By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Dean Lonergan who co-promoted the WBO welterweight title bout when Jeff Horn caused a major upset victory over Manny Pacquiao last weekend at Suncorp Stadium Brisbane with over 51,000 fans in attendance was critical of ESPN broadcaster Teddy Atlas, who refused to accept the decision and called the sport “corrupt.” Lonergan stated that Atlas was in the tank for Pacquiao.
“A big reason the American people are questioning the result of the fight is that Teddy Atlas was simply biased in his commentary,” Lonergan told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“If Manny decides he wants the rematch, and ESPN is the broadcaster, I will do everything in my power to make sure Teddy Atlas is banned from the commentary team. And if that doesn’t work, I will lobby the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton not to allow Teddy Atlas through our border.”
On the other hand, Lonergan praised Atlas’ broadcast partner Timothy Bradley.
“Even though he thought Manny got the decision, Bradley was balanced in his views and intelligent in his phrasing, and admitted that Horn did what no other fighter could do including Bradley himself, which was to back Manny up.”