Manila: A review of a video of the June 9 match between Manny Pacquiao and American Tim Bradley led five judges to unanimously score in favour of the Filipino boxing icon.

The website RingTV.com on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines) reported that the scores given by the judges virtually overturned the controversial split decision that gave the WBO Welterweight crown to Bradley.

Pacquiao, 33, who had long held the distinction as the world’s best “Pound for Pound” fighter, had been widely favoured to win over the younger Bradley despite a five-yearage difference.

According to Ring.com, a five-member panel of judges convened by WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel has “unanimously scored in favour of Pacquiao after watching the video of Tim Bradley’s disputed split-decision victory at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank which promotes both fighters’ bouts, was quoted as saying: “That’s a Solomon-like conclusion. Paco is a good man, he really is. I have great respect for him and what he says.”

“It’s appropriate for him to make that final conclusion.”

Pacquiao is a crowd favourite and is a lawmaker-cum-idol of sorts for most Filipinos, whether they are boxing fans or otherwise.

According to Valcarcel, all the judges scored in favour of Pacquiao, by scores of 117-111, 117-111, 118-110, 116-112, and 115-113.

Nevertheless, Valcarcel said that it would be difficult for the panel to overturn the final decision, which was binding immediately after the match.

“The only thing that we can do is authorise a rematch,” he said.

The defeat to Bradley ended Pacquiao’s 15- bout winning streak. Following the June 9 fight, two judges declared 115-113 in favour of Bradley, with one judge scoring in favour of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao had hurt Bradley during the early stages of the bout, while in the fourth round observers said that the American had to clinch the Filipino ring gladiator to continue on with the fight.

In the last three rounds of the 15-round fight, Bradley mounted an impressive comeback.

Aside from his army of fans in the Philippines and worldwide, Pacquiao’s prize fights had earned for him and his supporters hundreds of millions of pesos. He has also made onto the list of the most influential and wealthiest sportsmen.