MANNY PACQUIAO will fight Timothy Bradley Jr. for the third, and possible final time, on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It would be interesting to know what was Manny’s thought process in selecting an opponent for his last fight. Did he choose the “easiest” opponent he can fight because a victory or a defeat could mean the same thing for his political career as he is running for senator in this coming May elections? Pacquiao has beaten Bradley twice before and I say twice because, if not for human error in the judges’ scorecards, then Manny would have won the last fight in 2012.
Pacquiao will be facing a familiar foe on April 9, but this time a much-improved familiar foe. In Bradley’s last fight, which was a ninth-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over an out of shape Brandon Rios, Teddy Atlas was in his corner. Under Atlas’s watch, Bradley developed better footwork and lateral movement and power in both hands, which now makes this fight a little bit more interesting.
The fight will be a challenge to promote due to the outcome of the last two, one of which ended in controversy but legendary, promoter Bob Arum says the fight will generate interest because of Bradley’s newfound weapons and an interesting chess match between two of the better trainers in the sport of boxing, Teddy Atlas for Bradley and many-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.
According to Atlas he has already started dissecting videos of the last two fights between his guy and Pacquiao. According to ESPN Boxing “I already looked at it. I don’t believe in waiting,” Atlas said. “When this fight was first discussed, I looked at it and I see what I should see and I see why Pacquiao was able to be effective and why Tim was able to be effective at the times when he was effective.”
Pacquiao has had problems in the past with opponents who are body punchers, so look for Atlas to have Bradley focus on Pacquiao’s midsection to slow him down, which, however, is easier said than done given Pacquiao’s famed speed. Bradley won’t be fighting the same Pacquiao he faced. Look for Manny to use his footwork, lateral movement and a much-improved defense to parry Bradley’s blows to the body.
Earlier this month at UFC 195 welterweight contender and “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit and UFC welterweight champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler put on a show in the form of a five-round knockdown drag out affair. The fight being a war would probably be the understatement of the year.
This early the fight is being considered fight of the year. Many feel that Condit should have gotten the decision. Condit is considering to call it a career after the loss, quoting bloodyelbow.com “I’ve been thinking about my future for a long time.
“Fighting is a tough sport where happy endings are few and far between, and I definitely want to leave the game before the game leaves me. Fighting is such a big part of who I am and the chance to get back in there with Robbie again is something I could get excited about. But if it’s time to explore a new path, then I’ll go into it with the same passion.
“It’s always been about the journey for me and I guess we’ll have to wait and see how things play out.” Condit continues, “I’ve been at this a long time, over 40 professional mixed-martial arts fights and kickboxing. I came up short tonight. It was kind of a do-or-die moment for my career, I feel like, and I was all-in. If I got that strap, I’m going to keep fighting. If I didn’t, like I didn’t, I have to see if I can continue doing this.” Condit, however, said a rematch would excite him. We hope UFC President Dana White calls for a rematch to see these two warriors go at it for the belt.