Manny Pacquiao: UNDER PRESSURE – Timothy Bradley UPSET PLANNED– Boxing News
By Geno McGahee
On June 9th, Manny Pacquiao, 54-3-2, 38 KO’s, will return to the ring to take on the unlikely challenge of Timothy Bradley, 28-0, 12 KO’s. When Bradley signed with Top Rank, it didn’t take a genius to figure out what the big plan was. Pacquiao sells a pay per view and Bob Arum doesn’t want to risk his cash machine. He needs people to throw into the path of the Filipino power-puncher, and he has gotten his claws into former light welterweight champ, Bradley.
The fight will take place at the welterweight level of 147, a weight that Manny has fought at since 2009, when he stopped Miguel Cotto to take the WBO version of the title. That was his only stoppage at welterweight. He has put together a record at 147 of 5-0, 1 KO. The power has not followed Manny up to 147 and although many fans still consider him a puncher, he isn’t the explosive force he was at super featherweight. He beats opponents with quantity as much as quality.
Now, Bradley is not a real welterweight. He is a light welterweight. Manny made one stop at the weight to pick up the IBO title from Ricky Hatton, a fight that is most comparable to this one, and Arum is hoping for the same result.
In 2009, when Hatton and Pacquiao signed to fight, I had made the prediction that the “PacMan” would win because Hatton will be running into a minefield and eventually he would get bombed out of there. Bradley has more skill than Hatton but he doesn’t have the punch that the British superstar had. This is another example of a fighter running into a minefield, but there are some things to consider before we call it an early night for Manny.
There is a lack of interest from Pacquiao that has been brewing since his move to politics in the Philippines. He can’t get up for the fights anymore and tends to be going through the motions, rather than showing the fire he once had and the dedication to strategy. Floyd Mayweather, JR., would have brought all the dedication and ambition in the world into the ring, but Bradley is such an underdog that nobody is taking him seriously and I’m willing to bet that Manny falls into that group as well. This opens up a chance…as slight as it is, that Bradley could find his way into the inside, press Pacquiao, push him backwards, and outwork him. This is a long shot but long shots are the only shots that Bradley has.
In the fights with Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez III, Pacquiao didn’t seem as sharp. This may be that lack of interest, but it may also be father time intruding on his boxing career. He cannot be in his prime forever, and he’s not in his prime now. He is still a fantastic fighter, but Marquez exposed him in the third fight, battering him and winning the fight, but losing according to the judges. Bradley must look at the Marquez fight and use it as a blueprint, mixing in the shots that worked and using his aggression intelligently. If the reflexes of Pacquiao aren’t what they once were, there is another slight chance that Bradley could find magic in June and take the decision.
A potential ugly scenario that could benefit Bradley would be a head butt that leads to a cut on Manny, bad enough to distract him, but not bad enough to stop the fight. With the crouching style of Bradley, mixed with his aggression, we could easily see a head clash and Manny will get the worst of it. If this should occur and Bradley stays on him and the fight isn’t stopped due to it, then there is another chance for an upset.
Timothy Bradley fans, don’t get too excited. The sad truth of this fight is that it is a mismatch and Bradley faces the same dilemma that Ricky Hatton faced in 2009, but it’s actually a worse scenario. He has to run at Pacquiao, avoid the incoming, and hope to be there 12 rounds to pressure him. Hatton got devastated in 2 rounds. Bradley can be hit and will be in front of Manny. The most likely ending to this fight is an early KO for Manny.
The moment of truth comes in June. What does Manny have left? Can Bradley take the incoming shots? We will see when the bell rings, but the safe bet is Pacquiao to win again in this strategically planned Top Rank event. There is a reason why Floyd Mayweather, JR., is not across the ring from Pacquiao. Arum wants to milk the Filipino fighter a little more before he cashes in.
