Pacquiao vs. Bradley: Desert Storm Is Perfect Opponent for Pac-Man

Manny Pacquiao will make his much-anticipated return to the boxing ring on June 9 against Tim Bradley for the WBO welterweight title. While there is a lot of disappointment that we don't get to see Pac-Man go against Floyd Mayweather or even Miguel Cotto, Bradley is the best opponent for him right now. 

Looking at the list of potential opponents for Pacquiao after Mayweather, there were not a lot of good choices. Cotto was the biggest name, but we have already seen that fight and know how it ends. 

Bradley, on the other hand, is someone new and fresh. If he is able to win the fight, he becomes a much bigger star than he already is. Which is to say, he becomes a star that people actually know. 

As for Pacquiao, he needed to move on to something new. He is coming off a controversial victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, with a lot of fans and analysts thinking that Pac-Man lost. His reputation took a hit after that contest. 

By going against a fighter who has no cache with the mainstream, it stands to reason that Pacquiao sees something in Bradley that he can take advantage of to get his mojo back. 

Of course, that depends on Pacquiao being able to motivate himself for this fight. His trainer Freddie Roach recently told the Manila Standard Today that he worries about Pacquiao's ability to prepare himself for June 9. 

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Roach noted that Pacquiao steps up training for “exciting, big fights to motivate him, of course. But Bradley is the one in the way right now and we’ll take care of business and hopefully that other guy—whatever his name is—will come to the table.”

The celebrated trainer, referring to Floyd Mayweather Jr., was obviously disappointed that the undefeated fighter didn’t accept the challenge.

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Considering all the backlash against Pacquiao for not figuring out a way to make the Mayweather fight to work, it will be hard to see him not getting up mentally for Bradley. 

Boxing can't afford to have Pacquiao or Mayweather lose right now. Both fighters know that and they are doing everything in their power to make sure it doesn't happen. 

Pacquiao needs a tune-up fight to get him ready for a potential showdown with Mayweather later on this year and Bradley will give him everything that he needs when they lock horns on June 9. 

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