Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley: Everything You Need to Know for Upcoming Fight
Meh.
That was the general consensus among fight fans and media when Manny Pacquiao announced in December that he would fight Timothy Bradley Jr. for a third time April 9 in Las Vegas in what could be the last fight of his illustrious career.
While the two are officially knotted at one win apiece, almost everyone besides the two judges who narrowly scored Bradley the winner in fight No. 1, and maybe the Bradley family itself, believe Pacquiao is heading into the showdown up two fights to none.
Both bouts were competitive. One might even argue both were entertaining. But only a handful of people, most probably involved in making the fight, wanted to see a third Pacquiao-Bradley promotion.
Nonetheless, the two will tussle Saturday night live on HBO pay-per-view. And despite the negativity among a typically pro-Pacquiao boxing world headed into fight night, the lackluster boxing schedule of 2016 to date and other factors make Pacquiao-Bradley 3 must-see TV.
So shake off the mehs and get ready for some elite-level boxing.
Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao
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Age: 37
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 146
Reach: 67 inches
Stance: Southpaw
Record: 57-6-2 (38 KOs)
Rounds Fought: 419
Trainer: Freddie Roach
Strengths: Speed, quickness and power
Weaknesses: Open to counters because of his aggressiveness
Intangibles: Pacquiao is 37 years old, seemingly uncertain if he wants to continue his boxing career and coming directly off a loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and shoulder surgery.
What to know: Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters of all time. He’s a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, a popular and durable champion who has won world titles in eight different weight classes.
But Pacquiao’s best days may be behind him. He looked shopworn in the loss to Mayweather last May, and injuries such as the one he suffered in the lead-up to the fight are more likely to happen as he ages.
On paper, Pacquiao appears to have the tools to defeat Bradley every time the two meet. Most would agree he’s already done so twice, but just because it looks like he should win doesn't mean he will win.
Pacquiao will have to be at his best if he hopes to defeat Bradley on Saturday.
Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley Jr.
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Age: 32
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 146
Reach: 69 inches
Stance: Orthodox
Record: 33-1-1 (13 KOs)
Rounds Fought: 275
Trainer: Teddy Atlas
Strengths: Bradley is durable, skilled and one of the most well-rounded fighters in boxing.
Weaknesses: He doesn’t have the power to make Pacquiao wary of counters.
Intangibles: Bradley is younger, nearer his prime and coming off a decisive and impressive knockout of Brandon Rios. New trainer Atlas is sure to have a different plan ready for his fighter than Pacquiao saw in the first two fights.
What to Know: Bradley has never looked better than he did in his last fight, an unexpected nine-round walloping of the usually tough Rios. Whatever new tricks Atlas taught Bradley since replacing longtime trainer Joel Diaz last year seem like they’re working so far.
Make no mistake: Bradley was already an elite fighter. He’s been one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport for years now. But Atlas has honed the American into a smarter fighter, one who just might have the goods to give Pacquiao the fight of his life.
A smarter-fighting, more aggressive Bradley, one who uses volume instead of loading up on knockout punches as he did in their last fight, could make Pacquiao-Bradley 3 the best fight of the trilogy.
What's at Stake
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The title of HBO’s buildup showcase programming/infomercial this go-round, instead of 24x7, was Legacy on the Line: From Bradley to Pacquiao. While that might be true for Bradley, a fighter still chipping away at boxing immortality, it certainly is not the case for Pacquiao, a fighter who, win, lose or draw, has nothing to lose Saturday night except the fight itself. He’s accomplished so much against such excellent competition that one fight at age 37 won't mean anything in the grand scheme of things.
But this is a big one for Bradley. With Mayweather retired, Bradley must capitalize on this last opportunity against Pacquiao if he hopes to be remembered as one of their peers rather than as just another guy who fought at welterweight during their era.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, will want to go out on a winning note if this is indeed the last professional prizefight he claims it to be.
"I am retiring from boxing to concentrate on my political career," Pacquiao said, per Sky Sports. "My fight with Timothy Bradley will be my last."
There are no alphabet titles on the line in this fight. No matter. A good fight is a good fight with or without belts, and Pacquiao vs. Bradley features two of the top five fighters of any weight class in the world today.
The winner will be crowned the lineal welterweight champion, however, per the Transnational Boxing Ranking's Board. The championship was vacated by Floyd Mayweather's retirement.
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Televised Undercard
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The Pacquiao-Bradley 3 undercard features three of Top Rank’s brightest prospects in compelling and meaningful fights. That isn’t typical of PPV undercards, so Bob Arum and company must believe longtime cash cow Pacquiao is on his way out the door.
Arthur Abraham vs. Gilberto Ramirez
The undefeated Ramirez seeks to become a legitimate super middleweight player by taking on WBO titleholder and longtime elite German fighter Abraham. The 24-year-old Mexican is one of the better fighting 168-pounders in boxing. He swarms his opponents with hellacious barrages and could become a popular commodity if he looks good against the 36-year-old Abraham. But Abraham is no gimme. He will easily be Ramirez’s toughest test to date, and could play the spoiler.
Oscar Valdez vs. Evgeny Gradovich
Mexican featherweight Valdez, age 25, will be in tough versus the 29-year-old Gradovich. Both fighters are excellent offensively, though Valdez has a bit more polished approach. Still, these two featherweights might put on the fight of the night, and Valdez, a former amateur star for Mexico, is one of the most intriguing 25-and-under boxers in the sport today.
Jose Ramirez vs. Manuel Perez
Ramirez isn’t in quite as deep of waters as the other two, but he’s only 23 years old and just a few years into his professional career. He was the second- or third-best fighter on the abysmal 2012 U.S. men's Olympic team that did not medal for the first time in its history. Still, Perez is a tough veteran who is exactly the type of fighter Ramirez should be facing, and beating, at this point in his career if he hopes to make a splash as a pro.
Legacy on the Line: From Bradley to Pacquiao
5 of 8Missed the show? Watch HBO's Legacy on the Line: From Bradley to Pacquiao before the big fight.
Hey Harold! Pacquiao-Bradley 3
6 of 8HBO's unofficial scorer Harold Lederman talks Pacquiao-Bradley 3. Do you agree with him?
Odds and Where to Watch
7 of 8Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
When: 9 p.m. ET Saturday, April 9
TV: HBO PPV for $59.99
Odds: Pacquiao is the favorite (2-5) heading into the bout, per Odds Shark (at time of publication).
Analysis and Prediction
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Despite Bradley’s new trainer and an approach of boxing Pacquiao from a distance, he will once again lose a decision to the Filipino superstar in a bout that plays out like the first two fights.
Bradley is a good fighter. He’s a good boxer. He’s tough. He takes the fight to his opponents, and he never backs down. But Pacquiao can match all of that, and he’s the better athlete and harder puncher, too.
Pacquiao’s hands are too fast and his punches sting too much for Bradley to do anything other than lose a competitive but easily scored decision. Pacquiao will hurt Bradley a couple of times in the fight, and Bradley will have his moments, too. There will just be too few of them, and Pacquiao's harder blows will carry the day.
Pacquiao wins via 12-round decision by scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110.
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