Gibbons: Pacquiao robbed of making history

LAS VEGAS — Sean Gibbons raised a howl over what he called an injustice that struck the well-loved Manny Pacquiao on Sunday (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

“I am very proud of him. He ran for an election. The guy I just watched put in seven weeks of training and it’s incredible and to be robbed of a chance to make history and it is just sick. I hate the sport and I hate boxing. The ugly side of boxing. This is the side that’s what makes me want to get out of it,” Gibbons, who runs the Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions, told a group of reporters.

The 46-year-old Pacquiao was the heavy underdog given his age and his long layoff of four years.

“I feel bad for this guy. A man that gives everything to everybody. He never stops helping people and doing things and whatever,” he said as he criticized the 12-round majority draw result of Pacquiao’s bid to unseat Mario Barrios in their World Boxing Council welterweight title duel.

“It really hurts. To be in the ring again after four years. It hurts so bad for a guy like Manny and come here and get robbed. It leaves a sour taste (in the mouth).”

One judge favored Barrios, 115-113, while the two others saw it 114-114.

Even a draw was not acceptable, according to Gibbons, stressing that, at worst, it should still be 7-5 (rounds) in favor of Pacquiao, who got caught by Barrios’ long left jab and not as much by the American titleholder’s best shots.

Pacquiao wasn’t as busy but he landed the more jarring blows, prompting Gibbons to conclude that the Hall of Famer had been robbed of a well-deserved victory.

Gibbons’ observation was likewise shared by a Las Vegas-based Mexican casino employee, who thought Pacquiao got the raw end of the deal.

Julio Cesar Mora, wearing a black fight shirt, said Sin City didn’t treat Pacquiao well in this latest outing.

“We love Pacquiao here in Las Vegas. This is his territory,” he said.

“So, we are sad that he wasn’t the winner. He should have been the winner. Imagine he’s 46 years old.”