Manny Pacquiao vs.Timothy Bradley: A Prelude to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather?

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by Leo Reyes

In one of my recent articles (mp8.ph dated October 1), I said WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley will be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent after getting past Mexican counter puncher Juan Manuel Marquez.

From a number of probable opponents, I singled out Bradley as soon as he signed up with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions. I thought Bradley was the easiest fight to make because there will be no negotiations between promoters as he is now fighting under Top Rank’s umbrella.

There were speculations Bradley will soon face Pacquiao right after his failed negotiations with Amir Khan but these were earlier denied by Bradley as he could not talk about it freely because his case with his previous promoters was still under litigation.

At this point, it seems Bradley will be Pacquiao’s most probable post-Marquez opponent. And if Floyd Mayweather Jr will have a change of mind by dropping off his usual “take the test” stance, he will have to wait till Pacquiao could dispose of Bradley and that would probably happen in May next year.

Mayweather will then have to wait till November next year for his last shot at the pound for pound king. And in case of an upset victory by Bradley over Pacquiao, boxing fans will have to wait till 2013 for the world’s most sought-after boxing fight to happen, as Pacquiao will have to face Bradley again under a guaranteed rematch clause in their fight contract.

If plans do not miscarry for a probable Pacquiao-Bradley fight, boxing fans will most likely be assured Pacquiao will get past Bradley and continue his winning streak since losing to Erik Morales.

If we go back to the Bradley-Alexander fight last January 29 and use it as a yardstick in assessing Bradley’s chances of winning over the pound for pound king, we will without doubt, know that Pacquiao can dispose Bradley without much effort.

To some knowledgeable boxing fans, Bradley is just an overrated fighter, judging from his last fights particularly his lackluster performance over Devon Alexander.

An online opinion poll conducted in January right after the Bradley vs, Alexander fight, 35% said they like the idea of a Pacquiao vs. Bradley fight and the same percentage of respondents say they believe Bradley has no chance of winning. The poll was conducted eight months ago and the percentages can even rise if a new poll is conducted now.

Aside from his lack of solid experience as a real champion, Bradley has to overcome some flaws in his fighting style.

Notable is his lack of accuracy and his careless defensive stance including his tendency to lower his hands after a post-offensive attack.

Likewise, Bradley’s knockout power is not that impressive and his chances against Pacquiao will be to go the distance and if he does, Pacquiao will trash him for good in the later rounds.