Pacquiao vs. Bradley: First Round Will Determine If Desert Storm Can Win

For months, we have been breaking down and analyzing one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, projecting seemingly every possible outcome.

What if it’s as simple as this: whoever takes Round 1 wins?

Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) is arguably the best boxer of the last decade but will be facing stiff competition from the younger and quicker Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s).

Bradley has never faced a boxer even remotely close to the talents of PacMan, and he isn’t completely sure what to expect when that opening bell rings (via boxingscene.com):

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“I’m just thinking about backing up everything I’ve said," Bradley said, "I’m just thinking about doing what I got to do. I want to see what it feels like when I step in with the best pound for pound.”

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Manny needs to take full advantage of this. If he comes out ultra-aggressive, a seed of doubt will seep into the back of Desert Storm’s brain. It will force him to contemplate if he is ready to handle a high-profile match of this caliber.

Boxing is incredibly mental, and making his mark early has to be the game plan for Pacquiao. Bradley feels like if he can survive the first few rounds, he’ll figure out his opponent:

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“I will know in the first round if I am going to win the fight. I will know if it’s going to be an easy or a difficult fight. I want to test his speed, his power. It only takes me two rounds to figure guys out. I figure guys out fast and I am like ‘I know what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to go to the body’ and I take that away from him.”

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Gotta love this confidence, but let me be the first to inform him that this won’t be an easy fight.

Pacquiao and his vast experience need to take advantage of a weary Bradley. Judging from Desert Storm’s words, he isn’t going to be aggressive at all in the first round or two.

As long as Pacquiao comes out extremely aggressive and knocks Bradley back on his heels, it will set the tone for the rest of the match. If Bradley is able to counter his way to a win in Round’s 1 or 2, it will be his match to lose with the clear stamina advantage.

So don’t be late to next week’s fight, because the real intrigue of the match may be decided within the first six minutes.

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