Manny Pacquiao vs. Tim Bradley: 4 Reasons It Could Be a Great Fight

Ever since Bob Arum added Tim Bradley to his stable of fighters (which includes Pacquiao), there has been banter about a possible clash between the up-and-coming WBO light welterweight champion and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

Now a member of Arum's Top Rank Productions, Bradley is primed and ready to be marketed as the next boxing star if the pieces fall into the right place.

There is already empirical evidence he is being groomed, as he is already scheduled to fight on the Pacquiao-Marquez III undercard on November 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Boxing fans, who have already given up on a Mayweather-Pacquiao duel, are open to the exciting possibility of seeing the two champions, albeit in different weight classes at the moment, lock horns.

Reason No. 4: Underdog vs. Titan Can Make for a Great Story

Tim Bradley's future has yet to be written.

He is, by all accounts, a humble guy with a good head on his shoulders.

His work ethic is described by those in boxing circles as being second to none. He has worked tirelessly from obscurity, attracting the attention of Bob Arum long enough to be snatched up.

Bradley, with luck or skill (maybe a little bit of both), can topple Pacquiao en route to becoming a household name.

And Bob Arum would love nothing more than to see a boxer who barely drew 1,000 fans to the Rancho Mirage become a PPV star overnight, luring millions of potential customers to future fights.

Crazier things have happened, but then the real challenge becomes staying relevant and proving to critics he's not a flash in the pan a la Buster Douglas.

Reason No. 3: The Supposed MisMatch Could Be Intriguing

Boxing experts have lamented a potential clash between Bradley and Pacquiao, noting the former's "inferior" weight class.

Bradley will have to gain at least seven to 10 pounds in order to make the welterweight limit, a division occupied by his potential nemesis, Manny Pacquiao.

And even if he does make weight, many downplay Bradley's lack of arm reach, height and strength.

If his drawbacks are so severe then why is he undefeated? Surely, Bob Arum didn't sign him on a lark but only after circumspect scrutiny and analysis.

It's reasonable to believe Bradley can give Pacquiao a run for his money, if not take it away completely.

There is precedence for this, too, when Pacquiao himself moved up a weight class to face the pride and joy of the Mexican community, Oscar De La Hoya.

The Filipino not only stood his ground but made Oscar quit after eight grueling rounds.

If anything, it will be interesting to see how not only Bradley adapts to being heavier, but how Pacquiao counters it, not having any historical reference of a more "massive" Bradley to base his strategy on.

The most seemingly insignificant of changes can have a drastic impact, leveling the playing field.

Consequently, any concerns about a "mismatch" are overstated when one takes into account the fact Bradley will not battle a larger opponent at his current weight.

Reason No. 2: Hand Speed vs. Hand Speed

The alleged "mismatch" notwithstanding, a more interesting dynamic to look for is the primary commonality both Pacquiao and Bradley share: incredibly quick hand speed.

The only difference between the two as it relates to the boxers' sleight of hand advantage is that Pacquiao is left-handed and Bradley is right-handed.

The under-the-radar boxer has been quoted in interviews comparing the Filipino, incidentally also his idol, to having a magician's prowess. Bradley cannot wait to test his fortitude and in-ring cleverness against the similarly small-statured but larger-than-life hero to millions.

With both men having the ability to swing uppercuts, hammer jabs and mash a rival's brain at warped speed, fans should be in for a treat if these two are matched up against each other.

Combined with both men being touted to be impeccably conditioned and resilient, most can expect an entertaining fight if not a competitively engrossing one.

Reason No. 1: Don't Doubt Bob Arum's Promotional Marketing Tactics

Since the days of antiquity, fights between combatants have been less about the actual substance and more about the hype.

Boxing, like the WWE and UFC, is driven by the intrinsic need to build anticipation for matches.

It's no secret that the majority of boxing's revenue comes from PPV buys.

How can I, or anyone else for that matter, be persuaded to plunk down hard-earned cash to watch Pacquiao vs. Bradley on PPV?

If there's anyone who can do it, it's Bob Arum, whose experience lends itself to being a mastermind when it comes to, shoring up Bradley's image in the public eye, highlighting enough positives for a potential clash and earmarking the appropriate date insofar fans will have no choice but to order the card it's on.

There should be no misgivings that Arum has every intention of making Bradley a PPV commodity, increasing his name recognition and Q-rating tenfold.

Boxing as a sport is incumbent upon cultivating images of dominance, heroism and big-hearted courage.  Perseverance, redemption and unpredictability are just some of the motifs that are perpetuated.

If Bradley's value is carefully crafted, an encounter between he and Pacquiao in 2012 will have followers compelled to ask if the "courageous underdog" can dethrone the "dominant" Pac-man.