TERRY MOSHER

MANNY PACQUIAO

Professional boxing has had some golden years when Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler were all around.

 But it also has taken some hits, some black eyes, when in the 1940s and 50s the Mafia and other thugs were involved and fixing fights. It doesn’t help the spot that there also have been a lot of “hometown” decisions that plain as daylight were highway robbery.

 That was the case Sunday in Brisbane, Australia when the hometown golden boy Jeff Horn, unbeaten with just a draw after 16 bouts, scored an unanimous victory over one of boxing’s true legends, Manny Pacquiao, by scores of 17-11, 15-13, 15-13 drawing loud anger from the shores of America.

 This decision was almost as bad as the one in 1947 when the judges gave the decision to a clearly beaten Joe Louis in a fight with Jersey Joe Walcott. Louis apologized to Walcott after the fight because he knew he had lost.

 Pacquiao was robbed another time. In 2012 he lost a split decision to Timothy Bradley even though 50 of the 53 reporters at ringside covering the fight had Pacquiao winning.

 What I couldn’t figure out is why Pacquiao would take the fight in Horn’s home country knowing there was a possibility that he would lose a hometown decision. The money must have been awful good.

 Decisions like this along with the early times when boxers clearly took dives to make better money is what has always given the sport a black eye. It’s part of the reason that MMA has become the bigger TV sport.

 But those decisions really stun me although I know they happen when a fighter no matter how good steps into foreign territory against the hometown favorite. Judges tend to give the hometown boy the edge if there is any doubt.

 There should have been no doubt, however, in this one. I have covered boxing for many years as a local sports reporter and before that I was an avid listener to boxing that was aired on radio before the spread of TVs into about every home in America. Then when boxing moved to TV, I was front and center in front of our TV watching every fight I could.

I guess this is my roundabout way of saying I know boxing. I score every bout I see on TV and most of the time I’m right there with ringside judges on the scoring.

 So how did I score this one?

 I had Pacquiao winning 117-111. I could see it being 116-112 because Horn put up a good fight. In the ninth round, Pacquiao battered Horn from ringpost to ringpost and clearly won that round 10-8.

So how did he lose?

 Hometown golden boy gets the nod.  But it was a horrible decision, and that is why, as I have said, boxing will always have that black eye.

 Enough of my preaching. I’m off my soapbox. Enjoy the Fourth of July. Don’t get hurt and say away from fighting on your opponent’s turf.

 Be well pal.

 Be careful out there.

 Have a great day.

 You are loved.