By Nick Bellafatto
Of the opinion that anywhere from a 1 to 2 point swing in either direction was an acceptable result as regards Bradley-Pacquiao the initial encounter, a thought that draws vehement disagreement as well as outright disdain, the fact remains that elusive as Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (31-0, 12 KO’s) was, he in a sense wasn’t offensive enough to unseat a champion.
At the same time Filipino icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38 KO’s) in receiving an overwhelming amount of credit and or public support for punches never landed, this mainly due to HBO fantasy commentary, he was less than an effective aggressor in defending his at the time WBO welterweight title.
Moving past it all, a controversial if not sordid past will give way to the present when two men looking to settle their differences meet this Saturday night for a second time at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, considered by many an initial crime scene as well as host to a much anticipated rematch.
And when the bell rings for this Pay-Per-View event of Top Rank proportions, “Desert Storm” will endeavor to vindicate himself in regards to a seeming majority of fans who not only thought he lost, but feel he was soundly defeated at the hands of the Filipino. That said, Tim’s adamant about clearing the air.
Stated Bradley, “what it boils down to is that I need to close this chapter in my life so I can sleep at night. I just got to redeem everything I felt I deserved in the first fight. I’m sick of walking down the street and people say you didn’t win the fight, they gave it to you, they robbed Manny. It just tears me up. I took this fight cause I got something to prove and I’m gonna prove it. I gotta earn people’s respect.”
On the other side of the equation lies Pacquiao, who with a rather large preponderance of fan backing was initially of the opinion that a rematch was unwarranted to flip a 180. Not only signing on but stating in effect Bradley is now a worthy opponent, one who believes Manny’s killer instinct has left the building, the Filipino though falling short of predicting a knockout has vowed to by way of renewed aggression take it to the Palm Springs native.
“In the last fight people they want a rematch. This is what the fans want they want a rematch so it will clear in their minds,” said Pacquiao. “He [Bradley] improved a lot, he has more experience now than before, he know’s how to box. That’s my challenge in this fight to have aggressiveness. I have to prove that I can still fight. My boxing career is not done yet, I’m still here.”
Indeed Manny is still here, subsequent to devastation at the hands of nemesis “Dinamita” Marquez to achieve victory as expected of him over a one-dimensional Brandon Rios, a man who doesn’t even begin to approach Bradley in terms of speed, skill, agility, nor overall athleticism. In essence, what appears a momentum builder for “Pacman” will have little to no significance whatsoever come Saturday night.
Neither will factor in so much Tim’s recent triumph over one and the same counter-puncher by trade Juan Manuel Marquez, save as a confidence booster, seeing how “Pacman” is and always has been prone to success mainly as a result of initiation.
With the battle lines apparent, Bradley in addition to proving just as elusive as in the first go round would be well served to be venture in tight on occasion to aggressively work the body. This will keep the Filipino off balance and simultaneously buy “Desert Storm” time to pull off that which he’s only capable of considering the level of opponent in combination with his lack of sufficient power, that being a points win.
Of course this goes without saying Tim must be quick and resolute, countering well when over aggression on the part of Pacquiao presents such opportunities, to at all costs avoid extended engagement as that typified in his “Fight of the Year” encounter with Ruslan Provodnikof. For it’s this very prospect which has demise written all over it.
By the same token if Pacquiao is to register a win which by all accounts is devised to put him back in the drivers seat, then it will have to be by knockout over a man who’s seemingly more agile, fleet of foot, and close to if not quicker-fisted than he.
That said, I’m inclined to believe Manny will have to set up his left hand with a right hook, as leading with his jab and or power hand would prove too predictable in the face of what appears a much wiser Bradley as Manny himself has alluded to.
Be that as it may trainer Freddie Roach in taking far too long to develop Manny’s right hook to begin with has still not managed to get the Filipino to use that particular punch to line up his left hand.
Add in the fact that Bradley after leaning into Manny’s power early on during bout number 1, no thanks to trainer Joel Diaz who didn’t advise against it, and Tim in the later half made the proper adjustment to slip to his left away from volatility. This makes the right hook for the challenger all the more valuable the second time around.
Whatever transpires, I have to side with Bradley here in that “Pacman” didn’t initially separate himself all that much, HBO bias aside, as the better fighter considering Tim was devoid of two good wheels.
With both feet in tandem “Desert Storm” is in my mind is too athletic, too agile, and more importantly a lot smarter by now so that he has the ability to earn the respect of fans who despise the fact he got the nod last time out.
Of course the caveat here being that Manny could end things in a heap just as things were abruptly ended for him at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez. In fact, it’s this particular scenario that creates most if not all of the intrigue as opposed to a long drawn out match that see’s Bradley box his way to victory.
Could Bradley in a flash be trumped to once again put talk of Pacquiao-Mayweather on the lips of those who still cling to such a prospect, or will Tim redeem himself in the eyes of the vast majority to put himself at ease?
Tune in to Bradley-Pacquiao II the rematch where a collision or decision is to determine the WBO world welterweight champion with Jessie Vargas (23-0, 9 KO’s) of Las Vegas, Nevada in the co-feature taking on Russia’s defending WBA/IBO junior welterweight champion Khabib Allakhverdiev in a battle of undefeated’s.
