Pacquiao vs Bradley: Timothy Bradley Must Take Advantage of Learning Experience

Timothy Bradley may be a heavy underdog against Manny Pacquiao, but that doesn't mean he can't learn from their bout on Saturday.

Bradley is widely considered to be the best junior welterweight in the world, complete with a 28-0 record (12 KOs). He may be outclassed by Pacquiao on Saturday, but there's no doubt he has the desire to be a great boxer.

Few are expecting the 28-year-old to win against the eight-division world champion, but putting up an inspired fight would do him well. The longer he's in the ring with Pacquiao, the more he'll see, and the more boxing experience he'll get.

Pacquiao, of course, won't be taking this fight lightly. He's coming off a less-than-dominant performance against Juan Manuel Marquez in November. Many people actually think he lost that fight.

In that sense, Bradley will likely get all he can handle against Pacquiao. The Filipino great will be looking to not only win, but be dominant. That's why it's so important that Bradley comes into this fight ready to do battle.

While no boxer in the world wants to lose, losses do have a way of making you better. Bradley will see the full arsenal from Pacquiao, an arsenal developed from 59 career professional fights. He will see the type of speed and power he has never witnessed in his boxing career. It's likely he'll be overwhelmed at least a few times throughout the fight.

But Bradley, if he's focused, will learn something about himself as a boxer against Pacquiao. Perhaps he will develop a better understanding of how to defend certain types of punches. A loss shouldn't be seen as a letdown—it should be seen as a building block for the future.

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