By Ashley King: The boxing world is up in arms at the moment due to the scandalous result that the weekends Mega Fight brought about – and rightfully so. Many people have spoken about how this is going to kill boxing – how no good can come from this awful result that was in every way you look at it – wrong.

However, I’ve been thinking long and hard about how this result affects boxing and I personally believe that this very well could work out for the better. Timothy Bradley, was a big underdog coming into the contest and rightfully so – even though Manny Pacquiao looked more than beatable (or beaten, in many peoples eye’s) vs. Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez last time out, Bradley was no counter-punching master with a proven track record.

Then came the fight. Let’s get things straight – Pacquiao was a clear winner. There is no doubt about that. Whether you scored it 117-111, 118-110 or whatever, everyone I have spoken to and read from saw Pacquiao winning comfortably. That isn’t in question. But Bradley wasn’t awful – he was a live threat and boxed well, fought hard for 12 rounds and it even emerged that severe foot damage had happened early in the contest. Of course, the decision left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth after the contest – not many people are commending Bradley for looking competitive against Pacquiao simply because of the decision. Right or wrong, that’s understandable.

A straight rematch is almost certainly happening in November, it is likely the judges will have their eyes on the ball on this one and will nearly certainly give any close decision to the ‘Pac-man’ due to this injustice that took place. That is almost fact, no one can deny the pressure the judges will be under to get it right, and they likely will do because of this added pressure.

Will the fighters stay to the script? Perhaps. Manny has hinted that he will be going for a knockout this time around and likely won’t step off in the later rounds now knowing the judges won’t always favour him. Bradley is more of a problem – if this foot injury did impair him considerably, he may actually pose a bigger problem than this time out. But you would still have to favour Pacquiao in this rematch.

Now how is this positive I hear you ask? Well its simple. What is the number one fight all boxing fans – hardcore or casual, want to see? Of course, its Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao. The fight seemed closer to happening this May before Floyd went to prison, but more logistics, politics and mumbo-jumbo that nobody really cares about stopped the fight from once again happening. But now I believe the fight is closer than it has ever been to actually coming off.

Think about it. If Floyd was so ‘afraid’ of losing his coveted “0” to Pacquiao before, he will fancy his chances more than ever. Pacquiao hasn’t looked amazing in his last two – arguably getting beat by Marquez who Mayweather dominated, and not looking his best against Bradley. Pacquiao has already agreed to blood tests that have stopped the fight before, leaving only one problem – the money. Mayweather has demanded more that 50-50 split, claiming he is the bigger draw. A 50-50 split may be unlikely still – but I can personally see two ways it going now. Mayweather will either agree to it now, with a clause in saying the winner gets a higher pitch, so if Mayweather is as confident as he likely is, he could take this offer in full belief he will get his ‘deserved’ split after defeating Pacquiao. Or the other way I see it going – Manny could agree to less than 50% of the fight purse given recent circumstances. Yes – it may be unlikely, but think about it? Even if he should have got the nod last time out, Manny didn’t beat Bradley on paper and has an extra loss. It could have easily been another against Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao’s stock has dropped since his win over Antonio Margarito, there is no doubt of that. He may finally see things from Floyds point of view – and, begrudgingly, accept the lesser money.

And when Mayweather gets out of prison, he’s unlikely going to want to jump straight into a perhaps career-hardest contest against Pacquiao, and the rematch between Manny/Tim Bradley will give Mayweather the time he needs. He may perhaps take a tune up bout, or just use the time for extra training. It also staves off the threat of Pacquiao/Marquez IV – a fight Manny could more than likely lose if he took it – and also lose convincingly. Mayweather vs Pacquiao could definitely happen early next year.

This is only my view however, and maybe it is I am clutching at straws so to speak to try and find a positive from this atrocity, but it definitely is another view point worth considering when we are thinking of the repercussions of the weekends fight. Maybe every cloud does have a ‘silver lining’, but only time will tell.