Timothy Bradley Bulks Up on Vegan Diet as He Prepares to Take on Manny Pacquiao

In a somewhat surprising revaluation, boxer Timothy Bradley told Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal that he is on a strict, all-vegan diet as he prepares for his June 9 showdown with welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.

This change of diet for a training camp is nothing new to Bradley, as he has utilized the vegan diet going into a fight since 2008.

Although he doesn't keep the vegan diet going year round, as he said his wife would go crazy if he did, he follows a strict diet of fruits, veggies, nuts and tofu, among other vegan fare, beginning three months before a scheduled fight.

Bradley revealed to Gay, "Dude, I swear, it's the most unbelievable feeling ever."

Bradley's vegan diet before a fight leads him to visit a local vegan restaurant, the Palm Greens Cafe, up to twice per day in his hometown of Palm Springs, Calif., and has had a vegan smoothie—Bradley's Ultra Green—named after him at the establishment.

This is a interesting twist, as most wold think a boxer who is beefed up and training hard to build up muscle would stock pile the protein needed to add on the extra muscle by upping their meat consumption, but Bradley has proven that isn't always the case.

Bradley said the vegan diet helps increase his energy before a fight:

"My thoughts are clearer, crisp. I am sharp. Everything is working perfectly—I feel clean. It's a weird feeling, man. It's just a weird feeling."

If Bradley is able to hand Pacquiao his first lost since 2005 in their June 9 battle, other boxers looking to change something in their training camp to gain an edge may also give the vegan diet a try, KOing meat and dairy from their pre-fight diets all together.