By Chris Robinson
On Saturday, May 12th, HBO showcased their latest Faceoff segment, focusing on the June 9th fight between welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated titlist Timothy Bradley. Flanked by trainers Joel Diaz and Freddie Roach, the two fighters were fairly cordial to one another but what stood out was just how confident and relaxed Bradley was during the process.
Despite being a sizeable underdog heading into his challenge of Pacquiao’s WBO belt, Bradley exudes nothing but confidence and admits that it was a bit intriguing for him to see himself on HBO’s airwaves.
“It’s interesting. Because at that time I definitely had a different state of mind,” said Bradley after watching his Faceoff with Pacquiao, which was actually shot back in February amidst the pre-fight press tour for their fight. “I hadn’t started training. I really wasn’t in the training mood, I had a completely different mindset.”
Had Bradley been sitting at the roundtable opposite Pacquiao and Roach in more recent times, he feels there may have been a little more gamesmanship taking place.
“I’m in training camp, I’m going through a lot of pain, I’m going through a lot of sweat, and working really hard,” said Bradley, giving another update on his day to day life in Indio, California. “It would probably be a better Faceoff today or this week or a couple weeks ago. I think I would have been a lot more aggressive. I was pretty laid back and I was happy to be there. Manny pretty much didn’t want no part of going back and forth and arguing. He wanted to keep it simple. It is what it is.”
Last night, 24/7 Road to Pacquiao-Bradley made its premiere on HBO, as audiences were taken inside the camps of the two prizefighters. With shooting beginning in April, Bradley’s family-life in Southern California was in the spotlight while Pacquiao’s newfound lifestyle and commitment to God were on display in his native Philippines.
The official 24/7 kicks off this Saturday and while Bradley may not be as braggadocios as Floyd Mayweather Jr. or have any controversy tied to him like Antonio Margarito, two men who created a buzz for their 24/7 highlights, he still feels fans will find it worth their time to tune in.
“Yeah, I think it will be interesting,” stated Bradley. “Based upon I stay at home, I train here at home. I think it will be really interesting for people to see how I train and wonder how I get so ripped and they’ll be able to focus on my diet and what I eat and how I work out. And how I balance family, balance training, and everything out.
“I think the general public will see how down to earth type of guy I am,” Bradley would continue. “I’m humble and at times I do really get pumped up in the ring and pumped up in the gym and I will start talking. But for the most part it’s going to be calm, cool, and chill and we joke around a lot. It’s not just always work. We like to laugh. I think that the fans and everybody is going to like it.”
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