Pacquiao vs. Bradley Predictions: What Top Fight Analysts Are Saying

Manny Pacquiao will defend his welterweight title against Timothy Bradley and the champion has been an overwhelming favorite. However, there could be reasons for analysts and fans to expect an upset.

Bradley is in as good of shape as he's ever been, looking lean and cut at his weigh-in of 146 lbs. Pacquiao, however, tipped the scales at a class- and career-high 147. 

Could it be that Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) is not in good enough shape to win the bout?

Recently-retired boxer Shane Mosley certainly thinks so. But the fighter that lost to Pacquiao is looking beyond the weigh-in to form an opinion on a boxer he knows well.

Mosley reportedly told RingTV.com why he expects Bradley to win the fight.

"

If I had to pick one, then I would probably pick Timothy Bradley and I think that I would say that he wins on points. 

Tim Bradley has that look in his eyes like "you're not going to beat me." That's the way that I felt when I fought Oscar (De La Hoya) the first time, like, "you're not going to beat me this fight. I don't care, you not going to beat me this fight."

That seems like it's the kind of attitude Tim has going into the ring. Pacquiao has a different attitude.  He's religious, which is great, and I love the Lord and God and everything.

But his sparring sessions have not been as good, and he's looking a little older and he doesn't seem as hungry as he used to. Bradley looks very hungry. But Manny has deceiving punching power.

There's no weight behind the shots, not like he necessarily hits hard, but it's like, "pop!" and then you're stunned. It's like, "he didn't hit me that hard." I got stunned. So, that's a factor.

"

While a bold prediction, he isn't alone in favoring Bradley.

The aforementioned RingTV.com article discussed the fight with 25 other "insiders." Twenty-four of them picked Bradley...to lose. The only other was Tim Smith, a respected writer and boxing analyst for the New York Daily News.

"I'm going to take Tim Bradley in an 11th-round TKO," Smith told RingTV.com. "I just think that Manny Pacquiao is distracted. I think that there are a lot of distractions for him. More than in the past."

Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review Journal offered a solid summation of the pro-Pacquiao contingent in the RingTV.com article, picking him to win with a Round 10 KO.

"

I think that Manny Pacquiao knows that he has to redeem himself after his performance against Juan Manuel Marquez, and, to a lesser extent, for his performance against Shane Mosley.

I think that Manny knows that he has to look spectacular in the win. Not only to keep the hope of the Floyd Mayweather fight alive, if that were to ever materialize, but also, for his own confidence.

I think that he knows that he has not fought as well as he can, and while I think that Tim Bradley is going to bring it, and try to match him in terms of volume, I just think that Pacquiao is the better fighter overall.

I still think that Pacquiao can still fight at a high championship level, and I think that he will win.

"

The ESPN.com panel of experts has similar feelings on the fight.

Kieran Mulvaney and Michael Woods are both picking Pacquiao, with Dan Rafael offering a dissenting opinion.

"

I like that Bradley is five years younger, fresher, in his prime, skilled, undefeated against quality opposition and has similar speed to Pacquiao (a factor Pacquiao hasn't faced in ages).

But what I love are Bradley's intangibles. He's so focused and desperately hungry to win the biggest fight of his life. Pacquiao? This isn't his fifth-biggest fight. Maybe not his 10th-biggest. The level of intensity goes to Bradley. It could be the difference in a tight decision win.

"

A win would certainly be surprising for Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs), who has made a quick ascent to boxing royalty. But Mulvaney gives a solid explanation of why he doesn't believe that will happen.

"

Bradley is coming to fight. He's undefeated and hungry, and he'll likely do what he always does: bob and weave his way inside then look to unleash straight punches.

Alas, that's just what Pacquiao likes in an opponent, and it'll play into Pacquiao's hands. After an exciting opening few rounds, expect Pacquiao to seize the opportunity, hurt Bradley in the second half of the fight and stop him around the eighth.

"

The experts are clearly siding with Pacquiao, but there is enough rationale for Bradley's camp to make the matchup intriguing.