Bradley is a toughest opponent for Pacquiao in a while, at least on paper

source: Igor Frank | Examiner.com

“Does Timothy Bradley have a chance to beat Pacquiao?” inquired Big Steve as he was trying to hurt a heavy bag at the Y in Glendale.

“Las Vegas book makers believe so,” I replied

Not many in the boxing world gave Manny Pacquiao a chance against, Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya a few years ago.They said Oscar was too big , too strong, too experienced for Manny. But somebody dreamed it; may be it was HBO's color commentator,Larry Merchant or maybe it it was Manny' s trusted coach, Freddie Roach or perhaps it was Pacquiao himself. Whoever he was, when they finally got into the ring for combat, not only did Pacquiao dominate De La Hoya, he made Oscar quit on his stool. Coming into the fight as a betting underdog, Pacman seized the opportunity to shine. That was a crowning moment in an incredible career of super star and currently pound for pound best boxer, Manny Pacquiao. Following that megical win in December of 2008 , the last time Manny was an underdog, Pacquiao has ruled a welterweight division with both fists. He nearly killed Ricky Hatton with a one punch knock out which people are still talking about today. Then he stopped a brave warrior from puerto Rico , Miguel Cotto at the tail end of 2009.

Last four fights, Pacquiao has been a heavy betting favorite coming into the ring. What do I mean heavy favorite? He has been at least eight to one favorite against Clottey, Margarito, Mosley and Marquez. So , at least on paper, Timothy Bardley is a toughest opponent in two years. Undefeated light welterweight champion from Palm Springs is only three to one underdog against Manny Pacquiao. At least Las Vegas book makers believe he has a chance against Pacman.

Is Timothy Bradley a legitimate threat for Pacman or the odds just reflecting Manny’s poor performance against Juan Manuel Marquez last December?

I saw a fighter they call Desert Storm last May immediately following Pacquiao destruction of aging Shane Mosley. Like most fans Timothy was disappointed due to lack of action.” At least you know I am going to fight him,” Bradley told me that Saturday night. He will get a chance to prove it on June 9th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Being from Southern California, I have been covering Timothy Bradley for quite some time. I remember watching Bradley ply his craft at a club show in Chumash Casino in early 2007. I remember writing that young fighter from Pal Springs looks at home in the ring and is bound to become a world champion soon. It was a prophecy that came to reality a year and a half later in England. Under adverse conditions Bradley beat a local champion Junior Witter for the WBC light welterweight title. Four years later he will enter the ring to face pound for pound king of sweet science, Manny Pacquiao. Does he have a chance of beating Pacquiao? Few believe that, but just like Manny did that against Oscar a few years ago, Bradley dreamed up this match up. He dropped his promoter Gary Shaw to sign up with Top Rank just for a chance of one day of meeting Pacquiao.

Timothy Bradley is battle tested. He demonstrated that he can pick himself up from the canvas to win the fight. He might need this experience in a battle with Pacman. He will be a younger man entering the ring and he believes he has what it takes to turn the boxing world upside down. He considers himself just as fast as Pacquaio and says that his movement in the ring will give Pacman trouble. And what he lacks in power department will be compensated in dogged determination. One thing I know that Bradley will deliver on his promise and will fight Pacquiao. With both warriors’ minds of offence, fans will get a thrilling action fight.

Bradley Confident

source: Nick Giongco | The Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Tim Bradley thinks fight fans who watched Manny Pacquiao beat up the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley had actually seen a mirage.

Bradley, next in line to try and knock the pound-for-pound crown off Pacquiao’s head on June 9 in Las Vegas, said the guys the Filipino battered and bruised were “past their prime,” in a live video chat conducted recently by The Desert Sun, a newspaper serving the southern California desert cities of Palm Springs and Indio.

“He hasn’t fought Tim Bradley yet. He fought guys that way, he beat them and looked spectacular. Don’t get fooled by this boxing game.”

What has made Bradley supremely confident was the fact that Pacquiao didn’t look impressive at all in his last fight late last year: a 12-round majority decision win over the 38-year-old Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.

“Marquez is 38, he’s not 28 (like me) and he’s not as quick as I am, he’s not as fast as I am, he’s not as strong as I am,” said the unbeaten Bradley, who will returning to welterweight for the first time in years.

Installed as a heavy underdog, Bradley promises to shock the world and prove his army of detractors wrong.

“I've been the underdog my whole live. I don't listen to all that crap. People don't know my background, where I've come from, where I've been, how hard I worked to get to this position. They say I was given this position. It was earned through 18 years of my life dedicated to boxing,” said Bradley, who was assisted during the Q&A by Leighton Ginn, the Sun’s man on the boxing beat.

To rev up for Pacquiao and ensure he will be armed to the teeth come fight night, Bradley said he will likely add a week or two to his usual eight-week training camp.

Bradley better be.

Tim Bradley: If I Take Pacquiao's Power, It's a Long Night!

source: Ryan Burton | BoxingScene.com

BoxingScene.com recently spoke with WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley about his upcoming fight against Manny Pacquiao. The undefeated Bradley will be venturing up to welterweight for the second time in his career. He insists that the weight won't be a factor and that in fact he will be better with the additional weight.

