Pacquiao vs. Bradley: Underrated Fight Will Do Wonders for Boxing

Pacquiao vs. Bradley will open people’s eyes.

When Floyd Mayweather faced off against Miguel Cotto on May 5^th, everyone expected an entertaining fight. But when the announcement came that Manny Pacquiao would fight Timothy Bradley on June 9^th, anticipation wasn’t the same. Because the fight is underrated, when PacMan and Desert Storm put together a bout to remember, boxing will reap the benefits.

Chris Robinson of Boxing Scene reported that, when Larry Merchant was asked if he’s as excited for Pacquiao-Bradley as he was for Mayweather-Cotto, Merchant responded:

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Yes, I am. Pacquiao’s fighting an American kid who’s been a good fighter and this is a fight that could show us whether Pacquiao still has the zeal and the capability to fight on the level he was, say against Cotto. And I think it’s important for him to make a good fight after the Marquez fight and some of the other fights. I think he wants to prove to himself as well as others that he’s still the potent force we saw him as against De La Hoya and Cotto.

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When fans are given exactly what they expect, they’re merely satisfied. It doesn’t necessarily increase their passion for the sport; it simply keeps them coming back for more.

Mayweather-Cotto couldn’t have been more entertaining. But with two stars in the ring, anything less would’ve been a major disappointment. Not only does Pacquiao-Bradley not risk the consequences of a boring fight because of its lack of expectations, but the ceiling of a successful fight is higher.

Fans will prepare to watch Pacquiao beat Bradley to a pulp and knock the no-name fighter out in the second round. But when the match actually goes the distance, the HBO crowd will be hyped that they got their money’s worth.

Boxing’s weakness is a lack of depth. When the unknown Bradley gives Pac a run for his money, that flaw will be that much less glaring.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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