A look at the WBO welterweight title fight won on a split decision by unbeaten Timothy Bradley, who handed Manny Pacquiao his first loss since 2005.
Times sports writer Kevin Baxter recounts the action
Round 1: At the bell both fighters charge to the center of the ring. Bradley throws the first punch but misses. Pacquiao throws a wild combination then, after Bradley connects, Pacquiao lands a pair. Bradley may be throwing fewer punches but he’s landing more.
Judges: Jerry Roth, C.J. Ross 10-9 for Pacquiao; Duane Ford 10-9 for Bradley
Round 2: Bradley continues as the aggressor, but 30 seconds in, the patient Pacquiao lands a couple of shots. At the minute mark, Bradley catches him in the middle of the ring and lands some punches of his own. With 1:12 left, Bradley backs Pacquiao against the ropes and gets off three shots.
Judges: Roth, Ross 10-9 for Bradley; Ford 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 3: Bradley lands a hard right to the midsection to start the round, then the two fighters clinch. Bradley is probing with the left, keeping the right cocked and loaded. Pacquiao is bobbing and weaving, looking for an opening. With 90 seconds left, he finds it and gets off the kind of lightning-fast shot Bradley fears.
Judges: All 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 4: The most action in the fight so far with both men mixing it up in the center of the ring. Pacquiao is getting the best of it, and Bradley is cautioned for a low blow. He then clinches twice, forcing Byrd to step in and separate the fighters. Bradley is in trouble with 40 seconds to go as Pacquiao chases him around the ring.
Judges: All 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 5: Bradley has become much less aggressive, and now it’s Pacquiao who is charging forward, his confidence growing. Bradley fakes a couple of punches, then begins backing up again. Pacquiao is trying to cut the ring off. Bradley lands a couple of lefts, but they have little effect.
Judges: Roth 10-9 for Pacquiao; Ross, Ford 10-9 for Bradley
Round 6: Bradley lands a soft left, but it doesn’t hurt Pacquiao, whose speed is overwhelming the challenger. Bradley flinches every time Pacquiao so much as feigns a punch. Pacquiao gets off a good left counterpunch.
Judges: All 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 7: It took Pacquiao most of the first two rounds to get a feel for Bradley, but he’s unstoppable now. Even on the rare occasions when Bradley gets off a good punch, Pacquiao answers with two of his own. And while Bradley’s punches appear to have little effect, Pacquiao’s appear to be taking a toll.
Judges: All 10-9 for Bradley
Round 8: A minute in, Bradley appears to get caught in the eye by Pacquiao’s thumb, and Byrd momentarily pauses the fight. When it resumes, Bradley is in trouble. Bradley is just tapping at the champion — and for good reason: Whenever he winds up, he leaves himself wide open to Pacquiao’s vicious counterattack. Pacquiao again has him backing up at the bell.
Judges: Roth 10-9 for Pacquiao; Ross, Ford 10-9 for Bradley
Round 9: Pacquiao, patient as always, finds the challenger leaning forward and drives him into the ropes with a couple of shots. Then halfway through the round, Bradley bends at the waist to avoid one punch and Pacquiao nails him with a pair of uppercuts. Bradley gets off a right to the head, but he continues to leave himself open.
Judges: Roth, Ross 10-9 for Pacquiao; Ford 10-9 for Bradley
Round 10: Bradley doesn’t have the punching power to KO Pacquiao now, so this one is going the distance. Just inside two minutes into the round, Bradley lands a couple of punches. And halfway into the round, while Pacquiao clinches, he gets off a shot to Pacquiao’s head.
Judges: All 10-9 for Bradley
Round 11: Bradley continues showing some fight, first slipping a couple of punches and then backing Pacquiao against the ropes. But he doesn’t make much of the chance. The crowd, quiet for most of the fight, begins to shout Bradley’s name. Pacquiao shuts that down with a flurry of punches that are mostly for show.
Judges: Roth, Ross 10-9 for Bradley; Ford 10-9 for Pacquiao
Round 12: The fighters touch gloves to start the round. Bradley needs a knockout, but he’s not showing sufficient urgency. Pacquiao continues to fight moving forward, and Bradley hits him in the jaw early in the final minute. The round ends with both fighters throwing wild punches.
Judges: All 10-9 for Bradley
DECISION: Roth 115-113 for Pacquiao; Ross, Ford 115-113 for Bradley. Bradley wins split decision.
