Arum with Pacquiao in 2011
IN PHOTO: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines laughs with his trainer Freddie Roach (R) and promoter Bob Arum (C) during a news conference in New York, on his upcoming November 12 boxing fight against Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico to defend his WBO welterweight title September 6, 2011. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Manny Pacquiao suffered a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the fight billed as the richest and biggest bout in the history of boxing in recent years, but according to Top Rank Chief Executive Officer Bob Arum, the fight should have been a draw.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Arum said that his most-prized fighter, the former eight-division Filipino world champion, thought that he won the fight. Had Pacquiao been healthy at the time of the fight, Arum reckoned it would have been an “easy” one for the Filipino. Pacquiao went through with the bout with an injured right shoulder, which he sustained during training three weeks prior the mega fight.

Arum said that he reviewed the tape of the fight many times. The veteran promoter felt that the ending should have been a 12-round draw and not a victory for the brash American.

“I watched that fight over and over again, and without being biased, in addition to the four rounds the judges gave him (Pacquiao), I gave him the second,” Arum said. “I don’t see how they could have taken the second round away from him and the last round, which could have made it a draw.”

Pacquiao was supposed to get treatment for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, but he chose not to and instead went on to fight so that he will not disappoint the millions of fans all over that world who are waiting to witness the fight. The Filipino immediately underwent arthroscopic surgery following the fight, which made him miss the remainder of the year. It is anticipated that Pacquiao will return to the squared circle in 2016.

Meanwhile, Mayweather is facing a little trifle about the welterweight crown that he won against Pacquiao. ESPN’s Dan Rafael said in a tweet that the World Boxing Organization (WBO) could strip Mayweather the welterweight belt if the Grand Rapids native boxer does not comply with the rules by the deadline (4:30 p.m. ET on July 4). Mayweather was supposed to pay a sanctioning fee worth $200,000 and he was supposed to give up his two 154-pound world titles after the fight, but he has not accomplished those obligations since then.

WBO President Francisco Valcarcel told ESPN.com that Mayweather will be stripped off the welterweight belt if he missed the deadline. Mayweather is expected to return to the ring on Sept. 12 against an unnamed opponent.

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