"I walk around over at over 160 pounds," stated Bradley. "147 pounds is my natural weight class. The fans will see that on June 9th," he continued.

The Palm Springs, California based fighter feels that the key to the fight won't be the weight but will be his ability to absorb the powerful Filipino's punches. He said that he will know early on if he is able to withstand Pacquiao's power.

"The key is going to be if I can take his power. I will know early. I will know by the second round if I can take it. If I can then Pacquiao is in for a long night," Bradley told Boxingscene.

The next obvious question is what will Bradley do if he feels that he can't take Pacquiao's punches. Bradley said that he will have a plan for that scenario as well.

"If I have a problem with his power, I will have a plan for that too. (Trainer) Joel (Diaz) is already working on a game plan. We go into every fight with a Plan A, B and C. We have different plans for different scenarios. I will be ready and I will be able to adjust in the ring," said Bradley.

Juan Manuel Marquez: If Pacquiao Don't Agree, I'll Retire

source: Ernesto Castellanos & Miguel Rivera | Boxingscene.com

Juan Manuel Marquez, the world lightweight champion of the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization is gearing up to return to the Romanza Gym in Mexico. He plans to return on April 21 in Mexico City, possibly against former champion David Diaz - but makes it clear that his April fight with Diaz is far from done. He wants to secure a fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao in the fall and says "I will not wait forever."

Pacquiao recenty signed to defend his WBO welterweight title against Timothy Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas.

If Pacquiao does not give him a fight in the fall, Marquez plans to close out his career in 2012.

"My plans are already set. This is my last year in boxing, and if the fight with Pacquiao gets done, the that's great, but I will not wait around until he chooses to do it. If we fight, fine. Otherwise, my retirement has already been decided," Marquez said.

"It's possible that my next fight will take place on April 21 in Mexico City against David Diaz, but that is still only a possibility."

Nacho Beristain, Juan's manager and trainer added - [Pacquiao's stock] plunged after what Juan did to him. I think that he wants the fight against Marquez at the end of the year."

Bradley bares strategy vs Pacquiao

source: ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten American boxer Timothy Bradley said he’ll use his quickness and counter-punching skills to throw Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao off balance.

“When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail...land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn't land and get out of trouble....counter-punch when I need to,” Bradley told Boxing Scene.

Bradley knows the fighting congressman has had difficulty handling Juan Manuel Marquez, who is considered an excellent counter-puncher.

Bradley noted that he’s younger than Marquez, which could be his edge.

“Marquez is a great fighter, a great counterpuncher and just a great fighter - but he's 38 years old,” he said.

“I'm very young, determined. I'm the young lion,” Bradley added.

Strong chin

Bradley, who has 28 victories against 1 no contest, said the outcome of the fight would now only depend on his capability to absorb Pacquiao’s punches.

“If he catches me on the chin flush and I don't go anywhere - it's going to be a long night baby. I have a really good chin. I have a solid chin,” he said.

Bradley had most of his fights at the junior welterweight division and is smaller than Pacquiao.

But Bradley said he has experienced fighting bigger boxers and survived.

“Kendall [Holt] is a big guy, naturally bigger than Manny and he's very strong… I don't know if Manny can hit harder than that,” he said.

Holt dropped Bradley with a huge left hook in their WBC/WBO junior welterweight fight in 2009. But Bradley would outbox Holt to pull off a unanimous decision and take home the titles.

Bradley Very Confident: I Should Definitely Beat Pacquiao!

source: Rick Reeno | BoxingScene.com

WBO junior welterweight Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) is very, very determined to become the first boxer to defeat Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) since 2005. Last week, Bradley signed a contract to challenge Pacquiao for the WBO's welterweight title on June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bradley sat down with BoxingScene.com to discuss the biggest fight of his career.

BoxingScene.com: You've noticed Pacquiao having some issues in his last couple of fights. Do you believe that he's finally slowing down?

Bradley: I don't know if he's slowing down, but he's had a lot of complications and excuses the last couple of times. Everybody is pointing fingers and saying 'Pacquiao didn't do this' or 'Pacquiao didn't listen to this.' I'm really curious though. I'm real curious [to see] if that's true or not.

I think right now is the best time to face Pacquiao, [who is] coming off a kind of controversial win with [Juan Manuel] Marquez. Marquez is a great fighter, a great counter-puncher and just a great fighter - but he's 38-years-old. He's not like he used to be 38. He's not fresh like he used to be, when he was in his 20's.

BoxingScene.com: The qualities that you bring to the fight.

Bradley: I'm very young, determined. I'm the young lion. I can box, as well as brawl, and I can counter-punch as well. I love to counter-punch. I'm quick; I can get in and out from danger. I have great defense. I feel like I'm a major step for Pacquiao. I think it's a winnable fight for me.

BoxingScene.com: Last year, everybody gave you a lot of heat for taking a pass on the Amir Khan fight. And now you've landed one of the two biggest names in the sport, for considerably more money than what you would have made for Khan.

