Manny Pacquiao: Renewed Focus Will Propel Pac-Man vs. Timothy Bradley

Manny Pacquiao certainly didn't look like the No. 1 boxer in the world against Juan Manuel Marquez in November.

Part of that may have been because he didn't have the focus he'd exhibited throughout his long and illustrious career.

Pacquiao said of the Marquez fight, via Reuters:

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"I was in 100 percent physical condition for that fight but I did have some family issues that I had to deal with. I also underestimated him."

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After marital problems with his wife Jinkee, Pacquiao has patched things up, focusing on family life and bible study in place of his past hobbies of cockfighting, gambling and partying. And he knows he needs to focus if he's going to upstage Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the best boxer in the world.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said that Pacquiao's focus is the best he'd ever seen leading up to Saturday's bout. 

Not only has Pacquiao gotten rid of a lot of distractions in his life, he's naturally going to be more focused for this fight because he knows some believe he lost to Marquez in November. He knows he needs to prove that his retirement isn't imminent. He knows he has to give everyone the Pac-Man of old.

While Marquez's style has always posed problems for Pacquiao, Bradley doesn't have the same fighting style, and there's a big gap in terms of speed and power. By all accounts, this should be Pacquiao's match to lose.

Nonetheless, Bradley is a very determined, confident fighter who has the ability to go the distance with Pacquiao. If Pacquiao doesn't assert himself like in the Marquez fight, he's certainly not going to dominate, and he runs the risk of even losing.

But Pacquiao's renewed focus will be pivotal on Saturday, and figures to lead the eight-division world champion to a strong victory.

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