni Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon na nakikiisa ang ahensya ng gobyernong nangangasiwa sa professional sports sa bansa sa paggigiit sa Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) na gumawa ng imbestigasyon hinggil sa kontrobersyal na split decision loss ni Manny Paquiao kay Timothy Bradley, Jr. sa Las Vegas.
Sina Guanzon, GAB commissioner Fritz Gaston at GAB boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz ay nasa Las Vegas para panoorin ang nasabing laban noong Hunyo 9.
Nagulat sila nang ihayag ni ring announcer Michael Buffer ang pagkapanalo ni Bradley. Sina judges Duane Ford at Cynthia J. Ross ay nagbigay kay Bradley ng magkatulad na 115-113 iskor, habang 115-113 rin ang iginawad ni judge Jerry Roth kay Pacquiao.
“As GAB chairman, my duty is to protect Filipino professional athletes who appear to be prejudiced,” wika ni Guanzon, isang voting member ng WBC Board of Governors at international secretary.
“It was clear that Manny won the decision. In behalf of the Filipino people, the GAB will send an urgent message to the NSAC and call for an investigation. I know that (Bob) Arum has asked the Attorney General of Nevada to conduct a similar probe to comply with public demand. I think there should be an investigation of the judges. To be honest, I find it difficult to justify their scoring,” dagdag pa nito.
Pinuri rin ni Guanzon ang sportsmanship na ipinakita ni Pacquiao sa kabila ng kontrobersyal niyang pagkatalo kay Bradley.
Kumpara sa iginawi ni Pacquiao kontra kay Bradley, mariin namang inireklamo ni Juan Manuel Marquez ang kanyang majority decision loss sa Filipino icon noong Nobyembre 2011.
“Of course, we will abide by whatever the NSAC decides but first, there should be an investigation,” sabi ni Guanzon. “The public demands it and the NSAC should listen to public clamor. The WBO has announced it will review the fight using a panel of five highly regarded judges but I don’t know what that will accomplish. Even if the five judges score it for Manny, will the WBO overturn or nullify the decision?”
Idinagdag ni Guanzon na ‘premature’ para mag-isip kung iluluklok ang mga neutral judges kung matutuloy ang Pacquiao-Bradley rematch sa Nobyembre.