sport news Aussie boxer fumes as referee FINALLY admits helping Manny Pacquiao win 2000 ... trends now
Nedal Hussein has hit out at the 'putrid dog' referee who officiated his controversial bout with Manny Pacquiao after he finally admitted to helping the Filipino superstar to victory 22 years ago.
An up-and-coming Pacquiao met Hussein in the Philippines back in 2000, with the bantamweights competing for the WBC title at a sports centre in the Far East.
The gutsy Hussein - known as 'Skinny' - fought superbly and had Pacquiao badly hurt in the fourth round, leaving him dazed after knocking him to the canvas with a left jab.
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A referee has admitted to helping Manny Pacquiao to victory against an Australian fighter
However, Filipino referee Carlos Padilla appeared to give his countryman a long count and the hometown hero rallied to eventually win the fight late on via TKO, due to a bad cut for Hussein.
Replays on YouTube show that from the time Pacquiao went down to the point the fight got back under way amounted to 18 seconds.
Hussein, who went on to become a car salesman in Sydney while his Filipino opponent enjoyed huge success in the ring, has long disputed the officiating of the fight and now Padilla has admitted to tipping the scales in Pacquiao's favour.
After being inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, Padilla reflected on the fight between the young Pacquiao and Skinny.
'Manny was not a world champion yet, he was only good in the Philippines,' he told the WBC's official YouTube channel. 'That fight, I'm about to go and leave the following day and they told me "Carlos, please... this is an important fight for Manny Pacquiao, because the winner will have the chance to fight for the world championship".
Pacquiao struggled badly against Nedal Hussein during their title fight back in 2000
He was knocked to the canvas with a left jab in the fourth round and was badly dazed
However, he benefitted from an 18-second count and Carlos Padilla says it was intentional
'So, you know the opponent, Hussein, or whatever his name was. He is taller, younger, stronger and dirty fighter, managed by Jeff
