Pacquiao vs. Bradley, is a changing of the guard at hand? Part I
By Nick Bellafatto
“I gonna give it 110% man. I’m putting it all on the line. I’m not just here for a paycheck baby, I’m here to win this fight,” stated the supremely confident Timothy Bradley. And if Tim does emerge triumphant in his bid to topple arguably the best that boxing has to offer, that being pound-for-pound fighter Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao of General Santos City, Philippines, answered the challenger, “that means that I am the best fighter in the world. Manny Pacquiao has displayed his greatness over last seven years and it’s time for a new face in boxing and I truly believe that’s me. This is my time.”
Not one to mince words, the undefeated former unified and current WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley (28-0, 12 KO’s) of Palm Springs, California is more than ready, willing, and able to confront the biggest challenge of his career as he looks to make himself a household name at the expense of the Filipino icon. And as the time is nearing where he will enter the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada to contend for the WBO welterweight crown against the pride of an entire nation in one Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s), you can feel the excitement begin to fill the air.
With that said, there are many questions marks surrounding this fight, mainly coming from the Pacquiao side of things. One question is whether or not the best Manny Pacquiao will surface come June 9th, that of boxing’s reigning kingpin who began his trek at the minuscule 105 pound weight limit to then earn his first major world title at flyweight, subsequently traversing seven more weight divisions to capture five additional major titles along the way. Interestingly enough, what stands in contrast to these remarkable achievements is the Filipino’ recent sub par performance against Juan Manuel Marquez, where it has been alluded to by those close to Manny that several issues in combination have prevented him from fully focusing on his boxing career.
With the “Pacman” embroiled as of late in controversy as pertains to what he did or didn’t say regarding Gay people, this after avoiding tedious divorce proceedings some time ago by committing to change a philandering lifestyle complete with boozing, gambling, skirt chasing (which has produced a child out of wedlock), and the like, it’s not surprising that Manny Pacquiao isn’t perceived as the same pugilistic wonder he was just a short time ago. Seemingly mired in issue after issue unrelated to boxing while he juggles careers as both a political figure and aspiring actor, in total these additional concerns have most likely taken their toll as well, so that it remains to be seen in which direction the champion is headed.
To make matters worse, Team Pacquiao itself is having a meltdown of sorts in that head trainer Freddy Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza are at odds to say the least. It’s astonishing how the “Pacman” is even able to maintain under these circumstances as he approaches the toughest challenge of his career. Perhaps the very chaos that surrounds Manny Pacquiao has prompted him to become immersed in his faith in what some are calling a spiritual awakening. He is no doubt overwhelmed in life and is looking to put what appears to be one huge contradiction in the rear view mirror.
Perhaps the prospect of fighting a skillful, gritty, determined fighter at the peak of his physicality has served as its own distraction of sorts as regards his predicament. We will soon find out as the supposedly re-focused and re-dedicated Manny Pacquiao, who has apparently given up a plethora of personal vices, looks to regain his spot as the number one fighter in the world, a spot currently vacant according to Ring Magazine, as Manny now shares the number two pound-for-pound distinction with non other than current Clark County Detention Center resident Floyd Mayweather Jr.
And whereas I’m convinced that many people would vehemently disagree with my thoughts regarding this upcoming contest in that not only am I of the opinion that Tim Bradley would have been trouble for the pound-for-pound phenom some time ago when Manny Pacquiao was supposedly peaking as a fighter, but that at this juncture I wholly suspect Bradley may do a number on the defending champion to secure an historical victory.
In hearing comments like Bradley is a boring fighter who can’t even sell out a hometown venue, or that he doesn’t have much of a chance against Manny Pacquiao to me is not only contrary to what I’ve concluded after covering several Bradley fights, but I believe this encounter will make “The Desert Storm,” as well as quite possibly spell the beginning of the end for Filipino prizefighter who is perhaps slipping from the pugilistic pedestal on which he has come to rest. With Freddy Roach alluding to the fact that he will recommend the Filipino retire if he doesn’t look good in his upcoming fight with Bradley, it makes you wonder where things are really at.
The longer this fight goes without Manny Pacquiao knocking the challenger out, a fighter who in terms of stamina and endurance has a rather large motor, the more difficult it will be for the defending champion who may at some point succumb to the up and down assault that is sure to come his way. Weathering the “Typhoon from the Pacific” only allows Tim Bradley ample time to solve the puzzle that is Manny Pacquiao, as he will look venture inside to fight at close quarters where Tim is perhaps at his best, with infighting something of an anomaly for the “Pacman” who less than well versed in that department, rather requires a certain amount of space to be effective with his blows.
And as this bout unfolds, if Tim Bradley is able to avoid the knockout blow to wreak havoc in tight, you will no doubt witness “Desert Storm” once again resume the role of the body snatcher. Pounding the body has not only contributed to many a previous victory for the Palm Springs native, but in this weekend’s epic confrontation with the “Pacman,” he may just take most if not all of the fight out of the pride of the Philippines. “He doesn’t really know how to fight on the inside,” responded Bradley of his upcoming opponent. “He knows how to move well and find angles, but I can do that too.”
And as proof of Bradley’s effectiveness in working the body behind a mixed attack, amongst other opponents, Tim would systematically debilitate the then WBC 140 pound champion Devon Alexander in a unification bout in early 2011, as well as most recently administer a complete thrashing of an older yet crafty veteran in Joel Casamayor, two southpaws by the way. Obviously able to box and give Pacquiao all he can handle from a distance as a proficient leader as well as counter puncher, if Bradley is indeed able to blanket his opponent while effectively banging the body without repercussion, perhaps a changing of the guard is in order. Time will tell.
