BRADLEY SAYS WEIGHT LIMIT FOR PACQUIAO FIGHT TO BE 147

source: John McCormick | BoxingTalk.com

JM: I heard the news yesterday about you signing the contract to fight Manny Pacquiao on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Do you know if Manny has signed the contract yet and if the fight is official?

Timothy Bradley: “I believe he signed the contract and it is official.”


JM: Is the fight going to be fought at 147 pounds or a catch-weight?

Timothy Bradley: “The fight is going to be at 147 pounds.”

JM: I’ve recently heard [Pacquaio's trainer] Freddie Roach state that he is worried about Pacquiao’s motivation to train hard for a fight with you. He feels that Pacquiao won’t be as motivated to fight you as he was against Juan Manuel Marquez and his other recent opponents. How do you feel about that?

TB: “That is good. I don’t want him to be motivated. I want them to take me lightly. I have been in this position before many times throughout my career. He will get motivated, especially as the fight gets closer and closer. Once he gets to see me in the press tours and stuff like that, he will see how I look. He better train hard for me. Freddie Roach is just trying to get into my head, and everyone else’s head. That is what Freddie Roach does, he plays mind games. I just want to let Freddie know that stuff doesn’t work over here with me.”

JM: You are known as a versatile fighter. You can fight on the inside, box, counterpunch, etc. Which of those styles are you looking to implement most in your game plan against Pacquiao?

TB: “All of the above.”

JM: Do you have a prediction for the Pacquiao fight?

TB: “The fans are not going to want to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight after this fight. They are going to want to see Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao go at it again. I think I am a lot stronger than he is. He started off at 110 pounds or whatever and did what he did to get bigger. He pumped iron or whatever, he got bigger. Since I was 16 years old I have been 150 pounds. I walk around 160 or 165 pounds. He does have bigger legs though. His calves are bigger than my head. Other than that, I am the naturally bigger guy. I am going to give him something that he has never seen before and I will rise to the occasion.”

JM: I am sure you know that Pacquiao has been accused of using illegal performance enhancing drugs [Pacquiao has denied all such charges and sued to clear his name]. Floyd Mayweather and his family have flat-out said, or at least hinted that Pacquiao’s accomplishments in the ring are so unbelievable that they must be unnatural. What are your thoughts on that subject?

TB: “I don’t even know to be honest with you. There has been a lot of speculation and talk all throughout the boxing media that Manny Pacquiao has used performance enhancing drugs but I don’t know. I have no idea. As far as the testing goes, I am all for that. I think that there is a lot of athletes out there that are dirty and that use steroids to try and get an edge. I think it is very important that boxing looks into these tests. At least for championship fights at this level it is very important to have blood testing.”

JM: Do you plan on having a longer training camp for this fight compared to your training camps in the past?

TB: “I am always in shape. Once I get in the gym it won’t take long for me to get sharp. I am going to just stick to what I do. I might go an extra week or two just to make sure I have everything down and ready. It is definitely going to be a hard fought fight and I am prepared to throw 1000 punches if I have to. I will have to step it up. I am going to have a meeting with my team and I will tell them what I think, and they will tell me what they think. They are all watching film right now.”

JM: Any closing thoughts for the fans?

TB: “I always bring my best. I will always bring my best and do my best. This is fight that boxing fans need to see. You will get a chance to see Timothy Bradley beating the best fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao. I would like to thank all my fans out there for their support. I’m looking forward to June 9th.”