General Admission
Introducing Pacquiao’s next opponent
By Al S. Mendoza
TIM Bradley who?
He is Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.
They meet on June 10 (Manila Time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Of course, by virtue of Pacquiao’s stature, the Pacman is the heavy favorite.
This, despite the fact Bradley is unbeaten in 28 fights.
And Bradley is fresh from a knockout victory over Joel Casamayor serving as the under card in the Pacquiao-Marquez fight on Nov. 13, 2011, also at the MGM Grand.
You remember that Pacquiao-Marquez bout, right?
It was their third meeting since they fought to a draw in 2004 after a judge had erred in his scoring, thereby depriving Pacquiao of victory.
In 2008, Pacquiao beat Marquez by split decision. So close was that fight it gave birth to that third encounter in November 2011.
Despite Pacquiao’s majority decision victory to make it two wins against one draw against Marquez, a howl of protests accompanied the verdict.
The rabidly pro-Marquez crowd insisted Pacquiao lost the fight.
But I also insisted – and still insist – Pacquiao was the winner of that fight, mainly because he was more aggressive than Marquez, besides having inflicted more telling blows than the Mexican whenever they mixed it up.
Even in most of their toe-to-toe combat, which came rarely, Pacquiao was the constant instigator – a big plus for him as far as the judges were concerned, since it should have been Marquez exhibiting aggressiveness because he was the challenger.
Anyway, that’s all water under the bridge now, so to speak. Let’s go back to Bradley.
Bradley is 28 years old, the owner of the world junior welterweight crown.
Pacquiao is defending his WBO world welterweight title against Bradley, who should gain more weight to get to 147 pounds, the limit in the stipulated bout scheduled for 12 rounds.
The 5-foot-5 Bradley is shorter than Pacquiao by an inch, making him the shortest foe for Pacquiao in the Pacman’s last five fights.
Pacquiao’s four previous foes were taller – African Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito in 2010, and Shane Mosley and Marquez in 2011.
Pacquiao beat them all – but “only” on points. No knockout.
Prior to the four, Pacquiao also fought a much-taller opponent in 5-foot-9 Miguel Cotto, whom the Pacman had badly battered en route to a 12th-round TKO victory.
Many believed Cotto was substantially weakened by his loss of weight going into the Pacquiao fight as he is a natural at junior middleweight.
That could be true.
Once a boxer radically goes into weight reduction, much of his power would be terribly reduced.
That is why since Pacquiao climbed to 147, he has stayed there all this time because he found it very much comfortable with that weight.
Bradley has the edge only in that he is unbeaten in 28 fights. But his knockout record pales in comparison with Pacquiao. He only has 12 KOs compared to Pacquiao’s 38.
Power for power, therefore, Pacquiao has the undisputed margin so that once Bradley decides to fight at close range, he’ll be at great risk of absorbing a first ever loss – by knockout yet.
Experience-wise also, Bradley is way behind as he’s still a babe in the woods; he’s only eight years into professional boxing compared with Pacquiao’s 17 years in the beak-busting business.
Before this fight, Bradley’s purses ranged from $1,000 (4-rounders) to $5,000 (10-rounders). He will earn $5 million on June 10 – his biggest paycheck ever. Pacquiao gets $25 million.
Will Bradley decide to run circles around Pacquiao on June 10 and avoid getting knocked out?
He shouldn’t. For that is tantamount to losing his chance at immortality.
If he should go down fighting, so be it.
Only real men aren’t afraid to lose.
As the saying goes, “Only those not afraid to die are fit to live.”
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