Pacquiao vs. Bradley: 3 Reasons to Believe in Impossible Finish

Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao has won 15 straight fights dating back to 2005, and most boxing fans expect he'll extend that winning streak against Timothy Bradley on June 9. After a lackluster showing against Juan Manuel Marquez, however, it's not a guarantee.

Let's take a look at three reasons Bradley has a chance to pull off a shocker. It's the biggest bout of the 28-year-old American's career, and he shouldn't have any problem getting motivated, because a victory will cause his stock to skyrocket.

Pressure on Pacquiao

Floyd "Money" Mayweather was able to overcome a tough test from Miguel Cotto, which gave him an advantage over his super-fight rival. That means the pressure will be on Pacquiao to match his victory, in what his camp hopes will be more convincing fashion.

Since the Mayweather and Pacquiao battle has been focused on public relations more than anything else, Pac-Man really can't afford to lose his fight against Bradley. It would give Money's camp so much ammunition that he would never hear the end of it.

Bradley must use that to his advantage. If he can win a round or two early, it will force Pacquiao to become more aggressive than he usually would be, opening him up for potential counterattacks from the underdog. That's exactly what Bradley needs.

Undefeated Record

Bradley's career record stands at 28-0 with one no contest, and even in that fight, he was in complete control and originally thought he scored a knockout before it was changed. In other words, he's been a dominant force since turning pro.

He's never faced a boxer of Pacquiao's caliber, but every time he's increased the level of competition, he's handled it well. His last victory, which came against Joel Casamayor, was his first Las Vegas bout, and he didn't disappoint.

Whenever a boxer can go 29 fights without losing, you have to respect him. The accomplishment proves Bradley knows how to adapt and find a way to win, no matter the circumstances. That makes him dangerous against Pac-Man.

Defensive Ability

Of Bradley's 28 victories, only 12 of them have come by knockout. He doesn't have elite power, so he relies more on defense and counterattacks to wear down his opponents. Even though it's not the most exciting strategy, it's effective.

It also has to concern Pacquiao, because it's the same approach Marquez used against him. The veteran put up a wall and wouldn't let Pac-Man land any haymakers, leading to a much closer fight than most people anticipated. Bradley can learn a lot from that fight.

The key for Bradley will be sticking true to his game plan. The longer he can keep it close, the better his chances are of pulling off a monumental upset. He's an underdog for a reason, but he has enough talent to cause problems for the eight-division champion.