Such is the case this weekend when California’s Timothy Bradley and Filipino Manny Pacquiao – ranked third and seventh respectively in Ring magazines ‘P4P’ ratings – reconvene at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas for the former’s WBO welterweight strap.
Both are ferocious competitors with points to prove. Pacquiao, a six division world champion and one of the greatest ever to step between the ropes, will arrive wired to correct the rough justice and add to his already impressive legacy. Champion Bradley, still unbeaten in 32 (one no contest), shall no doubt be anxious to re-iterate his supremacy.
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One man who’ll certainly be glued to his TV screen in the wee hours is reigning British and Commonwealth 147lb king Frankie Gavin, a man who has designs on a future world title and berth on those ‘pound-for-pound’ listings himself.
On Monday evening, boxing writer Glynn Evans called the 28 year old Brummie to hear his analysis of the big showdown.
“I’m a huge fan of both so I’m really looking forward to this.
There can be no doubt that Pacquiao was done wrong when they first met at the MGM Grand a couple of years back. Nothing on Bradley, who I really admire, but Manny won at least eight or nine rounds first time. It weren’t even close.
That night, Pacquiao looked like he’d got the old hunger back after a few iffy performances, particularly the third Marquez fight. Against Bradley, he showed that old movement and sharpness and, having been done wrong by the judges, I’m expecting him to go at it even more this weekend.
Though he’s considered one of the best pound for pound, Manny’s technique ain’t that good. His defence ain’t the tightest and he makes mistakes with his feet, often rushing in and falling short with his shots. To be honest, he throws too many punches and sometimes he can be wasteful. He could pick his shots a bit better. For that reason I’ve always felt that Floyd Mayweather, who really capitalises on opponent’s mistakes, and who doesn’t make many himself, would play with Pacquiao.
But what I love most about Pacquiao is that he can really dig deep in a fight. He really grafts in the gym with Freddie Roach and his work rate and power are phenomenal. He’s also got great speed.
Forget the judges, he beat Bradley last time and he was easily winning the fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez before he walked onto a brilliant punch from another great fighter. That could happen to anybody but I had Manny three rounds up when it happened.
But I’m also big on Bradley. He’s not the biggest puncher at the very highest level but he whips his shots in well and he’s got good footwork, better than Pacquiao’s.
He’s also a very good tactician. Against (Ruslan) Provodnikov, he was getting caught with some huge shots from a very big hitter – a bigger puncher than Pacquiao with one shot – yet Bradley adapted mid fight. That fight Bradley showed an iron chin to come through some real bombs, plus a great will to win.
Bradley’s only short for the weight but he always manages to find the range to get his shots off and he doesn’t waste many. He throws some really nice combinations and is very good at finding a way to win. He’s still unbeaten after ten years as a pro, remember.
To be honest, it’s pretty hard to find a fault with Bradley.
He can do a bit of everything, fight off both feet. He probably gives himself a better chance of winning when he goes back foot but it’s better for the fans when he goes front foot. I think he can be drawn into fights that he doesn’t need to, but they’re always exciting to watch. At real elite level, I don’t think he punches hard enough for the aggressive style that he prefers to adopt.
This time, given all the uproar over the scoring in their first fight, I doubt that the judges are going to be as generous to Bradley. He’ll struggle to ‘out work’ Pacquiao who throws a phenomenal number of punches so he’s going to have to find a way to ‘out land’ him, beat Pacquiao to the jab; make sure that most of his shots score.
If Pacquiao is to exact his revenge, then he’ll need to really put it on Bradley, get him out of his comfort zone, just like Provodnikov did for long periods. Provodnikov read Bradley to perfection and was able to ‘time’ Tim with one shot. Manny will need to draw Bradley into a fight then let his shots go.
Both have been doing a lot of talking in the build up but I expect it’ll start quite cagily with both working for their openings before really exploding into life around the eighth. I’m anticipating a good fight to watch, very competitive, but even Bradley must know in his heart that he didn’t win the first time.
Justice will be served and Pacquiao will win a clear decision, something like 116-112, just like he should’ve received first fight. Then he can retire and leave me to fight for his vacant belt!”
