Ring Ratings Update: Pacquiao loss? What Pacquiao loss?

The absurd judging that gave Tim Bradley a victory over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night in Las Vegas forced us to at least consider making important changes in our pound-for-pound and welterweight Top 10s.

The vast majority of those who watched the fight believe that Pacquiao won handily, which raises the question: Should he be victimized a second time by THE RING just because two of three judges -- C.J. Ross and Duane Ford -- blew it?

The fact is that Pacquiao lost, though. Bradley now wears the WBO welterweight belt after winning a split decision 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115. And losses – even controversial ones – traditionally have resulted in demotion.

Tough call.

This is where things stood going into the fight: Pacquiao was tied with Floyd Mayweather Jr. at No. 2 on the pound-for-pound list (with no one at No. 1) and Pacquiao and Mayweather were Nos. 1 and 2 at 147 pounds. Bradley was No. 8 on the pound-for-pound list and not rated as a welterweight.

Here’s how we arrived at our ultimate decision:

THE RING Ratings Panel had a number of thoughts. Leave things exactly as they were. Elevate Mayweather to No. 1 on the pound-for-pound and welterweight lists but leave Pacquiao ahead of Bradley at 147 pounds. Elevate Mayweather and have Bradley enter the welterweight ratings at No. 2, above Pacquiao.

One could make decent arguments for all the above.

In the end, though, the Editorial Board decided to break from tradition and do what we believed was the right thing: Completely ignore one of the worst decisions of our time as it applies to Pacquiao. We left things as they were, with the exception of having Bradley enter the welterweight ratings.

Our principal argument: Pacquiao outclassed Bradley even if Ross and Ford didn’t see it; he simply doesn’t deserve to be punished whatsoever for something over which he had no control. To take the opposite approach would be giving tacit approval to a shameful performance by the judges.

“I don't think Pacquiao should be punished because of two dumb-ass judges. He dominated an undefeated pound-for-pound-rated fighter in his prime,” said Doug Fischer, Editor of RingTV.com.

Thus, here’s what we did:

• Mayweather and Pacquiao remain tied for No. 2 pound-for-pound. Rememember, when we decided to have them share the No. 2 position, we said one must do something special to separate from the other. Neither did in their most recent fights.
• Pacquiao and Mayweather remain Nos. 1 and 2 in the welterweight ratings.
• Bradley enters the welterweight ratings at No. 8 based on a his credible performance against one of the two highest-rated fighters and also remains No. 1 at junior welterweight until we’re clear on his future at that weight. We considered rating him higher at 147 but the fact is he should’ve lost a one-sided decision.

RING RATINGS UPDATE

Welterweight: Mike Jones (No. 6 last week) drops out of the ratings after he was stopped in 11 rounds by unrated Randall Bailey, who enters at No. 9. That pushes out Vyacheslav Senchenko (No. 10 last week).

Junior featherweight: Guillermo Rigondeaux (No. 2 last week) retains his position with an impressive fifth-round knockout of Teon Kennedy on the Pacquiao-Bradley undecard.

Bantamweight: Jorge Arce (No. 9 last week) stays put after a no-contest at junior featherweight against Jesus Rojas on the Pacquiao-Bradley undecard. Arce couldn’t continue after he was punched below the belt.

UP NEXT

Rated fighters in action this coming weekend (with current ratings)

Heavyweight: Tomasz Adamek (No. 3) vs. Eddie Chambers

Middleweight: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (No. 3) vs. Andy Lee; Martin Murray (No. 7) vs. Karim Achour

Junior middleweight: Vanes Martirosyan (No. 4) vs. Ryan Davis

Note: All of the above fights are Saturday

Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING Magazine, can be reached at mrosenthal@ringtv.com