Pacquiao vs. Bradley: Definitive Guide to June 9 Super Fight

Manny Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against Timothy Bradley on June 9th.

While it's not the fight everybody was hoping for against Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated Bradley should provide a nice test for Pac-Man.

Pacquiao has won 15 consecutive fights dating back to a loss against Erik Morales in 2005. He's beaten Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley during that span, so it's no surprised he's considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world.

Even though Bradley doesn't have the same level of name recognition as Pacquiao, he has a pretty impressive track record of his own. He's 28-0 with the only blemish being a no contest against Nate Campbell. Beating Pac-Man would give his career a massive boost.

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

When: Saturday, June 9th

Watch: HBO

Weigh In: Friday, June 8th

Preview

Pacquiao doesn't enter the fight with his usual level of momentum. His previous victory over Juan Manuel Marquez was a grind that was probably far closer than he expected, as the veteran's defensive style didn't leave much room for Pacquiao.

The eight-division champion still managed to pull out the victory, though, and his versatility makes him a nightmare matchup. He can adapt to any style and has seen it all during his storied professional career.

He'll want to have a far more dominating performance on June 9th to reassert himself as the world's top boxer. Mayweather easily cruised past Miguel Cotto, but couldn't score a knockout, so you know Pacquiao wants to finish Bradley quickly.

Don't expect Bradley to roll over, however. He has plenty of motivation heading into the bout, which makes him extremely dangerous. He's been angling toward this fight for awhile, making it imperative he doesn't come out looking weak.

Of his 28 wins, only 12 have come via knockout, making it unlikely he'll have enough sustained power to knock Pacquiao down. That means he must be prepared to go the distance to pull off the upset. A tough task against someone who has only lost once by decision.

The best plan of attack for Bradley will be setting up a strong defensive base like Marquez did. He can then start using the counter-attack in an attempt to win rounds. He's still a long shot, but it gives him the best chance to come out on top.

Prediction

Pacquiao wins by 10th-round knockout