Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley: Classic Fights Major Showdown Will Resemble
While Timothy Bradley is a heavy underdog heading into his fight with Manny Pacquiao, he's still considered one of the better boxers in the world and he's putting his undefeated record on the line.
Bradley is a fit, durable, tough fighter. In that sense, he may be able to fight Pacquiao for the full 12 rounds, winning some rounds along the way with his grit and determination against an older opponent.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley may not turn out to be a classic fight, but that doesn't mean it can't resemble some classics throughout the years.
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Here are three classic fights that Pacquiao vs. Bradley will resemble.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales I, 2005
Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach have been saying all along that Bradley's style of boxing is dangerous because he can tend to lead with his head.
Against Morales in 2005, Pacquiao sustained a cut above his right eye after an incidental butting of heads in the fifth round. He went on to lose via unanimous decision. I could see Pacquiao getting nicked up in a similar fashion against Bradley. The difference is, Pacquiao will win this fight.
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz, 2009
In February 2009, Marquez was facing a younger boxer in WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion Diaz.
Diaz opened a cut above Marquez's right eye in the fifth round, but Marquez stormed back in the eighth round, opening up a cut above Diaz's right eye and stunning him with a left hook.
Marquez asserted himself in the ninth round, knocking Diaz down twice before he scored a technical knockout.
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad, 1999
I believe Bradley will give Pacquiao a fight, yet fade later on as Pacquiao continues to wear him down with his speed and power.
In that sense, I could see De La Hoya vs. Trinidad being a similar fight. De La Hoya battled with Trinidad for a good eight rounds before fading in the final four and losing via majority decision.
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