Knockdown was a mistake, admits Bayless

By ALEX P. VIDAL / PNS
May 9, 2011

LAS VEGAS, Nevada  --  It was the way he saw it but Kenny Bayless admitted he made a mistake when he credited Sugar Shane Mosley with a knockdown in the 10th round during the WBO welterweight fight May 7 at the MGM Grand.

"It was a call I missed," Bayless, 61, told this writer several minutes after Manny Pacquiao was declared winner by unanimous decision in 12 rounds.

"I already whispered it to Pacquiao."

Bayless was booed when he rendered a mandatory 8-count in the 10th round after Pacquiao fell while Mosley was on attack. A replay showed Pacquiao fell from a push.

The referee hesitated for a few seconds before giving the mandatory count that would have given Mosley the round for an automatic 10-8 had it not been for refusal of the judges to count it as knockdown.

Pacquiao was a little bit embarrassed after that controversial call and decided to step up the gas in an effort to knock out Mosley who kept Pacquiao at bay with repeated embrace and back-pedalling.

"Pacquiao was fast and very unpredictable," observed Mosley, 39, who impaired to 46 wins, seven losses, one draw with 39 stoppages.

Despite the setback, Mosley said he would not quit and would continue his boxing career. He was haunted by age issue from start to finish and became an 8-1 underdog.

The American four-time world champion in three weight divisions though was "satisfied" that he finished the fight despite brickbats about his age.

Pacquiao claimed "I did my best" (to stop Mosley) and admitted he could not hit Mosley in later rounds because of his defense and refusal to mix up.

Bob Arum said he might tap Juan Manuel Marquez to be Pacquiao's next opponent to complete the trilogy in November this year.

Dionisia, the boxer's mother who stayed in the Philippines, reiterated her appeal for her 32-year-old son, an elected congressman, to quit boxing.

She first goaded Pacquiao to end his boxing career after Pacquiao flattened Ricky Hatton in two rounds also in Las Vegas in 2009.