Timothy Bradley - Diego Chaves bout ends in controversial split draw (VIDEO)

Tim Bradley now knows what it feels like to be in the receiving end of a questionable decision.

The former WBO welterweight champion engaged in a tightly contested slugfest with Argentine brawler Diego Chaves on Saturday night in a 12-round non-title bout at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.

But to his dismay, all three judges deemed his efforts insufficient.

“Desert Storm” dictated the bout’s pace from the get-go, whether it was fighting from the inside or in the pocket. His overhand rights were landing at will, leaving Chaves seemingly flustered and unable to retort with his punches. It was an all-action fight, leaving both men with swollen eyes as the fight ended.

According to Compubox numbers, Bradley was more accurate with his punches, landing 39% of them, as opposed to Chaves’ 27% output. But all of these did not seem to translate in the judges’ tally. Burt Clemens scored the bout 115-113 for Bradley, Julie Lederman scored it 116-112 for Chaves, and Craig Metcalfe scored the bout evenly, with 114 apiece.

Bradley was left in utter disbelief right after Michael Buffer announced the final tally.

"I thought I won at least eight rounds," he said. "I'm not going to say it was horrible, but I'm not a judge. I maybe give him four rounds [won], max five. I was landing clean punches and felt like I won the fight."

Promoter Bob Arum concurred with Bradley’s sentiments, as he described Lederman’s tally for Chaves as an “absolute disgrace.”

"I thought Bradley looked good," said the 83-year old Top Rank Promotions chief. "I thought Bradley won the fight relatively easily. But he was less effective once his eye closed, but he still won. I am so fed up with this whole [judging] system. It's really, really wrong."

Bradley now holds a record of 31-1-1, with 12 victories by knockout, while Chaves holds a 23-2-1 slate, with 19 victories by knockout.

 source: abs-cbnnews.com

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