By Victor Salazar
New York, New York - The history between Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38KOs) and Tim Bradley (33-1-1, 13KOs) has been controversial and unanimous. The first fight ended with a much disputed split decision win for Bradley in 2012. Their 2014 rematch was a close fight for the first six rounds but saw Pacquiao pull away down the stretch.
So here we are again, a third fight between the two will take place on April 9th - at the same venue as the first two meetings, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
So what’s different this time? Maybe an older Manny Pacquiao or maybe the addition of trainer Teddy Atlas to the corner of Timothy Bradley. Whatever the case may be, Bradley feels he’ll be more ready than ever once the trilogy arrives.
“Nothing else matter but April 9th,” Bradley told BoxingScene.com. “Teddy and I and the team, we’re going to go to the lab and we’re going to devise a game plan where we’re smart monster on April 9th. It’s only going to get better from here. I feel that now I have an identity of a fighter, I know what I’m about and that’s why you should tune in April 9th.”
According to the man himself, this will be Pacquiao’s last fight before he officially retires from boxing to pursue a full-time career in politics. To Bradley, for Pacquiao to choose a final opponent of his caliber speaks volumes about his worth as a fighter.
“I want to thank Pacquiao and his team is for choosing me. That goes to show you what type of fighter and man Pacquiao is. He could have picked anyone else but Pacquiao always picks a challenge. He knows this is going to be a challenge.”