Bradley: I’m excited that he's decided to challenge me. I'm excited that my manager Cameron Dunkin, the best manager in the game hands down - he definitely delivered. And of course I thank my wife and Team Bradley for always believing in me and always pushing me hard in training camp. We knew what we were trying to do. We always had a goal and that's to face the best in our minds. And I stuck to it and now look at this. Everyone was giving me [hell] about the Amir Khan thing. You know what, this is the real deal right now and we're fighting the best fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao.

BoxingScene.com: Pacquiao seems to struggle with pure counter-punchers. That's not really your style of fighting. Do you believe that you might have to counter-punch more often in this fight?

Bradley: I really don't know. I haven’t been in the ring with him yet. I really don't know exactly on how it’s going to go. It all depends on how Pacquiao comes out and then I'll make my adjustments in there. I already have a couple of game plans in my mind. When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail...land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn't land and get out of trouble....counter-punch when I need to. I know Pacquiao likes to come forward and likes to bang as well.

BoxingScene.com: Thoughts on Pacquiao's power.

Bradley: If he catches me on the chin flush and I don't go anywhere - it's going to be a long night baby. I have a really good chin. I have a solid chin. I've been down officially one time. I don’t count that second knockdown with Kendall Holt. I don’t count that bro. I didn’t even go down. The first knockdown of course, a punch that I didn't see. He has power. I know he has 13 knockouts or so, but he has power. I don't know if Manny can hit harder than that. Honestly, I don’t know. Kendall is a big guy, naturally bigger than Manny and he's very strong. When I fought him he was primetime. We'll have to see. After the first round...I'll know what I can do after the first round.

Boxingscene.com: When you previously made a move to welterweight in 2010, against Carlos Abregu, most people felt that you didn't look the same as you usually do at 140-pounds. Was there anything that you did wrong, maybe with bulking up, that you plan to change for this fight?

Bradley: At that time, I worked on one game plan for Abregue and he came in with a whole different strategy. I thought he was going to be aggressive and that he was going to come forward and bang me out, but then he came with a whole different strategy. He was the bigger guy, but he laid back and was trying to lure me in. I was like 'man, we didn't train for this.'

Abregua was trying to box a little bit. He was using his jab and trying to set me up for counters and jabs. I was amazed. It kind of threw me off. When I watched tapes, he came in like a wildman with other guys. I think by that, coming in and having to make the adjustments in the ring - it kind of threw me off. He was also a little awkward to hit, to catch his timing.

Pacquiao vs Bradley: Timothy Bradley Ready For Anything Manny Pacquiao Throws At Him

source: Scott Christ | Bad Left Hook

Timothy Bradley is getting more attention already for his June 9 fight with Manny Pacquiao than he has for any other fight in his entire career, and it's to be expected, as the world's top 140-pounder is stepping into the true biggest of the big leagues in boxing with this bout.

The biggest debate so far is whether or not Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) has the style to defeat Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO). Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao's greatest rival, doesn't feel that Bradley has the power to contain Manny. But Bradley is confident enough that he believes Freddie Roach is worried about this fight, and many do believe that the 28-year-old from Palm Springs, Calif., presents a significant stylistic challenge for the Filipino ring idol, whose career may well be coming to an end sooner than later.

Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com asked Bradley how he'll attack Pacquiao, and specifically, if he planned to counter-punch more often in this fight than he has in the past:

"I really don't know. I haven’t been in the ring with him yet. I really don't know exactly how it’s going to go. It all depends on how Pacquiao comes out and then I'll make my adjustments in there. I already have a couple of game plans in my mind. When I get into the fight, I should prevail, I should definitely prevail -- land shots on Pacquiao that other fighters didn't land and get out of trouble, counter-punch when I need to. I know Pacquiao likes to come forward and likes to bang as well."

The assessment of Bradley not really being a pure counter-puncher is quite true -- it's not his game, he's not a Juan Manuel Marquez guy who can really feed off of an opponent's aggression. Or at least, he's never been that guy to date.

But he could certainly do more of that in this fight. I don't think there's any secret that Bradley and his team will be looking over what Marquez has done against Pacquiao and trying to work some of that into their approach for June 9.

Bradley has his own strengths, and some of those can be trouble for a fighter like Manny Pacquiao. Bradley's physically strong in the upper body, has terrific stamina, moves very well, and knows how to push a fight where he wants it to go. If he has to do that by using his head or otherwise making it rough, he'll do so. Pacquiao's really not used to those tactics at this point, as most of his recent opponents have been guys who were there to be hit all night, either because their face is their defense (Margarito, Hatton), Pacquiao breaks their spirit (Cotto), or they don't intend to throw back enough (Clottey). And then there was Mosley, who eventually wanted nothing to do with the fight.

I think, though, even more than believing in Bradley's ability, there's a hope that he will be a tough challenge. I'll take the controversy of Pacquiao-Marquez III and the good fight that came with it over a "dominant" Pacquiao performance against someone who can't or won't fight him. Give me the endless debates over the yawn-and-forget fights.