Roach Confident: Bradley NOT Even Close To Being Mayweather!

By Edward Chaykovsky

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is confident that Manny Pacquiao will once again defeat Timothy Bradley - even with the addition of Teddy Atlas in Bradley's corner.

Bradley won a twelve round split decision in controversial fashion when they first faced each other in 2012. Pacquiao got revenge in 2014, by winning a twelve round unanimous decision in the rematch.

Now they collide for a third time, on April 9th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Some pundits are stating that Bradley is a new and improved fighter under Atlas - something that Roach disputes.

“I don’t think there’s a new and improved Tim Bradley,” Roach told the Los Angeles Times. “I thought his last opponent [stunk]. The guy [Brandon Rios] was out of shape. I don’t think [Bradley] looked any better than he ever has.”

“So, who’s [Atlas]? An announcer? I won’t give him credit until he beats a legit fighter. Let’s face it, you look at the guy he beat — fat and out of shape and looked like he wanted to retire before the fight.”

In one recent interview, Atlas made a reference to studying Pacquiao's last fight - a twelve round decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Roach is not worried, because he's confident Bradley will never be able to replicate any of the tactics, in-ring capabilities or physical movements of Mayweather. He thinks Bradley will attempt to use new tactics at the start, but once he gets tagged he will become the Bradley of old.

“He can never be Mayweather," Roach said of Bradley. “No way, not even close. It’s night and day.

“Fighters try to improve and change, but when they get hit, they revert to what they normally do best, so we’ll see in this fight. Bradley has been a good opponent for two fights. He’s there, he’s steady, but he’s facing a very tough guy.”