The WBO review panel of five judges declared Manny Pacquiao the real winner in the Pacquiao vs Bradley fight last June 10 in Las Vegas. However, the decision of the three judges in that fight cannot be reversed, and neither can the title belt be returned to the real winner.
Many believe that the only way the belt can be returned is for Pacquiao to beat Timothy Bradley in another fight, which would hardly give Pacquiao or his fans justice. As an alternative, and provided Bradley is gentleman enough, he can, on his own volition, return the belt to Pacquiao. If he does not do that, it is suggested that the Philippines, perhaps through Congress representing the Filipino people and articulating the sentiment of all Filipinos or the whole world, arrange the production of a replica WBO belt with the wordings: “The real winner.”
The belt can then be given in an appropriate ceremony to Pacquiao. This should at least show in a more tangible way the true feelings of the Filipinos and give some justice to Pacquiao and his fans.
—A.I. LALOG,
art2lalog@hotmail.com