IBF chief favors 10-6 count for Pacquiao

International Boxing Federation president Marian Muhammad yesterday virtually opened the chance for Manny Pacquiao and his team to lodge a formal protest, indicating that the contentious first round of the title clash between IBF/WBA featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao could have been scored more accurately.

Muhammad, who heads the New Jersey-based sanctioning body, revealed in an interview with the popular boxing website mannypacquiao.ph yesterday that "a knockdown is worth one point and every time the boxer gets knocked down, a point is taken away."

The IBF president also clarified that if a boxer is ahead when he knocks his opponent down, the round is 10-8. (See related story on A-34)

In the first round of the Pacquiao-Marquez showdown, the Filipino ring hero downed Marquez three times within the round, which should mean that the first knockdown would have been 10-8, the second knockdown 10-7 and 10-6 for the third knockdown.

Unfortunately, one of the fight judges, Burt Clements, scored the first round a mere 10-7 which resulted in a draw in his final tally of 113-113. Clements later admitted he erred in scoring the first round.

"Sanctioning organizations hold boxing officiating seminars at our annual conventions and sometimes during the year, we have regional officiation seminars to keep officials abreast of new laws and regulations and teach them to hone their skills," Muhammad added.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao arrived in the Philippines early this morning to the adoring arms of local fight fans. Games and Amusements Board chairman Eduardo Villanueva sent members of his staff to welcome Pacquiao at the airport as the GAB chief is undergoing a major surgery.

Those who welcomed Pacquiao were GAB Commissioners Angel Bautista and Emmanuel Palabrica, as well as boxing division chief Emmanuel Flores, Virgilio De los Santos, Leonardo Trinidad, and Estela Igasan.

Pacquiao then proceeded to the Manila City Hall to pay a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Lito Atienza.