Bradley Confident Of Victory, Continues To Promote Rematch
By Jake Donovan
One thing you cannot accuse Tim Bradley of in preparation of this weekend’s showdown with Manny Pacquiao is a lack of confidence.
The unbeaten Californian has been so sure of victory that he long ago began making plans for a rematch, insisting that the two will fight again on November 10. Mock posters have been created, with tickets suggested to go on sale June 10 – one day after their blockbuster event, which plays at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday.
“This is a ticket right here, for the next fight,” Bradley (28-0, 12KO) announced, while displaying an oversized mock ticket to the media and crowd on hand at the MGM Grand's final press conference. “November 10. I’m already predicting the future. We gonna talk after June 10. Tickets gonna go on sale for the rematch.”
Such sentiments are echoed throughout his team.
“We are ready to win this fight Saturday night,” head trainer Joel Diaz stated during the press conference. “There’s a lot of upsets in boxing. They don’t come around so often. We’re up for one and I think Saturday night will be the Upset of the Decade. Look forward to a great fight because Tim Bradley is 100% ready to win on Saturday night.”
Bradley is guaranteed a career-high $5 million for the fight, with more to come depending on pay-per-view upside and overall sales. The bout marks just his second trip to Las Vegas. His first appearance in Sin City came in his last fight – an 8th round knockout of faded former two-division champ Joel Casamayor last November.
The win was first fight under a new promotional agreement with Top Rank, who strategically placed the fight as the chief support to Pacquiao’s third showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Pacquiao was far less convincing in his majority decision win over Marquez than was Bradley in his demolition of Casamayor. The long reigning 140 lb. titlist scored three knockdowns before scoring a rare stoppage just before the end of the eighth round. It was his first non-points win in more than four years, though Bradley has repeatedly predicted a knockout for this weekend’s affair.
“I’m ready and prepared for the task at hand. Manny Pacquiao is definitely in for it,” Bradley insists.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments via e-mail.