Manny Pacquiao, last decade’s Fighter of the Decade and winner of 8 titles in an unprecedented 8 weight classes, was robbed…again!

There’s just no excuse for the kind of poor judging fight fans witnessed live on ESPN. It’s the kind of thing that has turned away former fans and keeps casual fans at bay. Pacquiao was already on the receiving end of a bogus decision five years ago against Timothy Bradley. You would think it would never happen again. Not to one of the sport’s all-time greats. Not to a legend.

While Pacquiao is no longer the dynamic fighter he once was, he’s still a fighter that could more or less compete with the young and hungry lions in his division. The skills are there and, for the most part, so is the speed. The snap in his punches may not be the same, but he has more than enough to win fights. And in this fight, he did. Personally, I had Pacquiao winning nine rounds with the ninth round being a 10-8 round. Teddy Atlas had him winning eight rounds. Stephen A. Smith and most of the sports world was shocked upon hearing the decision as well.

Kudos to Horn for showing grit and heart and exceeding expectations. But exceeding expectations shouldn’t win you points and the fight. Landing more punches and actually winning rounds should win you the fight. Nothing else. Not the hometown advantage. Not the influence of an energized crowd. Not the blood coming down from Pacquiao’s head and face because of Horn’s head butts and elbows. He won a unanimous decision, with one judge giving him a 117-111 advantage…even after Pacquiao almost stopped Horn for a 10-8 round in the ninth.

I’m glad that great fights are coming to network television. That’s great, but this decision is a disgrace to the sport and complete disrespect for Manny Pacquiao who is a legend and an all-time great.