By Edward Chaykovsky
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum expects fireworks when Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley step in the ring for a third time on April 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Both of their previous meetings took place at the same venue. In the first bout, Bradley won a controversial twelve round split decision. Pacquiao gained revenge in the rematch, winning a solid twelve round unanimous decision.
Bradley (31-1-1, 13 KOs) is now trained by Teddy Atlas, who the boxer hired in September after parting ways with career trainer Joel Diaz. Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) has been out of action since losing a twelve round decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2nd. He suffered a right shoulder injury during the fight and had surgery a few days later.
Arum saw something new in Bradley, when the veteran promoter watched him dismantle and knock Brandon Rios out in November.
Fans are not exactly clamoring for the third bout, but Arum says the showdown will be the most exciting among the three.
While Pacquiao claims the fight is potentially going to be his last, his promoter cautions that fans should not purchase the pay-per-view with that in mind - because Pacquiao could very well fight again. Arum's company will not market the card as Pacquiao's final fight.
“I don’t think there’s any question, but that it will be [the most exciting of the three],” Arum told the LA Daily News.
“I think people should buy this fight because of the event, because of the fight, because we’re going to have a great undercard. And they shouldn’t buy the event because it’s their last opportunity to see Manny Pacquiao. That would not necessarily be the case. It may be the case. But it may not.”
