Pacquiao vs. Bradley 2: Keys to Victory For Both Fighters

While there's no doubt Manny Pacquiao's mystique has diminished somewhat since he lost a controversial judges' decision to Timothy Bradley in 2012, there's never been more at stake for the boxing superstar than there will be on Saturday night.

Nearly two years after Bradley's shocking triumph, the two rivals are set to return to the ring, where the undefeated American will put his WBO welterweight title and unblemished record on the line in a thrilling rematch.

A third loss in four fights would stir up retirement talk for Pacquiao, and a Bradley loss would deliver a huge blow to the champion's legacy.

With the stakes sky high, let's take a closer look at the keys to victory for both fighters this weekend.

Pac-Man Must Use Speed, Power to His Advantage

Pacquiao will never be known for his defensive prowess. But he has incredible offensive ability and a brilliant combination of speed and power, per boxing writer Steve Kim on Twitter:

On Saturday night, Pacquiao will be looking to recreate his performance in 2012's controversial bout. Many believe Pacquiao, who landed 190 power punches, won that fight. And the numbers certainly support a case for Pacquiao.

While Pacquiao must be smart and avoid leaving himself open when he comes forward, he'll have plenty of chances to apply pressure and fight through Bradley's slow jabs.

Pacquiao was hesitant to push past them in the first fight, but since that strategy didn't pay off, you can expect him to be more aggressive in those situations this time around. He can use his speed to his advantage and win over the judges by landing some power punches.

Desert Storm Must Pick His Spots, Avoid the Left Hand

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

With only a dozen victories by knockout, Bradley is unlikely to finish Pacquiao on Saturday. However, that doesn't mean the undefeated champion can't retain his title and help legitimize his first victory. 

For Bradley to be successful, he'll need to pick his spots against the ultra-powerful Pacquiao, who boasts legitimate knockout power despite having hit a cold streak since 2009. Simply put, Bradley can't be content to get into a slugfest with Pacquiao.

Defensively, Bradley must always be aware of Pacquiao's strong left hand and should step back when Pacquiao throws the right jab to set up the left hand. From there, Bradley will have chances to attack.

Offensively, Bradley will have plenty of opportunities to counter Pacquiao and take advantage of his lackluster defensive skills. Juan Manuel Marquez exploited those deficiencies en route to a devastating knockout victory over Pacquiao in December 2012.

But even if Bradley is able to capitalize on the counter, it's unlikely he'll earn a stoppage. 

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Therefore, the American's best bet is to pick his spots and make sure he's got the stamina to win over the judges down the stretch.

He's got the toughness to withstand Pacquiao's onslaught and considers the concussion he suffered in last year's win over Ruslan Provodnikov an "advantage," according to the New York Daily News' Mitch Abramson: "I think it's a huge advantage because I know I can endure a lot of pain. Everybody thought I'd be damaged goods after the fight [with Provodnikov]. But I wasn't."

Advantage or not, Bradley has proved he can take a punch, even from Pacquiao. As a result, it will likely come down to whether he can inflict enough punishment to win over the judges again on Saturday.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.