By Mel "Sabaka" Ohlhoft
Manny Pacquiao's training team is not sold on a possible fight with WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in 2012. Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight title against Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Bradley makes his Top Rank debut on undercard, defending his belt against veteran Joel Casamayor. Top Rank officially signed Bradley two weeks ago, and now he appears to be a frontrunner to face Pacquiao in 2012 - unless the Filipino champion reaches a deal with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"Who cares?" said Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach to the Sun Star paper, when asked for his opinion on Top Rank signing Bradley for the possibility of facing Pacquiao in 2012. "It's really premature. [There is] no contract signed so it’s just talk."
Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, was a little more blunt on the subject. He feels Bradley is too small and needs to stay down at 140-pounds.
"It's a sham. It's going to be one of the [biggest] mismatches ever," said Ariza. "He's too small. They should try to pick somebody his own size. And what has he done lately?"
