08.10.05 – By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: When, in between two of the rounds, Carlos “Famous” Hernandez’s trainer told him that he would not win a decision tonight against Bobby Pacquio, I thought it was just part of a typical fiery speech. I was wrong. Even as the words “split decision” rang out from the amplified voice of Jimmy Lennon Jr. I was still positive there is no way they could rip Hernandez off. Again I was wrong.
Its not that I have never seen a robbery in the boxing ring before, considering I watched and scored Kawashima Navarro, but there is nothing more discouraging, for me much less the fighter, then seeing it yet again. Maybe the judges go by a different set of criteria then the ones that flash on the screen before the fight but this was utterly pathetic.
What’s worse is I was actually cheering for Bobby Pacquio. After hearing his story of poverty, his pride in not asking his brother Manny for help, and his determination in the first two rounds, it was clear to see why I was rooting for him. I liked Hernandez ever since I saw his spirited effort against Pretty Boy Floyd, but I really wanted the proverbial “life underdog” to win.
In all honesty, after the end of the second round, he was winning. A quick flash knockdown of Hernandez sealed the 10-8, and I thought Pacquio did enough to win the first, so at that point he was well on his way to the decision. However, from the third round on, all the way through to the end of the fight, as far as I am concerned every damned round belonged to Hernandez.
Yes, Pacquio had better handspeed, but when a judging criteria is effective aggression, how can anyone give any round from 3 on to Pacquio? Every 3 half hearted jabs thrown by Pacquio were worth 1 accurately timed and well thrown and connected bomb by Hernandez, and he was throwing more then 1 for every three Pacquio jabs.
As the rounds wore on and Pacquio began to run and clinch more and more, I was just hoping he would survive until the end of the fight much less get an unfair split decision. In the middle of the 7th round, by which point I thought Hernandez had either regained the lead or tied up on points, I thought Pacquio was ready to go. His legs were gone and he was no longer able to do more then clutch and throw the occasional jab which had absolutely zero effect on Famoso.
Pacquio was so tired that it looked as if he would barely be able to stand till the final bell much less actually get points from the judges from running and getting hit in the face, or clutching at Hernandez with weak arms. Every time Pacquio found himself in the ropes, he was less and less willing to untangle himself and get back to work. Yes, he had resolve to finish the fight, but there is no way in hell that he deserved that decision.
The worst part of it all, was Carlos Hernandez trying to maintain a level of maturity, by congratulating Pacquio on a victory he did not do enough to deserve. Watching Hernandez bent over in the corner crying soon after the decision was announced, put a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the night. It was a worthy PPV except that the wrong man was announced the winner in the opening bout. Congratulations Famoso on a fight well fought and a victory well deserved, no matter what the judges saw and said.