Harry Reid, John McCain Agree On Pacquiao Fight, Push Boxing Bill

Boxing may be a contentious sport, but it's bringing rare harmony to the halls of the Senate.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) disagreed with the controversial decision in this weekend's welterweight championship to award Timothy Bradley the title over Manny Pacquiao, saying Pacquiao had been "robbed." Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) agreed.

McCain tweeted first, in response to Reid's remarks in the Capitol on Tuesday:

Reid thanked "his friend" McCain for the support in later tweet:

Reid, a former boxer who has earned Pacquiao's endorsement in the past, used the newsworthy fight to push for stalled legislation that would establish a national boxing commission. Reid worked with McCain on the bill.

The controversial decision had boxing fans in an uproar. The AP reported earlier:

In a fight Pacquiao seemed to have in hand, two judges decided otherwise, giving Bradley a split decision Saturday night and ending the Filipino fighter's remarkable seven-year unbeaten run.

Promoter Bob Arum fumed, the crowd at the MGM Grand arena booed, and Pacquiao seemed stunned when the decision was announced. Arum said there would be a November rematch, though he blasted the way the decision went down.

"I've never been as ashamed of the sport of boxing as I am tonight," said Arum, who handles both fighters.

Bradley came on strong in the later rounds, winning five of the last six rounds on two scorecards and four on the third. He won 115-113 on two scorecards, while losing on the third by the same margin. The Associated Press had Pacquiao winning 117-111.